---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 C.F.R. § 242.201"
title: "49"
number: "242.201"
heading: "Time limitations for certification."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/49/242.201"
---

# §242.201. Time limitations for certification.

- (a) After the pertinent date in § [242.105(d)](/cfr/49/242.105.md?p=d) or [(e)](/cfr/49/242.105.md?p=e), a railroad shall not certify or recertify a person as a conductor in any type of service, if the railroad is making:
  - (1) A determination concerning eligibility under §§ [242.111](/cfr/49/242.111.md), [242.113](/cfr/49/242.113.md), [242.115](/cfr/49/242.115.md), and [242.403](/cfr/49/242.403.md) and the eligibility data being relied on was furnished more than 366 days before the date of the railroad's certification decision;
  - (2) A determination concerning visual and hearing acuity and the medical examination being relied on was conducted more than 450 days before the date of the railroad's certification decision;
  - (3) A determination concerning demonstrated knowledge and the knowledge examination being relied on was conducted more than 366 days before the date of the railroad's certification decision except as provided for in [paragraph (a)(4)](#a-4) of this section; or
  - (4) A determination concerning demonstrated knowledge and the knowledge examination being relied on was conducted more than 24 months before the date of the railroad's recertification decision if the railroad administers a knowledge testing program pursuant to [§ 242.121](/cfr/49/242.121.md) at intervals that do not exceed 24 months.
- (b) The time limitations of [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section do not apply to a railroad that is making a certification decision in reliance on determinations made by another railroad in accordance with [paragraph (c)(3)](#c-3) of this section, [§ 242.125](/cfr/49/242.125.md), or [§ 242.127](/cfr/49/242.127.md).
- (c) **No railroad shall—**
  - (1) Permit or require a person, designated under § [242.105(a)](/cfr/49/242.105.md?p=a) or [(b)](/cfr/49/242.105.md?p=b), to perform service as a certified conductor for more than the 36-month period beginning on the pertinent date for compliance with the mandatory procedures for testing and evaluation set forth in the applicable provisions of § [242.105(d)](/cfr/49/242.105.md?p=d) or [(e)](/cfr/49/242.105.md?p=e) unless that person has been determined to be eligible in accordance with procedures that comply with [subpart B](/cfr/49/subpartB.md) of this part.
  - (2) Certify a person as a conductor for an interval of more than 36 months; or
  - (3) **Rely on a certification issued by another railroad that is more than 36 months old.**
- (d) Except as provided for in [§ 242.105](/cfr/49/242.105.md) concerning initial implementation of the program, a railroad shall issue each person designated as a certified conductor a certificate that complies with [§ 242.207](/cfr/49/242.207.md) no later than 30 days from the date of its decision to certify or recertify that person.

## Notes

### Amendments

[76 FR 69841, Nov. 9, 2011, as amended at 91 FR 22761, Apr. 28, 2026]

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 20103, 20107, 20135, 20138, 20162, 20163, 21301, 21304, 21311; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; and 49 CFR 1.89.

### Source

Source: 76 FR 69841, Nov. 9, 2011, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[76 FR 69841, Nov. 9, 2011, as amended at 91 FR 22761, Apr. 28, 2026]