Licensing procedures

Scope

These requirements apply to all people who are applying for a CLP or applying for, renewing, transferring, or upgrading a CDL in order to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate, intrastate, or foreign commerce. These requirements also apply to state licensing agencies that issue these licenses.

Regulatory citations

• 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures
• 49 CFR 383.77 — Substitute for knowledge and driving skills tests for drivers with military CMV experience

Key definitions

• Commercial driver’s license (CDL): A license issued to an individual by a state or other jurisdiction of domicile, in accordance with the standards contained in 49 CFR 383, to an individual which authorizes the individual to operate a class of a commercial motor vehicle.
• Commercial learner’s permit (CLP): A permit issued to an individual by a state or other jurisdiction of domicile, in accordance with the standards in 49 CFR 383, which, when carried with a valid driver’s license issued by the same state or jurisdiction, authorizes the individual to operate a class of a commercial motor vehicle when accompanied by a holder of a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) for purposes of behind-the-wheel training. When issued to a CDL holder, a CLP serves as authorization for accompanied behind-the-wheel training in a CMV for which the holder’s current CDL is not valid.

• State of domicile: State where a person has a true, fixed, and permanent home and principal residence and to which the person has the intention of returning whenever absent.

Summary of requirements

Commercial learner’s permit (CLP). A commercial learner’s permit (CLP) is considered a valid CDL for purposes of behind-the-wheel training. The CLP holder must be accompanied at all times by the holder of a valid CDL of the proper class and endorsement(s) necessary to operate the CMV.

Individuals applying for a CLP must:

• Be at least 18 years old and provide proof of their age;
• Take and pass a general knowledge test that meets the federal standards for the CMV group they operate or expect to operate;
• Certify that they are not subject to any disqualification under 383.51, or any license disqualification under state law, and that they do not have a driver’s license from more than one state or jurisdiction;
• Provide to the state of issuance the information required to be included on the CLP as specified in Part 383, Subpart J;
• Provide to the state proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residency (or obtain a non-domiciled CLP);
• Provide proof that the state to which application is made is their state of domicile;
• Provide the names of all states where they have been licensed to drive any type of motor vehicle during the previous 10 years; and
• Provide the state certification as listed below.

Self-certification. A person who applies for, transfers, renews, or upgrades a CDL must make one of the following certifications with the state driver licensing agency:

Initial CDL. Prior to obtaining a CDL, individuals must also meet the following requirements:

• Self-certify their driving status;
• Pass a driving or skills test taken in a motor vehicle representative of the type they expect to operate or pass a driving test administered by an authorized third party;
• Certify that the motor vehicle in which they take the driving skills test is representative of the type of vehicle they will be driving;
• Provide the state of issuance with the information required to be included on the CDL (name, address, birthdate, etc.);
• Certify that they are not subject to any disqualification under 383.51, or any license disqualification under state law;
• Certify that they do not have a driver’s license from more than one state or jurisdiction;
• Surrender their non-CDL driver’s license and CLP to the state;
• Provide the names of all states where they have previously been licensed to drive any type of motor vehicle during the previous 10 years;
• If applying for a hazardous materials endorsement, comply with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requirements (Lawful permanent residents of the United States must additionally provide their U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Alien registration number.)
• Provide proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residency;
• Provide proof that the state to which the application is made is their state of domicile; and
• As of February 7, 2022, complete entry-level driver training as prescribed in Part 380, Subpart F of the FMCSRs before taking the skills test for a Class A or B CDL, a passenger (P) endorsement, or school bus (S) endorsement for the first time, or the knowledge test for a hazardous materials (H) endorsement for the first time. The training must be administered by a provider on the Training Provider Registry.

CDL transfer. Drivers must have a CDL issued by the state they live in (their state of domicile). Drivers must transfer their CDL within 30 days of moving to their new home state (their state of domicile).

In order to transfer a CDL, drivers must provide certification that:

• They have self-certified their driving status;
• They are not subject to disqualification under 383.51, or any license disqualification under state law; and
• They do not have a driver’s license from more than one state or jurisdiction.

Also, in order to transfer a CDL, drivers must:

• Provide their new home state updated information required to be included on the CDL (name, address, etc.);
• To keep a hazardous materials endorsement, comply with TSA requirements (Lawful permanent residents of the United States must additionally provide their U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Alien registration number.);
• Provide proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residency;
• Give their CDL from their old home state to their new home state;
• Provide the names of all states where they have been previously licensed to drive any type of motor vehicle during the previous 10 years; and
• Provide proof that the state to which the application is made is their state of domicile.

CDL renewal. In order to renew a CDL, drivers must:

• Self-certify their driving status;
• Provide certification that they are not subject to disqualification under 383.51, or any license disqualification under state law;
• Certify that they do not have a driver’s license from more than one state or jurisdiction;
• Provide updated information required to be included on the CDL (name, address, etc.);
• If intending to retain a hazardous materials endorsement, comply with TSA requirements (Lawful permanent residents of the United States must additionally provide their U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Alien registration number.) and pass a hazardous materials endorsement test;
• Provide proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residency;
• Provide the names of all states where they have been previously licensed to drive any type of motor vehicle during the previous 10 years; and
• Provide proof that the state to which the application is made is their state of domicile.

