# New Orleans CPNC License for NEMT: Hearings, Vans, Drivers, and Fees (2027)

Canonical URL: https://nemtguide.com/states/louisiana/new-orleans/ · Updated 2026-09-30

To get a CPNC license in New Orleans for NEMT, email a notarized application, proof of U.S. citizenship, and a Louisiana ID to the Ground Transportation Bureau at gtb@nola.gov by 4 p.m. on the first Friday of January, May, or September. Attend the hearing on that month's fourth Friday, then activate each van within 90 days with for-hire plates, insurance, and a passed city inspection.

- New NEMT CPNCs are granted only at three hearings a year, in January, May, and September, so a missed deadline costs you four months.
- Only minivans and full-size vans seating 12 or fewer, driver included, can hold a NEMT CPNC. Sedans and SUVs are refused.
- Every driver needs a city driver's permit with wheelchair, first aid, and CPR training on top of the Class D license and background check.
- The city code has set NEMT insurance at $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 plus $100,000 general liability since March 11, 2021, but brokers ask for far more.
- Renew each NEMT CPNC by July 31. Unpaid parking or traffic camera fines on the van block the renewal.

## New Orleans NEMT at a glance

| Fact | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Who issues it | The City of New Orleans Ground Transportation Bureau, 1300 Perdido Street, Room 6W03. Its office is closed to the public, so applications go by email to gtb@nola.gov. |
| When CPNCs are granted | Only at public hearings at 10 a.m. on the fourth Friday of January, May, and September. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on the first Friday of that month. |
| Demand (September 2026) | 26 of the 37 applicants on the September 25, 2026 hearing agenda sought NEMT CPNCs, 43 in all. Sixteen of them asked for one. |
| Vans allowed | Minivans, vans, or shuttles seating 12 or fewer counting the driver. No sedans, no SUVs, and no vehicle ever titled salvage or rebuilt. |
| Wheelchair share | A company with more than 10 NEMT CPNCs must make at least 25% of its vans beyond the first 10 meet the federal ADA vehicle rules in 49 CFR Part 38. |
| Minimum insurance | $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 property damage in auto liability, plus $100,000 in general liability, with the city as certificate holder (City Code Sec. 162-287) |
| Fees (as of September 2026) | $150 to issue a CPNC, $150 a year to renew, $50 per van inspection, and $40 per driver permit, plus about $70 per driver for the background check and drug test |
| Renewal | NEMT CPNCs expire June 30 and are due for renewal by July 31. Each late month adds a $150 penalty, and a CPNC not renewed by September 30 is suspended. |
| Who may apply | U.S. citizens and permanent residents, 18 or older, living in Orleans Parish or one of seven listed nearby parishes, with a business office and phone in Orleans Parish |
| Medicaid tie | Louisiana's Medicaid manuals make the health plan or broker collect your CPNC paperwork for each van and driver working in Orleans Parish, and the CPNC number serves as the van's vehicle number. |

## Who arranges rides here

- [City of New Orleans Ground Transportation Bureau](https://nola.gov/next/ground-transportation-bureau/home/): Issues NEMT CPNCs and driver permits, and runs the CPNC hearings. (504) 658-7170
- [Ground Transportation Bureau Inspection Station](https://nola.gov/next/ground-transportation-bureau/contact/): Inspects each CPNC van before activation and every year after. (504) 658-7276
- [MediTrans dispatch and provider support](https://meditrans.com/transportation-providers/): Arranges rides for Healthy Louisiana plan members and credentials ride companies. (844) 349-4326
- [Verida Louisiana provider service line](https://verida.com/louisiana-providers/): Arranges rides for fee-for-service Medicaid members and credentials ride companies. (225) 726-2800

Every van that carries paying riders on New Orleans streets needs a Certificate of Public Necessity and Convenience (CPNC) from the city's Ground Transportation Bureau, and every person who drives it needs a city driver's permit. For NEMT, the city grants new CPNCs only at public hearings held three times a year, so the month you apply decides when your first van can roll. The city was still taking NEMT applications in September 2026: 26 of the 37 applicants on the September 25, 2026 hearing agenda asked for NEMT CPNCs, 43 in all, and 16 of them wanted a single one.

## Who needs a CPNC in New Orleans

City Code Sec. 162-151 bars anyone from running a for-hire passenger vehicle on city streets without a CPNC, and Sec. 162-154 sets a fine of at least $300 for a first offense. A NEMT CPNC is a "special services" CPNC under Sec. 162-190(1). Administrative Rule 17-02, which took effect August 7, 2017, adds the van, equipment, and driver training rules below.

