Alaska receives a one-year paper-MEC exemption
FMCSA has provisionally renewed a narrow exemption for drivers who hold an Alaska-issued commercial driver’s license or commercial learner’s permit and for the motor carriers that employ them. Effective October 12, 2026, through October 12, 2027, an eligible driver may carry a paper Medical Examiner’s Certificate, and an employer may rely on and retain a copy, for up to 60 days after the certificate is issued.
Eligibility follows the license, not the route
The exception is tied to the state that issued the CDL or CLP. A driver with an Alaska-issued credential may use the exemption during eligible interstate operations, but merely operating in Alaska does not make a driver licensed by another state eligible. Fleets should verify the issuing jurisdiction before accepting paper medical proof.
All other jurisdictions now use electronic verification
FMCSA says Alaska is the only state that had not implemented the National Registry II electronic process when the renewal was issued. The other 49 states and the District of Columbia may no longer rely on a paper Medical Examiner’s Certificate as proof of medical qualification for any period beginning October 12, 2026. For those drivers, the electronic CDL record is the controlling verification method.
Medical qualification rules are unchanged
The exemption changes only how eligible Alaska credential holders and their employers may document medical certification during the temporary window. It does not waive the requirement to be physically qualified, complete an examination with a certified medical examiner or hold a valid medical certificate. Drivers must still meet all applicable medical standards.
How fleets should document the transition
For an eligible Alaska-issued CDL or CLP holder, retain a legible copy of the paper certificate in the driver qualification file, record its issue date and calculate the 60-day limit. Track when the medical status appears on the electronic driver record and complete the normal verification before the paper allowance expires. Do not extend the exception to a driver whose commercial credential was issued by another jurisdiction.
Driver and fleet takeaway
Alaska-issued drivers should carry a legible paper certificate during the allowed 60-day period, check that their medical status is added electronically and promptly contact the examiner or Alaska licensing agency if it is delayed. Employers should confirm both the issuing state and certificate date before relying on paper and keep the permitted copy in the qualification file. Drivers licensed elsewhere should use the electronic record because the former nationwide paper-certificate transition has ended.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration — Alaska NRII Exemption Renewal
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