CDL SELF-CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT

Beginning January 1, 2012 - All CDL and CLP applicants must provide the state a certification as to their type of intended operation in accordance with  49 CFR 383.71(a)(9) and 49 CFR 383.71(b).

Alaska DMV requires that an applicant for a CDL or CLP provide a completed certification on form 413 with every Original, Renewal or Upgrade application. Additionally whenever the driver whishes to change their self certification type(s) a new form 413 must be completed.

If a CDL or CLP holder is changing certifications from their previous application it may required the applicant obtain a duplicate credential to allow for the addition or removal of certain restrictions tied to those certifications. 

When completing the form 413 you will be required to answer a few questions including the certification of how you intend to operate commercial vehicles using your current or future CDL.  

The top of the form 413 must be completed in full with your personal information including:

• Full Legal Name (including any suffix: JR. ,SR. II, III etc.)
• Alaska Driver License number (note: if this is your first application for an Alaskan credential a number will be provided to you by the DMV representative) 
• Date of Birth 
• Email & phone number including area code (note: email and phone numbers are not required but highly recommended to ensure that we can contact you quickly in the event there is an issue with your credential)

Question 1: Do you meet all the requirements contained in the federal government regulations shown on the back of this form? Yes or No

Some individuals may not meet all the requirements for a CDL as outlined on the back of the form (see above) such as not being 21 years old. List the number next to the requirement(s) you do not meet.  This does not necessarily disqualify an individual from obtaining a credential only that the credential may need special restrictions or may only allow a permit to be issued. 

Example(s):

• an individual under 21 is eligible for a CLP or CDL provided it contains the K restriction for Intrastate operations. (1)
• an individual that does not currently hold a valid CDL issued only by one State or jurisdiction is eligible to receive a CDL in Alaska provided they have passed a CDL road test, or only a CLP allowed. (5)
• an individual that has not successfully passed a road test in accordance with 391.31 and does not currently hold a valid CDL then they would be eligible to receive a CLP only. (8)

Question 2 on the Form 413 asks "Are you required to have a federal or state waiver to meet the medical requirements for a Commercial Driver License? (Insulin, vision or skills performance evaluation certificate) If you answered YES, you must provide a copy of the waiver."

All commercial drivers must meet the medical requirements for a CDL. If you require a waiver or skill performance evaluation (SPE) to meet the medical requirements of 49 CFR 391.41(b) in accordance with 2AAC 90.440  you will be required to provide a copy of it at the time of application.

Individuals requiring a waiver or SPE may or may not be required to carry a medical examiners certificate (MCSA 5876). See the Medical Certificate section for more information on those requirements. 

If you are unsure if you meet the medical requirements or require a waiver or SPE it is recommended that you consult an individual that is authorized to issue a Medical Examiners Certificate and is certified under the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NCRME).

If you are required to have a waiver or SPE they will be issued by different agencies based on your operation type.

If you are an Interstate driver you will be required to obtain a waiver or SPE from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). See here for driver exemptions and making that application. Information obtaining a SPE can be found here.

If you are an Intrastate driver you will be required to obtain a waiver from the Alaska Department of Transportation DOT. To request a waiver you may contact the Commercial Vehicle Compliance office here.

See the appropriate section below for more information on Interstate and Intrastate driving.

Question 3: Are you domiciled (permanent residence) in the State of Alaska? 

49 CFR 383.5 “State of domicile”

"means that State where a person has his/her true, fixed, and permanent home and principal residence and to which he/she has the intention of returning whenever he/she is absent."

Individuals that are domiciled in Alaska must present a proof of residence address document containing their first and last name and complete residential address. This document is required at each original issuance, renewal and any upgrades for a CLP or CDL. A list of commonly accepted documents can be found on our Real ID Checklist found here. Please note if this is your first application for a Real ID credential two documents with matching information must be presented. 

