Where to Get Medical Check-Ups for a Driving License?

One of the key stages in the process of acquiring entitlements to drive a car is obtaining a medical certificate of fitness to drive a vehicle. What medical examinations for a driving license must a prospective driver undergo, where should they be done, and what do they actually look like? Read our article and find out the answers to these questions. Enjoy the read!

Does Every Driver Have to Undergo a Driving License Medical Check-Up?

The most important step that anyone wishing to start a driving license course must take is obtaining a PKK number (Driver Candidate Profile). To do this, an appropriate application must be submitted to the transport department of the city or town hall, along with attachments such as:

• a driving license medical certificate stating the absence of health contraindications to driving a vehicle,
• a current and colored photograph measuring 3.5 x 4.5 cm,
• parental consent (if the learner is under 18 years of age).

This means that without undergoing the examinations, one cannot begin training at a driving school. A new certificate must also be obtained by individuals who already hold a driving license, but its validity is expiring—after the deadline indicated on the document passes, they must undergo medical check-ups again and obtain a new document.

What Does a Driving License Medical Examination Look Like?

Prospective drivers often wonder what driving license medical check-ups look like. During the examination with an occupational certifying physician, we can expect several stages of the visit:

1. Vision check – at the beginning of the visit, the doctor asks the driver candidate to read a row of letters or numbers from a special Snellen optotype chart, regardless of whether the examinee uses glasses/contact lenses on a daily basis or not. If they wear them, it is important to bring them along for the examination. Information regarding the obligation to drive a vehicle with corrective glasses or contact lenses will be included on the driving license.
2. Hearing and motor ability check – after the vision test, the certifying doctor checks the candidate’s hearing, e.g. by whispering various words from a distance of several meters and asking the examinee to repeat them. Next, the sense of balance is checked—in this part, the doctor may ask the future driver to perform a few simple exercises, such as doing a squat, standing on one leg, or touching the tip of the nose with a fingertip while closing their eyes.
3. Questionnaire regarding mental health and regular medications – the doctor conducting the medical examination may ask several questions to assess whether the candidate is fit to be a driver, i.e., whether they will be able to drive a vehicle without creating a hazard in road traffic.

A visit to the certifying physician typically lasts about a dozen minutes and in the vast majority of cases concludes with obtaining a positive medical certificate for the candidate.

Driving License Medical Examinations – Where to Get Them Done?

Another question that raises doubts among prospective learners: where to get medical check-ups for a driving license?

It is worth knowing that not every physician can conduct them. It must be an authorized practitioner—an occupational health physician (lekarz orzecznik medycyny pracy). Very often, driving schools establish partnerships with specific specialists to whom they refer their learners—this usually comes with a price discount for candidates from that school, so it is worth looking into this matter when choosing the center where you will study. The standard cost of obtaining a medical certificate for a driving license is 200 PLN.

Medical Certificate for a Driving License – Key Takeaways

You now know what the procedure for obtaining a medical certificate for a driving license looks like and where to get it. Remember that if your health is good, the examination will likely be a pure formality. Below we recap the most important pointers you should not forget:

• you do not need any special preparation for the examination. However, remember to bring your identity card and glasses/contact lenses or hearing aid if you use them on a daily basis;
• the maximum validity of the certificate in the case of a healthy individual is 15 years. All contraindications, such as visual impairment, shorten the document’s validity period;
• the cost of the visit is 200 PLN—unless you obtain a discount, e.g. through your driving school.

One must also remember that a medical certificate may only be issued by an occupational physician authorized to do so.

Our profession is a profession of public trust; it is we who guarantee to society that the person collecting their driver’s license at the administrative office holds the proper qualifications to drive a vehicle independently. It is our assessment that translates into safety on our roads. Otherwise, exam results could just as well be determined at random.

Good luck!