CDL learner's permit (CLP) requirements and the order of steps
Age rules
- 21 or older to drive a commercial vehicle across state lines (interstate). This is a federal rule.
- 18 or older in most states to drive only within your state (intrastate). Drivers under 21 are limited to intrastate driving.
- Many states, including California, also require you to be 21 to haul hazardous materials.
Your state sets the exact intrastate rules, so check with your state DMV.
What you need before you apply
- A valid regular (non-commercial) driver's license from the same state that will issue your CLP.
- A self-certification of the type of driving you will do (interstate or intrastate, excepted or non-excepted).
- A DOT medical card (Medical Examiner's Certificate) if you certify non-excepted driving, which covers most truck drivers. Passenger endorsement holders need one in some states no matter what.
- The identity and residency documents your state asks for, plus the state fee. Fees vary, so check your state DMV.
The knowledge tests
You must pass the general knowledge test, plus the tests for the vehicle you will drive. For a Class A CLP that usually means combination vehicles and air brakes. If you skip or fail air brakes, your permit gets an air brake restriction. Each knowledge test needs a score of 80 percent or more.
A CLP can carry only the Passenger (P), School Bus (S) and Tanker (N) endorsements, with limits: no passengers on a P or S CLP, and only empty tanks on an N CLP. You cannot haul hazardous materials on a CLP. Free practice for all of these is at our practice tests.
Driving on a CLP and the 14-day wait
With a CLP you can drive a commercial vehicle only with a CDL holder of the right class sitting next to you. Under federal rules, you are not eligible to take the CDL skills test during the first 14 days after your CLP is first issued.
How long a CLP lasts
Federal rules say a CLP can be valid for no more than one year from the date it was first issued without retaking the knowledge tests. Some states issue a shorter permit and let you renew it within that year. California, for example, issues a CLP for 180 days and lets you renew it once if you are still within one year of your first application. Check your state DMV for your exact dates.
Where ELDT fits
If this is your first Class A or Class B CDL, you need ELDT before the skills test. The FMCSA says theory does not have to be done before you get the CLP, and it does not have to be done after either. You can do it first, or while you hold the permit. Behind-the-wheel training means driving a truck, so plan on doing it while you hold your CLP.
A practical order: study and pass your knowledge tests, get your CLP, finish theory online, do behind-the-wheel training, then take the skills test once both records are filed.
A note on English
Federal rules require commercial drivers to read and speak English well enough to talk with the public, understand road signs, answer questions from officials and fill out reports. Roadside enforcement of this rule resumed in June 2025. Whether your knowledge test is offered in another language depends on your state (Texas, for example, moved CDL and CLP knowledge tests to English only in June 2026). The FMCSA also has a proposed English proficiency rule under review, so check with your state DMV for current testing rules.
Questions drivers ask
Can I get a CLP at 18?
In most states, yes, for driving only within your state. You must be 21 to drive across state lines.
How long do I have to wait after getting my CLP to take the skills test?
At least 14 days after your CLP is first issued.
Do I need a medical card for a CLP?
Most drivers do. If you self-certify non-excepted interstate or intrastate driving, which covers most truck driving jobs, you need a valid DOT medical card.
Can I take ELDT before I get my CLP?
Yes, for theory. The FMCSA does not require theory to be done before or after the CLP. Behind-the-wheel training happens in a truck, so you will do that while holding your permit.
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