German Opticians Authorized to Conduct Vision Tests for Professional Driver Licenses

Effective August 18, 2026, qualified optical businesses in Germany are authorized to conduct and certify vision examinations for applicants seeking professional driver licenses. This change follows the publication of an amendment to the Professional Driver Qualification Ordinance on August 17, 2026, which updated the Driving License Ordinance (FeV). The new regulations allow opticians to perform tests under Annex 6 No. 2.1 FeV for license classes C, C1, CE, C1E, D, D1, DE, and D1E, as well as for passenger transport licenses. Medical examination options remain unaffected. The update explicitly designates optical businesses as additional authorized testing sites, marking a significant expansion of their responsibilities within the regulatory framework.