If you come in for your DOT physical exam and it is determined by your doctor that your blood pressure is too high, what should you know?  The most frequently asked question about this scenario is how many times can I take the test before I am completely disqualified?  The answer is one.

If a driver has blood pressure that is too high, and this is the first time this has happened to this particular driver, we can give the driver a temporary 3 month medical card.  In this time span of three months, the driver must find a way to lower his/her blood pressure.  The most popular way of lowering the blood pressure is with a prescription from a medical doctor.  If you choose to go this route, make sure that when you come back to get your one year medical card, you TAKE YOUR PRESCRIPTION THE DAY OF YOUR APPOINTMENT!

If the driver fails to lower their blood pressure after the three months, they are disqualified and unable to drive.  If they are able to lower the pressure to below 139/89, they can be given a one year medical card.  Once a driver has been found to have abnormally high blood pressure, they can only be certified for one year from that point on.