As of September 2026, Louisiana Medicaid rides run through two brokers: MediTrans for the Healthy Louisiana health plans and Verida for fee-for-service members. The [Louisiana guide](https://nemtguide.com/states/louisiana/) covers joining them, plus the Public Service Commission certificate and for-hire plates you need before a van can be activated here.

The city permit and the Medicaid work are tied together. The managed care manual (updated May 28, 2026) and the fee-for-service manual (issued July 14, 2025) both make the plan or broker collect a CPNC for each company, driver, and vehicle that will operate in Orleans Parish, and copies for every van you add. A van working in Orleans Parish must use its CPNC number as its vehicle number. Across the parish line, [Jefferson Parish](https://nemtguide.com/states/louisiana/jefferson-parish/) licenses NEMT companies, vans, and drivers on its own, so a company serving both sides needs both.

## How to get a NEMT CPNC, step by step

### 1. Check that you qualify

You must be at least 18, able to read, write, and speak English, and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (Secs. 162-182 and 162-183). You must live in Orleans Parish or in Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Plaquemines, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, or St. James Parish. The bureau's CPNC 101 page leaves Jefferson off its list, but the code and the city's CPNC page both include it. If you live outside Orleans, you name an agent for service of process.

For a corporation, LLC, or partnership, every registered officer or principal partner must meet these rules and file a separate application (Sec. 162-193), and new officers file within ten working days of joining (Sec. 162-194). Every holder keeps a business office with a phone number in Orleans Parish (Sec. 162-199).

### 2. Apply by the first Friday of a hearing month

Email the notarized application, proof of citizenship (birth certificate or permanent residence card), proof of residency (mortgage statement, utility bill, property tax bill, or notarized lease), and a Louisiana ID or driver's license to gtb@nola.gov as PDFs. The deadline is 4 p.m. on the first Friday of January, May, or September. A late application waits for the next hearing.

The application asks how many CPNC numbers you want and lists everyone with a financial, beneficial, legal, or equitable interest in them, including a spouse.

### 3. Attend the hearing

Hearings start at 10 a.m. in the City Council Chamber. If no one shows up for you, your application is not heard, and you must ask in writing for a new date. Existing CPNC holders and other interested parties may appear as intervenors, and if qualified applicants outnumber the need, the city may hold a lottery (Sec. 162-184). The director weighs whether more CPNCs are needed, the effect on existing holders and on traffic, and, for a new CPNC company, whether you have shown that existing companies do not or cannot provide the service (Sec. 162-185). Results come in writing within about three weeks.

If the city keeps its schedule, the 2027 hearings fall on these Fridays:

| Hearing | Application deadline, 4 p.m. |
|---|---|
| January 22, 2027 | First Friday of January. January 1, 2027 is New Year's Day, so ask the bureau for that month's cutoff. |
| May 28, 2027 | May 7, 2027 |
| September 24, 2027 | September 3, 2027 |

### 4. Activate each van within 90 days

After the award letter, send the bureau for each van:

- A registration showing the use type FOR-HIRE, in the holder's name.
- A [certificate of insurance](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/certificate-of-insurance/) at the required amounts, listing the City of New Orleans as certificate holder and the van's VIN (or covered under a fleet policy).
- Your city occupational license (one per business, not one per CPNC).
- A line letter from the company the van will run under.

Then pass the for-hire inspection at 3901 Desire Parkway, open weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon, with after-hours appointments by email. The driver bringing the van needs a bureau driver's permit or must be an approved agent.

If you cannot activate in 90 days, file the bureau's CPNC extension request. Under City Code Sec. 162-189(d)(3) and that form, the first extension of up to 90 days is free and later months cost $50 each, though CPNC 101 lists the $50 monthly holding fee with no free period. Extensions end at one year, and a CPNC with no extension on file is void.

## Which vans qualify and how to mark them

The bureau's vehicle memo of January 4, 2019 allows minivans, vans, and shuttles seating 12 or fewer, counting the driver. Rule 17-02 refuses sedans and SUVs outright. No vehicle ever titled salvage, rebuilt, junk, total loss, or reconditioned can hold a CPNC (Sec. 162-58), and the city's CPNC page also bars vans once used as a taxicab or law enforcement vehicle. See [NEMT vehicle requirements](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-vehicle-requirements/) for the state's own list.

Rule 17-02 also requires:

- Certification of the van by the state health department (the rule still uses its old name, the Department of Health and Hospitals).
- A fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and an HIV protection kit with rubber gloves and an impervious gown or coveralls, each marked with the van's CPNC number.
- Once a company holds or seeks more than 10 NEMT CPNCs, at least 25% of its vans beyond the first 10 must meet 49 CFR Part 38, the federal ADA rules for lifts, ramps, securement, and backup power. A company with 14 vans needs at least one accessible van among the last four. See [wheelchair vans for NEMT](https://nemtguide.com/guides/wheelchair-van-for-nemt/).

