Policy

A client must meet the minimum medical and vision acuity standard requirements for each licence classification pursuant to the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) – National Safety Code Standard 6.

Medicals

The Operator Licensing and Vehicle Control Regulation indicates that a client must disclose all personal information of a medical nature/physical disability that may affect their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. The Registry Agent Medical Approval Guide (pdf) provides the information for medical approvers to assess medical conditions and determine the approval or denial of a driver’s licence.

The following clients must submit a medical report prior to licensing:

• Clients with a medical condition and/or physical disability that may affect their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. 
• Clients 75 years of age or older.
• Clients applying for a class 1, 2 or 4 licence. 
• Clients applying for a class 3 licence who intend to operate commercially in the United States.
  • These clients must be referred to Driver Monitoring and Compliance (DMC), Driver Fitness unit at 780-427-8230. There is no change to registry agent processing of class 3 licences at this time.

Note:
If a client has questions or concerns regarding the review of their medical documents, they may contact the Traffic Safety Services Client Support Centre at 780-427-8230; toll free in Alberta by dialing 310-0000.  Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:15am - 12 noon and 1:00pm to 4:30pm.

When the client indicates the existence of a medical condition that may affect their ability to drive and a medical report is not presented, a registry agent must:

• Place an alert on the client file on MOVES noting a medical condition exists.
  • A registry agent must not enter the specific medical condition(s) of the client on the alert.  
  • A registry agent must send a screen capture of the MOVES alert along with a note of the actual medical condition or other pertinent information, then send to Driver Fitness for follow-up.

If the client submits a licence application for the first time without the required medical report, a registry agent must:

• Not issue an Alberta operator’s licence. 
• Inform the client that a medical report is required in order to apply for a driver’s licence.

If the client applies for a licence renewal without the required medical report:

• An exception may be applied to complete renewal service for clients requesting a class 3, 5, 6 or 7 licence (including those who have an existing condition code C). 
• A registry agent must renew the licence for a one year term and inform the client they must submit a medical within the next 30 days; see 3.15.03 Operator Renewal.
• A registry agent must place an alert on the file indicating the client must provide a driver’s medical within 30 days and send a copy of the alert to DMC, Driver Fitness.
  • A registry agent is not required to follow up to ensure the client submits a medical within 30 days.

Medical Report

The following sections of the Medical Examination for Motor Vehicle Operators (TRANS3050) medical report must be completed in full:

• Client Information – Name, address, birthdate, etc. 
• Section A – Medical History and Physical Examination/Medical Assessment and Physical Examination. 
  • When there are blank fields [3(f), 6(a) and/or 6(b)] on the medical report version 2012/07 but the “Yes”/”No” boxes are checked, the assumption will be that there are no issues to report.  These medicals can be accepted provided the form is signed by a physician.
• Section B – Physician’s Statement and Certificate. 
• Section C – Operator’s Certificate and Waiver.

The medical report must be:

• Completed by one of the following:
  • A general practitioner and/or specialist who is a regulated member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.
  • A nurse practitioner who is a regulated member of the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta.
  • A general practitioner or nurse practitioner who has a similar status in another Canadian jurisdiction outside of Alberta. 
• Not more than six months old from the date of the medical examination. 
• Original and legible.
  • Reports created in electronic devices (e.g. PC, laptops, tablets, iPod/iPad, etc.) with an electronic signature are acceptable. 
  • Faxed copies of a medical must not be accepted unless they are faxed directly from the doctor’s office.
  • If changes are made to the medical by the practitioner who completed it (for example, medical is completed electronically but some questions or notes are made by pen), the practitioner must initial beside each change.
• Approved by individuals who have received a registry agent Medical Approver Certification number.
  • Registry agents who are not authorized medical approvers can only sign and approve reports when there are no medical conditions indicated and the client does not have any condition codes on their profile.
  • The Approver’s Certification Number must be recorded next to the office location (P) number when signing a medical approval.

Medical approvers may contact the doctor’s office when the medical is incomplete or illegible and request them to fax a complete or clear report.

• Approvers must not request information from the doctor about the patient and/or complete the form on behalf of the doctor. They are only allowed to communicate which questions or sections are incomplete/illegible and request the report be faxed to the agent office.

Medical approvers or registry agents must not write outside of any of the designated sections of the medical report. Notations can only be made in the section designated for “Government Use”.

