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 providerKansas CDL Prep
Kansas CDL Permit Practice Tests & Study Guide
Everything you need to get your Kansas commercial learner's permit — the steps, the DOT medical exam, training requirements, and realistic practice tests aligned with the Kansas CDL manual.
How to Get a CDL Permit in Kansas
In Kansas, commercial learner's permits and CDLs are issued by the Kansas Division of Vehicles. Use the facts and steps below for ages, hold times, and what to do next.
50Test questions
80%Passing score
14 daysCLP hold period
- Minimum age
- 18 intrastate / 21 interstate
- CLP validity
- 365 days
- Retest wait
- 1 day
Age, validity & retest
- Minimum age
- 18 intrastate / 21 interstate
- CLP validity
- 365 days
- Retest wait
- 1 day
Step-by-step process
Confirm you're eligible
Hold a valid base license and meet Kansas 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 Kansas Division of Vehicles.
Study the CDL manual
Read the official Kansas 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 Kansas Division of 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 Kansas. 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 Kansas Division of 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 Kansas Division of 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 Kansas Division of 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 examinerKansas 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 Kansas 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 Kansas.
Do I need Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) in Kansas?
Yes. Beginning February 7, 2022, Kansas requires ELDT from a Training Provider Registry school before skills testing for first-time Class A or B, Class B to A upgrades, and passenger or school bus additions, and before the hazmat knowledge test for a first-time H endorsement. Prior CDL or pre–2/7/2022 CLP holders for the same class and endorsements are generally exempt.
Do I need a DOT medical certificate for a CDL in Kansas?
Yes when your category requires it. Self-certify and check MEC dates at ksrevenue.gov/dlstatuscheck. Effective June 2, 2025, Kansas only accepts Medical Examiner's Certificates electronically from the National Registry — drivers cannot hand in paper MECs. Category 1 updates when the examiner posts; other categories still file self-certification. Letting a required MEC expire downgrades commercial privileges. Intrastate drivers get a K restriction.
What do I need to bring to apply for a CDL permit in Kansas?
Bring your valid Kansas driver's license and required identity and residency documents to a driver's license office for written testing. Confirm electronic medical certification and self-certification if you are Non-Excepted Interstate. A CDL permit is $13. Non-domicile applicants need an H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 visa with passport and I-94 or I-797A. Schedule knowledge testing through KDOR's appointment process for CDL permits.
Do I need a background check for a hazmat endorsement in Kansas?
Yes. Complete hazmat ELDT before the knowledge test for a first-time endorsement, pass the hazmat exam, and finish a TSA security threat assessment. Review Kansas requirements for a Hazardous Material Endorsement on the Division of Vehicles CDL page and start the TSA process early.
How much do Kansas CDL permits and licenses cost?
A Regular CDL Permit is $13. A CDL (any class, age 21+) is about $41. The CDL skills exam is $15 ($10 to retest). A printed CDL handbook costs $2 at the driver's license office (PDF is free online).
Do Kansas school bus drivers need an S endorsement?
Yes. Even if you already have a Passenger (P) endorsement, Kansas requires a School Bus (S) endorsement to operate school buses or buses contracted by a school district to transport school children. That means an S knowledge test and a road test in a representative school bus. City or charter buses not affiliated with a school do not need S.
Can military members waive Kansas CDL tests?
Possibly. Eligible applicants with qualifying military CMV experience may apply for a Military Skills Test Waiver and, for certain MOS ratings, the Military Even Exchange knowledge waiver. Complete the certification form with your commanding officer's signature and submit it at a full-service driver's license office (out-of-state applicants also bring a current MVR).
Are Kansas farmers exempt from a CDL near state lines?
Often yes under reciprocity agreements with Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma that exempt certain farm-related CMV operations from CDL requirements. Review the Kansas–Missouri, Kansas–Nebraska, and Kansas–Oklahoma farm reciprocity documents on the Division of Vehicles CDL page for the exact limits.
Does PrepCDL cover Kansas?
Yes. PrepCDL includes state-specific study guides and practice questions aligned with the Kansas CDL manual, plus prep for every class and endorsement.