The markings memo of April 2, 2019 sets how a NEMT van (prefix NE) is lettered:

| Marking | Rule |
|---|---|
| Company name | At least 6 inches tall on both sides, painted and permanent |
| CPNC number | Prefix and number (such as NE-00), at least 4 inches tall, on the rear quarter panel behind the rear tires on both sides and at the top center of the rear |
| Not allowed | Magnetic or paper signs, company unit numbers, the word "CPNC," and any name or phone number on the windows |
| Allowed | Wheelchair accessible signs, with the bureau's approval |

Every van is inspected every year and at random, and again after a transfer or an accident that needed repairs (Secs. 162-377 and 162-379). A van that fails loses its inspection certificate and must be reinspected within 3 to 15 days. Investigators can order a van off the road on the spot for a broken air conditioner or heater, dead brake lights, broken door handles, or bald tires (Sec. 162-380).

## Driver permits for NEMT drivers

Every driver of a CPNC van needs a bureau driver's permit (Sec. 162-81). It lasts two years (Sec. 162-88) and costs $40 new or renewed. Drivers email the bureau:

1. A notarized application.
2. A valid Louisiana chauffeur's (Class D) license or CDL.
3. A certified [motor vehicle record](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/motor-vehicle-record/) for the past two years from the Office of Motor Vehicles, dated within 30 days.
4. A line letter from your company, signed within 30 days.
5. Proof of certified training for riders who use wheelchairs and riders with disabilities, covering loading, tie-downs, and door-to-door service.
6. Current first aid and CPR cards (American Heart Association Heartsaver or Red Cross Adult CPR, or equivalent).

The bureau then schedules a federal background check through an FBI-approved channeler, about $50, and a five-panel urine drug test, about $20, with results sent straight to TaxiTests@nola.gov. The drug test must be passed within 10 days of the application, and the bureau accepts background checks up to 90 days old.

The city refuses anyone ever convicted of murder or an aggravated offense under R.S. 15:541, and anyone convicted of another felony in the past five years (Secs. 162-241 and 162-242). Drivers report any arrest or conviction within 15 days, wear the permit photo ID on the chest, and take a drug test within 48 hours of any crash in a for-hire vehicle. A drunk driving conviction, or three moving violations in 12 months, can cost the permit. Louisiana's plan rules are stricter: drivers must be 21, and one DUI ever bars them from plan trips. Hire to both, with [NEMT driver requirements](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-driver-requirements/) as your checklist.

## Insurance for a New Orleans NEMT CPNC

Since March 11, 2021, City Code Sec. 162-287(c) has required at least $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage in auto liability, covering any autos, or scheduled autos, plus [hired and non-owned autos](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/hired-and-non-owned-auto/). It also requires $100,000 in commercial general liability on the business. Rule 17-02, written in 2017, lists $100,000, $300,000, $50,000, and $300,000, but the code was amended after it, and CPNC 101 (June 5, 2026) lists the code's amounts.

Under Sec. 162-283, the insurer must be licensed in Louisiana, or be a surplus lines company rated A, Class V or better by A.M. Best. The policy runs at least six months and cannot end before the CPNC's June 30 expiration. It must give the bureau ten days' notice by certified mail before cancellation. If you do not show new coverage within seven days of that notice, the CPNC can be revoked after a hearing (Sec. 162-286).

The city floor is far below what brokers ask. MediTrans asks for $1,000,000 in commercial auto liability. See [NEMT insurance requirements](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-insurance-requirements/).

## Renewal and what it costs

NEMT CPNCs expire June 30 and renew in July without a hearing. Renewing in August adds a $150 penalty, and September another $150. A CPNC not renewed by September 30 is suspended and then revoked (Sec. 162-189). You cannot renew while the van has unpaid parking or traffic camera fines unless they are paid, on a payment plan with Public Works, or in dispute. Companies also show good standing with the Louisiana Secretary of State.

These are the city's fees as of September 2026:

| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| New NEMT CPNC | $150 |
| Yearly renewal, by July 31 | $150 |
| Late renewal | $150 penalty per late month |
| Van inspection or reinspection, or change of equipment | $50 each |
| Late inspection | $2 per day |
| Activation extension | First 90 days free under the code, then $50 a month, up to one year |
| Driver's permit, every two years | $40, plus about $50 for the background check and $20 for the drug test |
| CPNC transfer | $350, plus the $50 inspection |

You can also buy an existing NEMT CPNC from its holder (Sec. 162-321). The city applies the same standards to you as to a new applicant, the van must pass inspection within 15 days of the transfer application, and no transfer goes through while suspension or revocation is pending.

