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 providerUtah CDL Prep
Utah CDL Permit Practice Tests & Study Guide
Everything you need to get your Utah commercial learner's permit — the steps, the DOT medical exam, training requirements, and realistic practice tests aligned with the Utah CDL manual.
How to Get a CDL Permit in Utah
In Utah, commercial learner's permits and CDLs are issued by the Utah Driver License Division. 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
- 180 days
- Retest wait
- 1 day
Age, validity & retest
- Minimum age
- 18 intrastate / 21 interstate
- CLP validity
- 180 days
- Retest wait
- 1 day
Step-by-step process
Confirm you're eligible
Hold a valid base license and meet Utah 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 Utah Driver License Division.
Study the CDL manual
Read the official Utah 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 Utah Driver License Division 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 Utah. 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 Utah Driver License Division 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 Utah Driver License Division, 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 Utah Driver License Division 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 examinerUtah 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 Utah 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 Utah.
Do I need Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) in Utah?
Yes for first-time Class A or B applicants, Class B to A upgrades, and first-time passenger, school bus, or hazmat endorsements. Finish ELDT before the skills test (or before the hazmat knowledge test). Theory can start before you get a permit; behind-the-wheel training requires a CLP. Drivers issued a CDL or S/P/H endorsement before February 7, 2022 are generally exempt for that credential. Military skills-waiver applicants meeting 49 CFR 383.77 may also be excepted.
Do I need a DOT medical certificate for a CDL in Utah?
Yes for most applicants. Present a current Medical Examiner's Certificate from a National Registry examiner and submit a Self-Certification form for one commerce category. The MEC is typically valid up to 24 months and must be submitted by your examiner before your CDL appointment. Intrastate drivers with certain impairments may apply for Utah's Intrastate Waiver Program (K restriction). Call 801-965-4437 or 888-353-4224 for medical certificate status questions.
What do I need to bring to apply for a CDL permit in Utah?
Bring your current Utah Class D license (held for at least one year), a current Medical Examiner's Certificate, proof of identity, full Social Security number, two Utah residency documents if your address differs from your record, and name-change evidence if applicable. Schedule an appointment and have your examiner submit the MEC before you arrive. Follow the U.S. Citizen or Non-Domiciled document checklist on the DLD site (non-domiciled issuance is currently paused).
Do I need a background check for a hazmat endorsement in Utah?
Yes. Pass a federal TSA/DOT background check every five years (about $80–$110; often 30–90 days) or present a valid TWIC card for verification under TSA's exemption. Complete hazmat ELDT theory before the first-time 30-question knowledge test, and retest hazmat knowledge every five years at renewal. Endorsements cost $9 each ($18 for X tanker/hazmat).
How much do Utah CDL knowledge and skills tests cost?
The $52 license application fee covers core knowledge tests for two attempts each; additional attempts are $26. Each endorsement is $9 for two written attempts ($18 for X). Skills testing at a Driver License Division office is $78 for two attempts and $52 for retakes. Third-party testers set their own fees.
Does Utah issue non-domicile CDLs?
Not currently. As of January 20, 2026, Utah paused issuance of non-domiciled CDLs until further notice in conjunction with FMCSA's annual review of Utah's CDL program.
Does Utah check the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse?
Yes. If the Clearinghouse reports that you are prohibited from operating a CMV, the Driver License Division will not issue, renew, upgrade, or transfer a CDL or CLP until you complete return-to-duty and are cleared.
What is Utah's Intrastate Waiver Program?
Commercial drivers who cannot meet federal Medical Examiner's Certificate standards may qualify for an intrastate-only (K restriction) waiver in categories such as pulmonary, neurologic, seizures, learning/memory, psychiatric/emotional, or musculoskeletal. Contact DLD at 801-965-4437 or 888-353-4224 for the K waiver application packet.
Does PrepCDL cover Utah?
Yes. PrepCDL includes state-specific study guides and practice questions aligned with the Utah CDL manual, plus prep for every class and endorsement.