Question 1

Can a driver who has undergone a surgical procedure which involved dural penetration be certified?

Accepted Answer

No, the driver cannot be certified.
Surgical procedures which involve dural penetration can often lead to subsequent epilepsy. Therefore, a driver who has undergone such a procedure cannot be considered for certification.

Question 2

A driver presents who has suffered a stroke. The driver has brainstem vascular lesions. Can the driver be certified?

Accepted Answer

The driver can be certified after a one-year waiting period.
A driver who has suffered a stroke may or may not be at increased risk for seizures, depending on the location of the lesions. A driver with brainstem vascular lesions is not at an increased risk for seizures, and may be certified following a one-year waiting period.

Question 3

A driver presents with a hernia. Can the driver be certified?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if the hernia does not cause discomfort or interfere with driving.
In general, a hernia should not interfere with a driver's ability to operate a commercial vehicle. In some cases, additional tests may be required, but generally speaking, a driver with a hernia can be certified as long as the hernia does not cause discomfort or interfere with the driver's ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Question 4

A driver who has been diagnosed as bipolar and has attempted suicide must wait a minimum of how long before becoming certified?

Accepted Answer

One year symptom free
When a driver has been diagnosed as bipolar and has attempted suicide, the driver must wait a minimum of one year symptom free before becoming certified.

Question 5

A driver presents whose left hand has been amputated. Can this driver be certified?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if the qualifications of a Skill Performance Evaluation are met
The amputation of a leg, foot, arm, or hand does not necessarily prevent a driver from becoming certified. A driver may be allowed to drive if the qualification requirements for a Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) certificate under 49 CFR 391.49 are met.

Question 6

A driver who has an impairment that affects the torso can be certified under which of the following guidelines?

Accepted Answer

The driver cannot be certified
While drivers may be certified with certain fixed deficits of extremities, a driver who has an impairment that affects the torso may not be certified.

Question 7

A driver has a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The driver cannot be certified if he/she also has which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Active psychosis
A diagnosis of schizophrenia alone does not necessarily disqualify a driver. There are other conditions, however, that prevent certification of a driver when there is also a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Among these is active psychosis.

Question 8

A driver with diabetes mellitus cannot be certified if he/she has experienced which of the following in the last twelve months?

Accepted Answer

All of the above
A driver who has diabetes mellitus cannot become certified if he/she has experienced any of the following in the preceding twelve months: loss of consciousness, seizure, or a period of impaired cognitive function.

Question 9

Can a driver who has a history of childhood febrile seizures be certified?

Accepted Answer

Yes, provided the seizures were limited to childhood.
Childhood febrile seizures are relatively common and in many cases, so mild that the child is not aware of them. An adult who suffered childhood febrile seizures can be certified as a driver, provided the seizures were limited to childhood.

Question 10

Allergic rhinitis is a condition which rarely renders a driver incapable of operating a vehicle. However, a driver cannot be certified if he/she presents with allergic rhinitis and which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Sinusitis with severe headaches
Although allergic rhinitis is generally a benign condition which would not prevent a driver from becoming certified, when it is accompanied by certain other conditions, the driver may not be certified. Among those conditions is sinusitis with severe headaches.

Question 11

Which of the following is true regarding a driver with mitral valve prolapse?

Accepted Answer

The driver can be certified provided treatment has been shown to be safe and effective.
Mitral valve prolapse is frequently a benign condition. Provided that treatment for the condition has been proven to be safe and effective, the driver may be certified.

Question 12

According to federal guidelines, a medical examiner must disqualify drivers under which of the following circumstances?

Accepted Answer

All of the above
There are many conditions that could potentially disqualify a driver. Among those are taking methadone, a history of epilepsy, and a current diagnosis of alcoholism.

Question 13

A driver who has an anxiety disorder and who is prescribed a sedating anxiolytic should:

Accepted Answer

Not be certified.
Because studies have shown that there is likely a link between sedating anxiolytics and car accidents, drivers who take them should not be certified.

Question 14

A driver with type 2 diabetes who takes Byetta can be certified under which of the following guidelines?

Accepted Answer

Can be certified without exemptions
Incretinmimetics, such as Byetta, are not insulin and be used without exemptions. The driver may be certified provided the treatment has proven to be safe and effective.

Question 15

A driver who has had bacterial meningitis and early seizures must complete a mandatory waiting period of how long?

Accepted Answer

Five years seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication
Neurological waiting periods vary according to condition and severity. A driver who has had bacterial meningitis and early seizures must wait a minimum of five years seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication.

Question 16

In order to be certified, a driver who has suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) must do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Be seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication for the entire waiting period
The length of time an individual is seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication is considered the best predictor of future risk for seizures. Therefore, for the entire waiting period before being considered for certification, the driver must be both seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication for the entire waiting period.

Question 17

Can a driver with diabetes mellitus who uses insulin become certified?

Accepted Answer

Yes, provided the driver meets the federal insulin therapy guidelines
If the driver with diabetes mellitus uses insulin, use the Federal Diabetes Exemption Program
and insulin therapy guidelines to determine certification status.

Question 18

A driver with a fixed deficit of an extremity may be certified provided the loss is not due to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Progressive disease
A driver with a fixed deficit of an extremity may be certified to drive provided he/she has earned an SPE. An exception to this occurs when the loss of the extremity is due to a progressive disease, such as multiple sclerosis.

Question 19

A driver who has been diagnosed with vertigo may not be certified if he/she also has a diagnosis of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Labyrinthine fistula
There are several conditions which, if the driver has vertigo, will prevent the driver's certification. These include: labyrinthine fistula, Meniere's disease, benign positional vertigo and has been symptomatic within the past two months, acute and chronic peripheral vestibulopathy and has been symptomatic within the past two months, and nonfunctioning labyrinths.

Question 20

A number of requirements must be met in order for a driver to pass a vision exam and be certified. Which of the following would prevent a driver from being certified by a medical examiner?

Accepted Answer

Inability to distinguish among traffic devices showing red, amber, and green colors
The color vision requirement is met by the ability to recognize and distinguish among red, amber, and green, the standard colors of traffic control signals and devices. True color perception is not required. A driver who lacks the ability to distinguish between red, amber, and green cannot be certified.

Quiz 1: Certification Outcomes and Intervals