Frequently Asked Questions

The requirement is a result of the US Patriot Act (Public Law 107-56 Section 1012), and the Safe Explosives Act (Public Law 107-296, Section 1121-1123), ARS § 28-3103(A)(2), and 49 CFR 1572.

Currently, federal regulations require that all new Commercial Driver License (CDL) applicants or current CDL holders, who are requesting a Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME), successfully complete a Transportation Security Administration fingerprint-based Background Records Check (BRC) prior to issuance of the endorsement.

We will implement the new federal regulations using a phased-in approach as follows:

• January 31, 2005, all new HME applicants will be subject to the BRC requirement
• May 31, 2005, all CDL renewals and transfers with HMEs will be subject to the BRC requirement

New Hazardous Materials Endorsement applications will be processed only at the following MVD CDL offices: Casa Grande, Flagstaff, Goodyear, Holbrook, Kingman, Mesa Southeast, Prescott, Safford, Show Low, Sierra Vista, Tucson CDL and Yuma. For specific locations and hours, see our Office Locations and Hours page.

You may begin the Background Records Check process only after MVD has determined that you have fully qualified for the endorsement by successfully completing all required CDL and Hazardous Materials Endorsement written tests.

Upon successful completion of the written tests, MVD will provide you with a HazMat Background Check Authorization form to present to the authorized fingerprint collection site identified below.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) authorized fingerprint collection sites are:

Flagstaff

Computer Medix 1800 S Milton Rd Suite 13 Flagstaff AZ 86001

M - F 9:00am - 6:00pm Saturday by appointment only, call 928-779-2424 Closed Sunday

Gilbert

Examination Management Services Inc. - Gilbert 201 W Guadalupe Rd Suite 302 Gilbert, AZ 85233

M - F 8:00am - 4:30pm Closed Sa - Su

Kingman

Bits-N-Bytes Computer Centers 2101 Stockton Hill Rd Kingman AZ 86401

M - F 10:00am - 4:00pm, by appointment only, call 928-753-3240 Closed Sa- Su

Tucson

Oschmann Employee Screening Services 3360 S Palo Verde Rd Tucson AZ 85713

M - F 8:00am - 6:00pm Closed Sa - Su

Prior to visiting the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) authorized fingerprint collection site, you must provide TSA with all of the information requested on the Driver’s License Hazardous Materials Endorsement Application to be submitted either:

• Online through the TSA website at www.hazprints.com or
• By phone (toll-free) through the TSA HazMat Call Center at 877-429-7746

TSA will not accept handwritten Hazardous Materials Endorsement applications.

Upon application, MVD charges $10 for administering the written Hazardous Materials Endorsement test.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) charges the following fees for the BRC:

Information Collection Fee	$38
Threat Assessment Fee	$34
FBI Fee	$17.25
Total	$89.25

All fees are non-refundable.

The Transportation Security Administration indicates that the Background Records Check may take from 1 to 8 weeks to complete.

The Transportation Security Administration will notify you of the Background Records Check results by mail whether approved or disapproved for the Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME). If approved for the HME, the applicant may return to the MVD CDL office for issuance of the CDL reflecting the HME.

All applicants for a new Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) are now subject to the federal Background Records Check requirement. This includes current CDL holders without a valid HME applying to upgrade their CDL by adding the HME.

After completing all required Road/Skills tests, you may choose to receive a CDL without the Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) for use until Transportation Security Administration (TSA) approval is received. However, once TSA approval is received, you will need to return to the MVD CDL office and apply for the HazMat-endorsed CDL (since the endorsement fee was already paid, there will be no additional fee charged when exchanging a CDL issued in the interim, for the CDL reflecting the HME.

Upon successful completion of the Background Records Check (BRC), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will only approve issuance of your Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) for up to 5 years. It is the responsibility of the driver to arrange for a new BRC no later than 30 days prior to the expiration of the current TSA approval to avoid cancellation of the CDL.

Current holders of a Class A or B CDL with a Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) that do not meet the qualification requirements established by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), but are otherwise qualified to hold a CDL, must visit an MVD office to relinquish the endorsement. There will be a $12 fee for the re-issuance of a class A or B CDL without the HME.

Since current Arizona law requires either a HazMat or Passenger endorsement on a Class C license, when relinquishing the HME only the drivers that currently hold a valid Passenger endorsement will qualify for the $12 CDL replacement. All affected holders of a class C license without a valid Passenger endorsement must choose one of the following options and all appropriate application and testing fees will apply:

• Apply for a Passenger (P) endorsement to keep the class C license; or
• Apply for a class A or B CDL upgrade and drop the HazMat endorsement; or
• Apply for a non-commercial class D license

If you receive notification from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) indicating that you do not meet the established qualifications for carrying a Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) you must immediately surrender your endorsement to MVD. If otherwise qualified to hold a CDL, you may remove the HME and apply for a duplicate CDL for a $12 fee (if applicable – see question #14 above).

Additional information about the new federal Hazardous Materials Endorsement application and Background Records Check requirements may be found on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website at www.tsa.gov, search by keyword “hazmat”) or you may call the TSA Contact Center toll-free at 866-289-9673.