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 providerMissouri CDL Prep
Missouri CDL Permit Practice Tests & Study Guide
Everything you need to get your Missouri commercial learner's permit — the steps, the DOT medical exam, training requirements, and realistic practice tests aligned with the Missouri CDL manual.
How to Get a CDL Permit in Missouri
In Missouri, commercial learner's permits and CDLs are issued by the Missouri Department of Revenue. 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
- Triple trailers
- Not permitted on state roadways
Age, validity & retest
- Minimum age
- 18 intrastate / 21 interstate
- CLP validity
- 365 days
- Retest wait
- 1 day
- Triple trailers
- Not permitted on state roadways
Step-by-step process
Confirm you're eligible
Hold a valid base license and meet Missouri 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 Missouri Department of Revenue.
Study the CDL manual
Read the official Missouri 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 Missouri Department of Revenue 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 Missouri. 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 Missouri Department of Revenue 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 Missouri Department of Revenue, 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 Missouri Department of Revenue 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 examinerMissouri 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 Missouri 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 Missouri.
Do I need Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) in Missouri?
Yes. Effective February 7, 2022, Missouri requires Entry-Level Driver Training from an FMCSA-registered provider before the CDL skills test. The examiner must verify completion electronically in the Training Provider Registry before you test.
Do I need a DOT medical certificate for a CDL in Missouri?
Yes for non-excepted drivers. All CLP and CDL applicants must self-certify their type of commercial operation. Non-excepted interstate or intrastate drivers need a current Medical Examiner's Certificate from a National Registry examiner — Missouri verifies it electronically. MoDOT or FMCSA variances (such as an SPE for limb impairment) must be carried with the medical certificate.
What do I need to bring to apply for a CDL permit in Missouri?
Pass knowledge tests at an MSHP exam station first, then bring your completed exam form and documents from the List of Acceptable Documents for a REAL ID or non–REAL ID commercial license to a contract license office that processes CDL transactions (confirm staffing ahead — not every office handles commercial applications). Include two proofs of Missouri residency. The CLP fee is $44.
Do I need a background check for a hazmat endorsement in Missouri?
Yes. Hazardous materials (H) and Hazmat/Tank (X) endorsements cannot be placed on a CLP — complete them after (or separately from) the permit path, including the hazmat knowledge test and TSA security threat assessment. First-time hazmat applicants also need hazmat ELDT before the knowledge test.
How much does a Missouri CLP cost?
A Missouri Commercial Learner's Permit costs $44 — $25 for the written examination, $10 for the permit transaction, and $9 for office processing. Most first-time CDLs after skills testing cost about $83 ($25 skills test, $40 license transaction, $18 office processing).
Are Missouri CDL knowledge tests offered in other languages?
No. Under Missouri law, CDL written knowledge testing is administered in English only, and translators are not allowed. Tests are given at Missouri State Highway Patrol Driver Examination Stations.
Are nondomiciled CDLs available in Missouri?
Not currently. Effective September 29, 2025, the Missouri Department of Revenue suspended all new, renewal, and duplicate nondomiciled CLP and CDL issuance until further notice, including knowledge and skills testing for applicants who would be restricted to a nondomiciled credential.
Can military members waive Missouri CDL testing?
Yes. Eligible active-duty or retired service members may apply for a Military CDL Skills Test Waiver (Form 5140) — knowledge tests are still required and must be no more than 180 days old at application. Qualifying MOS ratings may use the Military CDL Even Exchange (Form 5800) to waive both knowledge and skills tests.
Does PrepCDL cover Missouri?
Yes. PrepCDL includes state-specific study guides and practice questions aligned with the Missouri CDL manual, plus prep for every class and endorsement.