Individuals that are not domiciled in Alaska would be ineligible to receive a CLP or CDL unless they meet the exceptions found in 49 CFR 383.71(f) in accordance with AS 28.33.100

1. Domiciled in a foreign jurisdiction that does not provide a CDL equivalent to one issued under 49 CFR 383. (currently includes all foreign countries besides Canada and Mexico)
2. Domiciled in a US State that has been prohibited from issuing CLPs and CDLs in accordance with 49 CFR 384.405 (currently no US State or the District of Columbia has been decertified to issue CLPs or CDLs)

Please note non-domiciled CLPs and CDLs may have limitations placed on their expiration dates as well as special labeling requirements. Non-domiciled CLPs and CDLs have recently become available due changes to AS 28.33.100 that have become effective as of 08/31/2024.

Every CLP or CDL applicant will be required to select one type based on how they intend to use their current or future CDL. 

They are broken into two categories with four possible selections:

Excepted vs Non-Excepted

 &

Interstate vs Intrastate

Explanations of each type can be found below to help you determine your type of operation.

For the purpose of complying with the requirements for medical certification, it is important to know how you are using the CMV. 

To help you decide, follow these steps:

Step 1: Are you age 21 or older?

Under 49 CFR 391.11  drivers that participate in Interstate commerce must be at least 21 years old.

If you are under 21 years old you are only eligible for Intrastate types of operation. 2 AAC 90.210(h).

Step 2: If 21 or older do you, or will you, use a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to operate a CMV in interstate or intrastate commerce?

• Interstate commerce is when you drive a CMV:
  • From one State to another State or a foreign country
  • Between two places within a State, but during part of the trip, the CMV crosses into another State or foreign country
  • Between two places within a State, but the cargo or passengers are part of a trip that began or will end in another State or foreign country
• Intrastate commerce is when you drive a CMV within a State and you do not meet any of the descriptions above for interstate commerce
• If you operate in both intrastate commerce and interstate commerce, you must choose interstate commerce

Participating in either Interstate or Intrastate commerce you must also certify if you are operating in an type of operation that requires you to maintain a valid and unexpired Medical Examiners Certificate also known as a "Med Card". 

The vast majority of commercial vehicle operations require a driver to maintain a Med Card with the department in accordance with 49 CFR 391.45. These are known as "Non-Excepted" types of operation. 

Medical Certificate requirements are waived on some types of operations, these are called "Excepted". If you drive exclusively as one of the following, you must still meet all the medical qualifications under 49 CFR Part 391 Subpart E but do not need a medical certificate.

• Federal, State, Municipal or Borough government employees
• To transport human corpses or sick or injured persons
• Fire truck or rescue vehicle drivers during emergencies and other related activities
• Primarily in the transportation of propane winter heating fuel when responding to an emergency condition requiring immediate response such as damage to a propane gas system after a storm or flooding
• In response to a pipeline emergency condition requiring immediate response such as a pipeline leak or rupture
• In custom harvesting on a farm or to transport farm machinery and supplies used in the custom harvesting operation to and from a farm or to transport custom harvested crops to storage or market
• Beekeeper in the seasonal transportation of bees
• Controlled and operated by a farmer, but is not a combination vehicle (power unit and towed unit), and is used to transport agricultural products, farm machinery or farm supplies (no placard-able hazardous materials) to and from a farm and within 150 air-miles of the farm
• As a private motor carrier of passengers for non-business purposes
• To transport migrant workers

If you drive or will drive any other type of operation even incidentally, you are considered "Non-excepted", and are required to have a valid medical examiners certificate while your CDL remains valid.

Special Note:

To transport school children and/or school staff between home and school is also listed in the federal regulation as an "Excepted" type of operation however Alaska Statute 28.15.046 requires a DOT medical certificate be held with an Alaska issued license with a school bus endorsement. That endorsement may be surrendered at any time by an individual and the medical certificate would no longer be required if still under an "Excepted" type of operation.

More information regarding obtaining an Alaska School Bus endorsement is available here.

For more information, please see:

• Federal Motor Carrier Safety FAQ regarding Self-Certifying
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations - 49 CFR 390.3 (f)

Drivers that certify they participate in "Non-Excepted" types of operation will be required to provide a valid and unexpired MCSA-5876 at the time of the application if one has not already been filed with the department. 

Drivers that participate in both Excepted and Non-Excepted types of operation must choose non-excepted interstate commerce. 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has provided guidance on determining if you participate in Excepted or Non-Excepted operations.