diff --git a/source/client-side-operations-timeout/client-side-operations-timeout.md b/source/client-side-operations-timeout/client-side-operations-timeout.md
index b99754d6ae..607ec76d55 100644
--- a/source/client-side-operations-timeout/client-side-operations-timeout.md
+++ b/source/client-side-operations-timeout/client-side-operations-timeout.md
@@ -428,6 +428,20 @@ check the command document for the presence of a `maxTimeMS` field.
 
 See [runCommand behavior](#runcommand-behavior).
 
+### Explain
+
+> [!NOTE]
+> This portion of the specification is only relevant for drivers that provide `explain` helpers.
+
+When `timeoutMS` is specified, drivers MUST provide a way to specify timeoutMS that results in maxTimeMS being set on
+the `explain` command. For example, Node's implementation might look like:
+
+```typescript
+collection.find({}).explain({ timeoutMS: 1000 });
+// sends:
+{ explain: { find: ... }, maxTimeMS: <remaining timeoutMS - min rtt>}
+```
+
 ## Test Plan
 
 See the [README.rst](tests/README.md) in the tests directory.
@@ -651,6 +665,7 @@ timeout for each database operation. This would mimic using `timeoutMode=ITERATI
 
 ## Changelog
 
+- 2024-09-12: Specify that explain helpers support support timeoutMS.
 - 2023-12-07: Migrated from reStructuredText to Markdown.
 - 2022-11-17: Use minimum RTT for maxTimeMS calculation instead of 90th percentile RTT.
 - 2022-10-05: Remove spec front matter.
diff --git a/source/crud/crud.md b/source/crud/crud.md
index cd9389c4e5..a327949058 100644
--- a/source/crud/crud.md
+++ b/source/crud/crud.md
@@ -104,6 +104,9 @@ Drivers MUST enforce timeouts for all operations per the
 [Client Side Operations Timeout](../client-side-operations-timeout/client-side-operations-timeout.md) specification. All
 operations that return cursors MUST support the timeout options documented in the
 [Cursors](../client-side-operations-timeout/client-side-operations-timeout.md#cursors) section of that specification.
+All explain helpers MUST support the timeout options documented in the
+[Explain Helpers](../client-side-operations-timeout/client-side-operations-timeout.md#explain) section of that
+specification.
 
 ### API
 
@@ -178,9 +181,6 @@ interface Collection {
    * as it would be impossible to be forwards and backwards compatible. Let the server
    * handle the validation.
    *
-   * Note: If $explain is specified in the modifiers, the return value is a single
-   * document. This could cause problems for static languages using strongly typed entities.
-   *
    * Note: result iteration should be backed by a cursor. Depending on the implementation,
    * the cursor may back the returned Iterable instance or an iterator that it produces.
    *
@@ -2199,6 +2199,47 @@ the [$readPreference global command argument](../message/OP_MSG.md#global-comman
 [passing read preference to mongos and load balancers](../server-selection/server-selection.md#passing-read-preference-to-mongos-and-load-balancers)
 (if applicable).
 
+### Explain
+
+> [!NOTE]
+> Explain helpers are optional. Drivers that do not provide explain helpers may ignore this section.
+
+```typescript
+interface ExplainOptions {
+  /**
+   * The maximum amount of time to allow the explain to run.
+   *
+   * This option is sent only if the caller explicitly provides a value. The default is to not send a value.
+   *
+   * NOTE: This option is deprecated in favor of timeoutMS.
+   */
+  maxTimeMS: Optional<Int64>;
+}
+```
+
+Drivers MUST ensure that its helper permits users to specify a timeout (maxTimeMS or timeoutMS) for the explain command
+specifically. An example, using Node, might look like:
+
+```typescript
+collection.find({ name: 'john doe' }).explain({ maxTimeMS: 1000 });
+
+// sends:
+{ 
+  explain: { find: <collection>, query: { name: 'john doe' } },
+  maxTimeMS: 1000
+}
+
+collection.find({ name: 'john doe' }).explain({ timeoutMS: 1000 });
+
+// sends:
+{ 
+  explain: { find: <collection>, query: { name: 'john doe' } },
+  maxTimeMS: <1000 - min rtt>
+}
+```
+
+Drivers MUST document how users can specify options on their explain helpers.
+
 ## Test Plan
 
 See the [README](tests/README.md) for tests.
@@ -2311,6 +2352,13 @@ api be consistent with the rest of the methods in the CRUD family of operations.
 able to be used as this change is non-backwards breaking. Any driver which implemented the fluent bulk API should
 deprecate it and drivers that have not built it should not do so.
 
+Q: Should drivers offer explain helpers?\
+Originally, it was determined that explain should not be exposed via
+specialized APIs in drivers because it it was deemed to be an unusual use-case for a driver. We'd like users to use the
+shell for this purpose. However, explain is still possible from a driver. Some drivers have historically provided
+explain helpers and continue to do so. Drivers that do not offer explain helpers can run explain commands using the
+runCommand API.
+
 Q: What about explain?
 
 Explain has been determined to be not a normal use-case for a driver. We'd like users to use the shell for this purpose.
@@ -2380,6 +2428,8 @@ aforementioned allowance in the SemVer spec.
 
 ## Changelog
 
+- 2024-09-12: Specify that explain helpers support maxTimeMS.
+
 - 2024-02-20: Migrated from reStructuredText to Markdown.
 
 - 2022-10-05: Remove spec front matter and reformat changelog.
diff --git a/source/crud/tests/README.md b/source/crud/tests/README.md
index 261d81c96f..8d091f443d 100644
--- a/source/crud/tests/README.md
+++ b/source/crud/tests/README.md
@@ -677,3 +677,19 @@ InsertOne {
 
 Execute `bulkWrite` on `client` with `model`. Assert that an error (referred to as `error`) is returned. Assert that
 `error` is a client error containing the message: "bulkWrite does not currently support automatic encryption".
+
+### 14. `explain` helpers allow users to specify `maxTimeMS`
+
+Drivers that provide multiple APIs to specify explain should ensure this test is run at least once with each distinct
+API. For example, the Node driver runs this test with option API (`collection.find({}, { explain: ... })`) and the
+fluent API (`collection.find({}).explain(...)`).
+
+Create a MongoClient with command monitoring enabled (referred to as `client`).
+
+Create a collection, referred to as `collection`, with the namespace `explain-test.collection`.
+
+Run an explained find on `collection`. The find will have the query predicate `{ name: 'john doe' }`. Specify a
+maxTimeMS value of 2000ms for the `explain`.
+
+Obtain the command started event for the explain. Confirm that the top-level explain command should has a `maxTimeMS`
+value of `2000`.