2025 /2026 NRCME EXAM WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS
vision requirements - CORRECT ANSWERS- 20/40 each eye and 20/40 both
eyes
peripheral vision - CORRECT ANSWERS- 70 degrees
Federal exemption for monocular vision: can certify for how long? - CORRECT
ANSWERS- 1
year
hearing requirements - CORRECT ANSWERS- whisper at not less than 5 feet
better ear, or average hearing loss no greater than 40 dB at 500Hz, 1000Hz,
2000
Hz.
name 4 otic conditions that are automatic DQs - CORRECT ANSWERS-
Meniere's, uncontrolled vertigo, labyrinthine fistula, nonfunctioning labyrinth
Max cert period for being on anticoagulation for a CV condition - CORRECT
ANSWERS- 1
year
3 criteria for certification if patient on anticoagulation for a CV condition -
CORRECT ANSWERS- 1. Stable on meds for 1 month
2. Provide copy of INR at exam
3. Have INR checked and monitored at least monthly
True or false: driver on anticoagulation for CVA can be certified for max 1
year - CORRECT ANSWERS- False. Should not be certified due to high risk of
bleeding
5 reasons to DQ a driver with AAA - CORRECT ANSWERS- 1.
Symptomatic
2. AAA
>5cm
3. AAA 4-5 cm and does not have clearance from a
cardiologist
4. AAA increased in size 0.5cm in 6
months
5. Surgical repair was recommended but not
done
Max size of a thoracic aneurysm that can be certified - CORRECT
ANSWERS-
3.5
cm
NRCME
, Min waiting period for PE - CORRECT ANSWERS- 3 months
Max cert period for Syncope - CORRECT ANSWERS- 1 year (needs
neurologist clearance)
Post MI drivers can be certified for 1 year with all 5 of these criteria: (almost
the same criteria for post CABG) (first 4 also apply for CHF drivers) -
CORRECT ANSWERS- 1. Asymptomatic
2. Tolerating meds
3. Satisfactory ETT with workload capacity of 6 METs (has to have this
biennially)
4. LVEF >=40%
5. No ST depression on ECG - for post CABG this one is replaced by
completely healed sternal incision
Stable angina: max cert period - CORRECT ANSWERS- 1 year
minimum waiting period post CABG - CORRECT ANSWERS- 3 months
Min waiting period for post heart transplant - CORRECT ANSWERS- 1 year
Max cert period for post heart transplant - CORRECT ANSWERS- 6 months
Min waiting period post PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) - CORRECT
ANSWERS- 1
week
Min waiting period for pacemaker implantation for sinus node dysfunction -
CORRECT ANSWERS- 1
month
Min waiting period for pacemaker implantation for neurocardiogenic syncope
or hypersensitive carotid sinus with syncope - CORRECT ANSWERS- 3
month
s
Min waiting period post AAA repair - CORRECT ANSWERS- 3 months
True or false: having an ICD is automatic DQ - CORRECT ANSWERS- true
True or false: dx of severe aortic stenosis is automatic DQ - CORRECT
ANSWERS-
true
Max certification post aortic valve repair - CORRECT ANSWERS- 1 year
Do not certify for moderate aortic stenosis if they have 1 of these 5 things -
CORRECT ANSWERS- angina, CHF, A fib, LVEF <50%, thromboembolic
diseas
e
How often to repeat echo for aortic stenosis? (answer for both mild and
moderate AS) - CORRECT ANSWERS- Mild: 5
years
NRCME
CORRECT ANSWERS
vision requirements - CORRECT ANSWERS- 20/40 each eye and 20/40 both
eyes
peripheral vision - CORRECT ANSWERS- 70 degrees
Federal exemption for monocular vision: can certify for how long? - CORRECT
ANSWERS- 1
year
hearing requirements - CORRECT ANSWERS- whisper at not less than 5 feet
better ear, or average hearing loss no greater than 40 dB at 500Hz, 1000Hz,
2000
Hz.
name 4 otic conditions that are automatic DQs - CORRECT ANSWERS-
Meniere's, uncontrolled vertigo, labyrinthine fistula, nonfunctioning labyrinth
Max cert period for being on anticoagulation for a CV condition - CORRECT
ANSWERS- 1
year
3 criteria for certification if patient on anticoagulation for a CV condition -
CORRECT ANSWERS- 1. Stable on meds for 1 month
2. Provide copy of INR at exam
3. Have INR checked and monitored at least monthly
True or false: driver on anticoagulation for CVA can be certified for max 1
year - CORRECT ANSWERS- False. Should not be certified due to high risk of
bleeding
5 reasons to DQ a driver with AAA - CORRECT ANSWERS- 1.
Symptomatic
2. AAA
>5cm
3. AAA 4-5 cm and does not have clearance from a
cardiologist
4. AAA increased in size 0.5cm in 6
months
5. Surgical repair was recommended but not
done
Max size of a thoracic aneurysm that can be certified - CORRECT
ANSWERS-
3.5
cm
NRCME
, Min waiting period for PE - CORRECT ANSWERS- 3 months
Max cert period for Syncope - CORRECT ANSWERS- 1 year (needs
neurologist clearance)
Post MI drivers can be certified for 1 year with all 5 of these criteria: (almost
the same criteria for post CABG) (first 4 also apply for CHF drivers) -
CORRECT ANSWERS- 1. Asymptomatic
2. Tolerating meds
3. Satisfactory ETT with workload capacity of 6 METs (has to have this
biennially)
4. LVEF >=40%
5. No ST depression on ECG - for post CABG this one is replaced by
completely healed sternal incision
Stable angina: max cert period - CORRECT ANSWERS- 1 year
minimum waiting period post CABG - CORRECT ANSWERS- 3 months
Min waiting period for post heart transplant - CORRECT ANSWERS- 1 year
Max cert period for post heart transplant - CORRECT ANSWERS- 6 months
Min waiting period post PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) - CORRECT
ANSWERS- 1
week
Min waiting period for pacemaker implantation for sinus node dysfunction -
CORRECT ANSWERS- 1
month
Min waiting period for pacemaker implantation for neurocardiogenic syncope
or hypersensitive carotid sinus with syncope - CORRECT ANSWERS- 3
month
s
Min waiting period post AAA repair - CORRECT ANSWERS- 3 months
True or false: having an ICD is automatic DQ - CORRECT ANSWERS- true
True or false: dx of severe aortic stenosis is automatic DQ - CORRECT
ANSWERS-
true
Max certification post aortic valve repair - CORRECT ANSWERS- 1 year
Do not certify for moderate aortic stenosis if they have 1 of these 5 things -
CORRECT ANSWERS- angina, CHF, A fib, LVEF <50%, thromboembolic
diseas
e
How often to repeat echo for aortic stenosis? (answer for both mild and
moderate AS) - CORRECT ANSWERS- Mild: 5
years
NRCME
