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Criteria for FMCSA 

Certification of Safety Auditors, Safety 

Investigators and Driver/Vehicle Inspectors

March 4, 2002 

What is FMCSA Certification - 

The attainment of certification is a means for individuals to indicate to the 

general public, coworkers, employers, and others that Federal Motor Carrier 

Safety Administration (FMCSA) has determined that they are qualified to 

perform specific technical tasks. Certification also bestows a sense of 

achievement upon the recipient, since it reflects professional advancement in 

a chosen field. 

What are the types of FMCSA Certification? 

Compliance Review 

Safety Audit 

Driver and Vehicle inspections 
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What are the requirements for each type of certification? 

1. Certified to conduct Compliance Reviews 

 

Basic Certification: 

- Successfully complete the FMCSA North American Standard – 

Level I, General Hazardous Materials and Compliance Review 

courses; or successfully complete the FMCSA Safety 

Investigator Academy. 

Maintenance of Certification 

- During the first 60 days after completion of classroom training, 

must conduct a minimum of 4 Compliance Reviews (CR) with 

a senior, experienced State or Federal CR investigator. 

- Required to complete 6 compliance reviews annually 

- Meet minimum documented quality levels in the compliance 

review process. 

o Example: Use of management reports to establish 

percentage of norm 

- Successfully complete any FMCSA required training. 

o Example: Cargo Tank / Bulk Packaging, Refresher training 

in Drug and Alcohol regulations, Hours of Service, etc. 

Decertification 

- Occurs when any one of the requirements established under 

Maintenance of Certification are not met 

 

Recertification 

- Must meet FMCSA requirements based upon areas of 

deficiency in Maintenance of Certification. 

(Example: Additional Hazardous Materials training) 
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2. Certified to conduct Safety Audits 

Basic Certification: 

- Successfully complete the FMCSA Safety Audit course. 

(Three-week course including general hazardous materials 

training.) 

Maintenance of Certification 

- Required to complete 24 safety audits annually. 

- Meet minimum documented quality levels in the safety audit 

process. 

o Example: Management reports – establish percentage of 

norm 

- Successfully complete any FMCSA required training. 

o Example: Refresher training in Drug and Alcohol 

regulations, Hours of Service, etc. 

Decertification 

- Occurs when any one of the requirements established under 

Maintenance of Certification are not met 

Recertification 

- Successfully complete the FMCSA Safety Audit course. 

OR 

- Participants may challenge the FMCSA Safety Audit course. If 

they fail, then they must successfully complete the course. 

AND 

- He or she must complete additional requirement established by 

FMCSA 

 
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3. Certified to conduct Driver/Vehicle Inspections 

I. Basic Certification: 

- Successfully complete the FMCSA Driver / Vehicle Inspection 

-Level I North American Standard course or equivalent. 

- During the first year after completion of classroom training, 

must conduct a minimum of 30 Level I or V inspections with a 

senior, experienced State or Federal inspector 

Maintenance of Certification 

- Required to complete 32 Level I and/or V inspections annually. 

- Meet minimum documented quality levels in the driver / 

vehicle inspections process. 

o Example: Management reports – establish percentage of 

norm 

- Successfully complete any FMCSA required training. 

o Example: Cargo Tank / Bulk Packaging, Refresher training 

in Hours of Service, etc. 

Decertification 

- Occurs when any one of the requirements established under 

Maintenance of Certification are not met 

Recertification 

- Must meet FMCSA requirements based upon areas of 

deficiency in Maintenance of Certification. 

(Example: Additional on-the-job training) 
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II. Specialized Certification (HM Inspections, Cargo Tank/Bulk 

Packaging Inspections, or Motorcoach/Bus Inspections): 

- Successfully complete the specialized FMCSA inspection 

course (general HM inspection, Cargo Tank/Bulk Packaging 

inspection, or Motorcoach/Bus inspection) or equivalent. 

- During the first year after completion of classroom training, 

must conduct a minimum number of specialized inspections 

with a senior, experienced State or Federal inspector: 

o For HM inspections: 16 

o For Cargo Tank/Bulk Packaging inspections: 16 

o For Motorcoach/Bus inspections: 24 Level I or V 

Maintenance of Certification 

- Required to complete a minimum number of specialized 

inspections annually: 

o For HM inspections: 8 

o For Cargo Tank/Bulk Packaging inspections: 8 

o For Motorcoach/Bus inspections: 8 Level I or V 

- Meet minimum documented quality levels in the driver / 

vehicle inspections process. 

o Example: Management reports – establish percentage of 

norm 

- Successfully complete any FMCSA required training. 

o Example: Cargo Tank / Bulk Packaging, Refresher training 

in Hours of Service, etc. 

Decertification 

- Occurs when any one of the requirements established under 

Maintenance of Certification are not met 
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Recertification 

- Must meet FMCSA requirements based upon areas of 

deficiency in Maintenance of Certification. 

(Example: Additional on-the-job training) 
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TRAINING REQUIREMENTS 

Compliance Review 

To achieve initial certification to conduct a compliance review, the 

individual must successfully complete the courses that would provide a 

minimum level of knowledge in the FMCSR and HMR. The training would 

include, but not be limited to, the following: 

 Title 49, CFR Parts - 382, 383, 390, 391, 392, 393,395, 396, 397 

 Title 49, CFR Parts – 107, 171, 172, 173, 177, 178, 180 

 Field Operations Training Manual 

Computer software – currently this would include Capri, CDLIS and 

MCREGIS 

Safety Audit 

To achieve initial certification to conduct a safety audit, the individual must 

successfully complete the courses that would provide a minimum level of 

knowledge in the FMCSR and HMR. The training would include, but not be 

limited to, the following: 

 

Title 49, CFR Parts – 382, 383, 390, 391, 392, 393, 395, 396, 397 

Title 49, CFR Part – 107, 171, 172, 173, 177, 178, 180 

Field Operations Training Manual 

Computer software – Safety Audit system, CDLIS and MCREGIS

Driver/Vehicle Inspections 

To achieve initial certification to conduct a driver/vehicle inspection, the 

individual must successfully complete the courses that would provide 

minimum level of knowledge in the FMCSR. The training would include, 

but not be limited to, the following: 

 Title 49, CFR Parts – 383, 390, 391, 392, 393, 395, 396, 397 

CVSA/FMCSA Out of Service Criteria 
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Field Operations Training Manual 

 Computer software - ASPEN and CDLIS 

- For specialized certifications, the individual must successfully 

complete the courses that would provide minimum level of 

knowledge in the specialized area, such as general HM, Cargo 

Tank/Bulk Packaging, and Motorcoach/Bus.