## What to do first

1. **Pick your hearing.** Count back from the first Friday of January, May, or September, and give yourself time for notarized papers from every officer.
2. **Set up the company.** Form it, get your EIN and NPI, and get the Public Service Commission certificate and for-hire plates the [Louisiana guide](https://nemtguide.com/states/louisiana/) describes, since activation needs a FOR-HIRE registration.
3. **Find the right van.** A minivan or full-size van, never a sedan or SUV, with a clean title, in your company's name.
4. **Quote insurance at the broker's limits,** not just the city's, so one policy covers both.
5. **Start driver files early.** Book wheelchair securement, first aid, and CPR training before the 30-day and 90-day test windows open.
6. **Contact MediTrans and Verida now.** MediTrans accepts companies based on how full your area is and which vehicle types it needs, and says onboarding takes 2 to 4 weeks. See the [MediTrans](https://nemtguide.com/brokers/meditrans/) and [Verida](https://nemtguide.com/brokers/verida/) guides.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does a CPNC cost in New Orleans?

As of September 2026, the Ground Transportation Bureau charges $150 to issue a NEMT CPNC, $150 a year to renew it, and $50 for each van inspection or reinspection. Each driver's permit costs $40 and lasts two years, and drivers also pay the testing sites about $50 for the federal background check and $20 for the drug test. A CPNC transfer from another holder costs $350.

### What is the CPNC phone number in New Orleans?

The Ground Transportation Bureau answers at (504) 658-7170, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and takes email at gtb@nola.gov. Its office at 1300 Perdido Street is closed to the public, so applications go by email and fees are paid online or by mail. The inspection station at 3901 Desire Parkway is at (504) 658-7276.

### How long does it take to get a CPNC in New Orleans?

You apply by the first Friday of January, May, or September, the hearing is that month's fourth Friday, and the bureau sends results in writing within about three weeks. You then have up to 90 days to activate each van with its registration, insurance, and inspection. If you miss a deadline, your application waits four months for the next hearing.

### Can I use a car or SUV for NEMT in New Orleans?

No. Administrative Rule 17-02 limits NEMT CPNCs to minivans and full-size passenger vans and refuses sedans and SUVs. The bureau's vehicle memo of January 4, 2019 lists minivans, vans, and shuttles seating 12 or fewer, counting the driver. A vehicle ever titled salvage, rebuilt, junk, or total loss cannot hold any CPNC.

### Do I have to live in New Orleans to get a CPNC?

Not in the city itself. City Code Sec. 162-183 accepts applicants who live in Orleans Parish or in Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Plaquemines, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, or St. James Parish. If you live outside Orleans, you name an agent for service of process. Every CPNC holder must also keep a business office and phone number in Orleans Parish.

### Do NEMT drivers need their own permit in New Orleans?

Yes. Every driver of a CPNC van needs a Ground Transportation Bureau driver's permit, valid for two years. NEMT drivers must also show certified training in wheelchair loading, tie-downs, and door-to-door service, plus current first aid and CPR cards. Medicaid plan trips add their own rules, including a minimum age of 21.

## Official resources

- [Ground Transportation Bureau: CPNC 101](https://nola.gov/next/ground-transportation-bureau/topics/cpnc-101/)
- [Ground Transportation Bureau: CPNC hearings and agendas](https://nola.gov/next/ground-transportation-bureau/meetings/)
- [City of New Orleans: CPNC new and renewal application (PDF)](https://nola.gov/nola/media/One-Stop-Shop/Taxi/OSS_TFHV_CPNC-NEW-and-RENEWAL-APPLICATION-PRINT-2019.pdf)
- [City of New Orleans: Administrative Rule 17-02, NEMT standards (PDF)](https://nola.gov/nola/media/One-Stop-Shop/Safety%20and%20Permits/Non-Emergency-Medical-Transportation-Standards-and-Requirements.pdf)
- [City of New Orleans: Driver permit for CPNC](https://nola.gov/driver-permit/)
- [Ground Transportation Bureau: Forms, vehicle type memo, and markings memo](https://nola.gov/next/ground-transportation-bureau/topics/forms-additional-information/)
- [New Orleans Code of Ordinances, Chapter 162, Vehicles for Hire](https://library.municode.com/la/new_orleans/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH162VEHI)
- [City of New Orleans: Online permit payments](https://onestopapp.nola.gov/)