Behind-the-Wheel & ELDT Training
Finish Entry-Level Driver Training with an FMCSA-registered provider if you're a first-time Class A/B applicant.
Find an ELDT providerCalifornia CDL Prep
California CDL Permit Practice Tests & Study Guide
Everything you need to get your California commercial learner's permit — the steps, the DOT medical exam, training requirements, and realistic practice tests aligned with the California CDL manual.
How to Get a CDL Permit in California
In California, commercial learner's permits and CDLs are issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Use the facts and steps below for ages, hold times, and what to do next.
46Test questions
80%Passing score
14 daysCLP hold period
- Minimum age
- 18 intrastate / 21 interstate
- CLP validity
- 180 days
- Retest wait
- next business day
- Test languages
- English, Spanish
- Triple trailers
- Not permitted on state roadways
Age, validity & retest
- Minimum age
- 18 intrastate / 21 interstate
- CLP validity
- 180 days
- Retest wait
- next business day
- Test languages
- English, Spanish
- Triple trailers
- Not permitted on state roadways
Step-by-step process
Confirm you're eligible
Hold a valid base license and meet California age rules — 18 in-state, 21 for interstate or hazmat.
Pass the DOT medical exam
Get a DOT physical from a certified examiner and get your medical certificate on file with the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Study the CDL manual
Read the official California CDL manual and practice until you're ready for the written exams.
Pass the written tests and get your CLP
Pass the required knowledge tests (80% to pass) at the California Department of Motor Vehicles and get your CLP.
Hold your CLP for 14 days
Practice with a qualified CDL holder for 14 days before you can take the skills test.
Complete ELDT if required
Finish Entry-Level Driver Training with an FMCSA-registered provider if you're a first-time Class A/B applicant.
Pass the skills test and get your CDL
Pass the pre-trip, basic controls, and road test to upgrade your CLP to a full CDL.
Choose Your CDL Class: A, B, or C
The class you need depends on the vehicle you plan to drive in California. Pick your class to see the tests and study material that apply to you.
CDL
Class A CDL
Tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, and large combination vehicles with a GCWR over 26,001 pounds.
CDL
Class B CDL
Straight trucks, dump trucks, box trucks, and large buses over 26,001 pounds GVWR.
CDL
Class C CDL
Passenger vehicles and hazmat loads that do not fit Class A or B but still require a CDL.
Health requirement
DOT Medical Card / DOT Physical
Before the California Department of Motor Vehicles issues your CDL, you must pass a DOT physical — a medical exam performed by a certified examiner that confirms you're fit to operate a commercial vehicle.
The examiner checks your vision, hearing, blood pressure, and general health, then issues a Medical Examiner's Certificate (often called a "DOT medical card"). You file this with the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and it must be renewed periodically to keep your CDL valid.
- Required for most CDL applicants before a permit or license is issued
- Performed by an examiner listed on the FMCSA National Registry
- Results in a Medical Examiner's Certificate (DOT medical card)
- Must be kept current — typically renewed every 24 months or sooner
Behind-the-Wheel CDL Training & DOT Medical Examiners
Two federal requirements you'll handle outside the California Department of Motor Vehicles testing office.
Finding a DOT Medical Examiner
Your DOT physical must be done by an FMCSA-certified examiner. Use the National Registry to find one near you.
Find a certified medical examinerCalifornia CDL Permit Study Plan
A simple order to study in so you're ready for every test section on your permit exam.
Start with the general knowledge test
Every California CDL applicant takes this test. Study it first, then take full-length practice tests until you consistently score above 80%.
Practice core testsAdd the tests for your class
Study Air Brakes if your vehicle has them, and Combination Vehicles if you're going for a Class A. Focus on one section at a time.
See class testsLayer in your endorsements
If your job needs hazmat, tanker, passenger, school bus, or doubles/triples, study those sections once your core tests feel solid.
Browse endorsements- Before test day
Review missed questions before test day
Retake practice tests, review every explanation for questions you miss, and only schedule your exam once you pass consistently.
Try a sample quiz
Core tests · Steps 01–02
CDL test sections to study
Add-ons · Step 03
Optional endorsements
Prepare with PrepCDL
Study smarter, practice faster, and walk into your CDL exam prepared.
1000+ Practice Questions
Practice with exam-style questions covering CDL rules, safety, inspections, endorsements, and real test topics.
State-Specific CDL Prep
Study material tailored to your state's CDL manual so you focus on the rules that matter for your test.
Realistic Exam Practice
Build confidence with practice tests, randomized questions, progress tracking, and detailed answer explanations.
Question 1 of 5
What is the most important reason for doing a vehicle inspection?
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from CDL applicants in California.
Do I need Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) in California?
Yes. California follows federal ELDT — first-time Class A or B applicants, Class B to A upgrades, and first-time passenger, school bus, or hazmat applicants must complete training from an FMCSA-registered provider. Finish ELDT before the skills test, and before the hazmat knowledge test for a first-time H endorsement.
Do I need a DOT medical certificate for a CDL in California?
Yes. All California CDL applicants must complete a medical exam and provide proof to the DMV, usually every two years. Intrastate drivers may choose their own medical professional; interstate drivers must use an examiner listed on the FMCSA National Registry.
What do I need to bring to apply for a CDL permit in California?
Complete an online CDL application first, then bring your California driver license, proof of U.S. citizenship, Social Security number, medical exam proof, and any other documents DMV requests for your class and endorsements. California has paused issuing non-domiciled (limited-term legal presence) CDLs.
Do I need a background check for a hazmat endorsement in California?
Yes. You must be at least 21 to transport hazardous materials. First-time applicants need hazmat ELDT before the California DMV knowledge test, then complete a TSA Security Threat Assessment with fingerprinting through Universal Enrollment Services (universalenroll.dhs.gov or 1-855-347-8371). Start TSA early — approval can take several weeks before DMV issues the endorsement.
Can non-U.S. citizens get a California CDL right now?
Until further notice, the California DMV cannot issue, reissue, or renew limited-term legal presence (non-domiciled) CDLs. Applicants generally must be U.S. citizens under the current pause.
How long is a California CLP valid?
A California Commercial Learner's Permit is valid for up to 180 days and may be renewed once for another 180 days without retaking knowledge tests, as long as the expiration does not exceed one year from the original application date.
Can I take the California CDL skills test in Spanish?
No. Written knowledge tests may be available in Spanish, but the entire road test is conducted in English as required by law. You must understand examiner instructions without an interpreter.
How many times can I take California CDL tests?
You get three attempts to pass each required knowledge test and three attempts to pass the skills test per application. If you fail the same knowledge test three times, you must reapply. Skills test retakes require a retest fee.
Does PrepCDL cover California?
Yes. PrepCDL includes state-specific study guides and practice questions aligned with the California CDL manual, plus prep for every class and endorsement.