Civil Aviation Medical Examination Report    

A Civil Aviation Medical Examination Report (26-0010E Transport Canada) may be accepted in place of the Medical Examination for Motor Vehicle Operators form (TRANS3050) for all licence classes and all applicable driver’s licence services if it meets the following requirements. Any registry agent may accept a Civil Aviation Medical Examination Report (a Medical Approver Certification number is not required).

Note: 
A Civil Aviation Medical Examination Report provided by a client will not be an original copy as the original is provided to the Government of Canada.

The report must:

• Indicate Category 1 in the “Type of Medical Category Desired” box (Part A),
• Be dated and completed within the last six months (Part C) (must include a signature from a witness. A registry agent must not sign as the witness if the witness field is left blank.) 
  and
• Indicate a Category level 1 renewal for the “Category Renewed by CAME” field (Part C).

If the report does not meet all of the above criteria, a registry agent must advise the client to provide a completed Medical Examination for Motor Vehicle Operators form (TRANS3050).

If the Civil Aviation Medical Examination Report meets the above requirements, a registry agent must: 

• Process the applicable driver’s licence service.
  • If the medical report indicates a medical condition that would normally result in a licence term shorter than five years, the licence must be issued for a one-year term, however a registry agent must not add a condition code C.
• Send a copy of the medical report to DMC, Driver Fitness once the driver’s licence service is completed.

Driver Fitness will confirm:

• The individual meets the minimum medical and visual standards for the class of licence they are applying for, and
• Verify the Civil Aviation Medical Examination Report was completed by an Approved Civil Aviation Medical Examiner (CAME).
  • If any discrepancies are found, Driver Fitness will follow-up with the client directly.
• Whether the client is required to return to have the licence term adjusted or any condition codes added. 

Out of Province Medicals

All out of province medical forms must be sent to DMC for approval prior to issuing an Alberta driver’s licence.

Note: A registry agent must not accept out of country medicals.

Vision

Clients must meet the minimum visual standards required for drivers.  When the client does not meet the minimum visual standards the registry agent must not proceed with the operator service and a vision referral is required; see Visual Referral Report (TRANS3156) (pdf).  The minimum vision standard requirements for each licence classification are identified in the Registry Agent Medical Approval Guide (pdf):

Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators Medical Standards for Drivers

 

Licence Class	Minimum Corrected Acuity
5, 6, 7	Not less than 6/15 (20/50) with both eyes open and examined together.
4 Taxi 5 Commercial	Not less than 6/12 (20/40) with both eyes open and examined together.  Weaker eye not less than 6/60 (20/200).
1, 2, 3 4 Emergency Vehicles	Not less than 6/9 (20/30) with both eyes open and examined together.  Weaker eye not less than 6/30 (20/100).

Vision Screening Required

Vision screening is required when a client’s medical report indicates: 

• Corrected vision and the file does not have a Condition Code A.
  or 
• Uncorrected vision and the file has a Condition Code A.

A registry agent must: 

• Complete a full vision screening which must include: 
  • Acuity (best possible reading for left eye, right eye and both eyes together). 
  • Field of Vision/Peripheral. 
  • Depth Perception. 
  • Colour Perception.
• Record the results of the completed vision screening on the Application for an Operator’s Licence (REG3115) or on the back of the Test Permit (REG0244). 
• Add or delete a Condition Code A, if applicable, to the client’s driver’s licence.

Note:
A registry agent is not required to complete vision screening when a client presents vision screening results from an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist.

Translators / Sign Language Interpreters

Clients are allowed to have the aid of a translator or a professional sign language interpreter to complete the vision screening for Class 7, 5, 6 and 3 licences.

• Clients are not allowed to have the aid of a translator for vision screening for Class 1, 2 and 4 licences. 
  • A registry agent must place an alert on the client’s file. The alert must be worded as follows:
    Client passed the Class ______ Knowledge Test at_______ (Registry Agent’s name) on _______ (date).  Vision screening must be completed without the aid of a translator.

The use of a professional sign language interpreter is permitted for clients with hearing loss.

Note: 
The professional sign language interpreter must show an active membership card from the Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada or an equivalent entity.

Imaging

All medical/visual referral reports and vision screenings must be sent for imaging; see the appropriate sub-section in 1.15 Imaging.

Date Originally Issued: Nov 14, 1989
Date Last Revised: Aug 21, 2025