LOS ANGELES -- Implementation of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration proposed National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners program has been delayed, most likely until spring 2010.

Speaking at a chiropractic convention here last month, Linda Phillips, a program director for the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners program, said that implementing the plan has proven to be a daunting task as regulators attempt to iron out regulatory and statutory issues.

"This has caused some delay in the program and we estimate the final rule will be published in the spring of 2010," said Phillips.

The proposed program will require all medical examiners who wish to perform U.S. Department of Transportation examinations to participate in either online or lecture training, and submit to and pass a federal written examination.

Upon successful completion of the training, examiners will be listed in a national registry available for trucking, motorcoach and school bus companies to access when looking for USDOT-approved physical exam providers.

The FMCSA estimates it will need 40,000 examiners to implement the program, which is expected to be phased in over a three-year period beginning 60 days after the final rule is published.

Details remain fluid, but the program appears to be shaping up as follows:

Any doctor of chiropractic, medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, advanced practice nurse, or physician's assistant will be able to train and be certified as USDOT-certified medical examiners.

All examiners will be on par with each other since all will have taken the same training and passed the same examination.

All training must meet core curriculum requirements set forth by the FMCSA.

Training programs may be conducted online or via didactic lecture.

Estimates suggest lecture training may take 12-36 hours; online training may take 8-14 hours.

The program provides for disciplinary, appeal and removal procedures from the registry.

Certification is expected to last six years; update training will be required every three years and retesting will be required after six years.

The entire training and testing program will be required to be retaken every 12 years.