CDL upgrades. When applying to upgrade a CDL or add an endorsement to a CDL, drivers must:

• Provide all of the certifications required of drivers who apply for an initial CDL;
• Pass the required knowledge and skills test(s) required of the new vehicle class and/or different endorsement(s);
• If applying for a hazardous materials endorsement, comply with TSA requirements (Lawful permanent residents of the United States must additionally provide their U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Alien registration number.);
• Provide proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residency;
• Surrender their previous CDL; and
• As of February 7, 2022, complete entry-level driver training as prescribed in Part 380, Subpart F of the FMCSRs before:
  • Taking the skills test to upgrade from a Class B CDL to a Class A CDL;
  • Taking the skills test to add a passenger or school bus endorsement to a CDL for the first time; or
  • Taking a knowledge test to add a hazardous materials endorsement to a CDL for the first time.
  The training must be administered by a provider on the Training Provider Registry.

Certification procedures. Before June 23, 2025, new CLP or CDL applicants who certify that they will operate in non-excepted interstate commerce must provide the state with the original or a copy of their current medical examiner’s certificate, completed by a certified medical examiner. Once this certificate is provided, the state will post a certification status of “certified” on the driver’s motor vehicle record (MVR).

On or after June 23, 2025, new CLP or CDL applicants who certify that they will operate in non-excepted interstate commerce must be medically examined and certified by a medical examiner. Once an individual is certified, the medical examiner will electronically transmit to FMCSA a completed medical examination results form. FMCSA will provide the state with an electronic copy of the medical examiner’s certificate. Upon receiving an electronic copy of the medical examiner’s certificate from FMCSA, the state will post a medical qualification status of “certified” on the driver’s MVR.

Before June 23, 2025, to maintain a certification status of “certified” the state must be provided with an original or copy of each subsequently issued medical examiner’s certificate.

On or after June 23, 2025, to maintain a certification status of “certified” CLP or CDL holders who certify that they will operate in non-excepted interstate commerce, must continue to be medically examined and certified by a medical examiner. Once an individual is certified, the medical examiner will electronically transmit to FMCSA a completed medical examination results form.

Upon receiving the results, FMCSA will provide the state with an electronic copy of the medical examiner’s certificate information for all subsequent medical examinations in which the driver has been deemed qualified.

When the a medical certification of non-excepted interstate CLP or CDL holders expires, the state will post a certification status of “not-certified” on their MVR and will start a CLP or CDL downgrade following state-prescribed procedures.

If there is a conflict between the medical certification information provided electronically by FMCSA and the paper copy of the medical examiner’s certificate, the electronic certification is considered the correct document.

Military Knowledge Test Waiver (current or former military service members applying for a CDL). At the discretion of a state, the knowledge test requirement may be waived for a current or former military service member applying for a CLP or CDL, if during the one-year period immediately before the application the current or former military service member:

• Is or was regularly employed and designated as a commercial motor vehicle operator (Army: 88M, 14T, 92F; Air Force: 2T1, 2F0, 3E2; Marine Corps: 3531; Navy: E.O.);
• Is operating a vehicle representative of the commercial motor vehicle type the driver applicant expects to operate upon separation from the military, or operated such a vehicle type immediately preceding separation from the military;
• Has not simultaneously held more than one civilian license (in addition to a military license);
• Has not had any license suspended, revoked, or cancelled;
• Has not had any convictions (for any type of motor vehicle) for the disqualifying offenses contained in 383.51(b);
• Has not had more than one conviction (for any type of motor vehicle) for serious traffic violations contained in 383.51(c); and
• Has not had any conviction for a violation of military, state, or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control (other than a parking violation) arising in connection with any traffic accident and has no record of an accident in which the current or former military service member was at fault.

Military skills test waiver (current or former military service members applying for a CDL). At the discretion of a state, the driving skills test may be waived for a CMV driver with military CMV experience. In order to obtain this waiver, an applicant must certify that, during the two-year period immediately prior to applying for a CDL, the applicant:

• Has not had more than one civilian license (in addition to a military license);
• Has not had any license suspended, revoked, or cancelled;
• Has not had any convictions (for any type of motor vehicle) for the disqualifying offenses contained in 383.51(b);
• Has not had more than one conviction (for any type of motor vehicle) for serious traffic violations contained in 383.51(c); and
• Has not had any conviction for a violation of military, state, or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control (other than a parking violation) arising in connection with any traffic accident, and has no record of an accident in which the applicant was at fault.

• Are regularly employed or was regularly employed within the last year in a military position requiring operation of a CMV;
• Were exempted from the CDL requirements in 383.3(c); and
• Were operating a vehicle representative of the CMV the driver applicant operates or expects to operate, for at least the two years immediately preceding discharge from the military.