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RailwayCertification Time Limits (49 CFR 240.217)
Twenty flashcards on how old each test can be, how long a certificate lasts and other deadlines of engineer certification.
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20 cards
- How old can the eligibility data be when the railroad certifies?
- No more than 366 days before the certification decision.
- How old can the vision and hearing exam be?
- No more than 450 days before the recertification decision.
- How old can the knowledge exam normally be?
- No more than 366 days before the certification decision.
- When can a knowledge exam be up to 24 months old?
- When the railroad runs knowledge testing at intervals that do not exceed 24 months.
- How old can the skills test be?
- No more than 366 days before the certification decision.
- What is the longest interval a railroad may certify an engineer for?
- 36 months.
- Can a railroad rely on another railroad's certificate of any age?
- No, not one that is more than 36 months old.
- How soon must the certificate be issued after the decision?
- No later than 30 days from the decision to certify or recertify.
- Do these age limits apply when relying on another railroad's determinations?
- No, they do not apply in those cases the rule lists.
- How old can motor vehicle driving incidents be to count?
- The railroad may not consider incidents from more than 36 months before the month of its decision.
- How long can a student engineer certificate count toward a later certificate without a new acuity review?
- Not more than twenty-four months.
- How often is each engineer observed in operational monitoring?
- At least once each calendar year, by a Designated Supervisor of Locomotive Engineers.
- How often does each engineer get an unannounced compliance test?
- At least once each calendar year.
- What happens when an engineer returns to certified service after time away?
- A monitoring observation and an unannounced test within 30 days of the return.
- When during the day are unannounced tests given?
- Spread throughout whatever portion of the 24-hour day the railroad operates.
- Are unannounced tests announced to the engineer?
- No, they are given without prior notice.
- Which dates must the certificate show?
- The effective date of each certification held and the date of the last operational monitoring event.
- What size must a paper certificate be?
- Small enough to carry in an ordinary pocket wallet, or it can be electronic.
- When must an engineer report worse vision or hearing?
- Before any further locomotive operation, once it no longer meets the standards.
- Who signs the certificate?
- A supervisor of locomotive engineers or another person the railroad designates in writing.
Official sources
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), via eCFR
49 CFR Part 240: Qualification and Certification of Locomotive Engineers
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