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 providerVermont CDL Prep
Vermont CDL Permit Practice Tests & Study Guide
Everything you need to get your Vermont commercial learner's permit — the steps, the DOT medical exam, training requirements, and realistic practice tests aligned with the Vermont CDL manual.
How to Get a CDL Permit in Vermont
In Vermont, commercial learner's permits and CDLs are issued by the Vermont Department of Motor 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
- 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 Vermont 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 Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles.
Study the CDL manual
Read the official Vermont 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 Vermont 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 Vermont. 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 Vermont 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 Vermont 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 Vermont 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 examinerVermont 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 Vermont 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 Vermont.
Do I need Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) in Vermont?
Yes for first-time Class A or B applicants, upgrades, and first-time passenger or school bus endorsements — finish ELDT before the skills test. First-time hazmat applicants need hazmat ELDT before the knowledge test. Providers must be listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. Prior CDL or S/P/H holders from before February 7, 2022, and military waiver applicants under 49 CFR 383, are generally exempt.
Do I need a DOT medical certificate for a CDL in Vermont?
Yes if your self-certification shows you are subject to 49 CFR Part 391. Complete form VL-033 for interstate or intrastate driving and whether you need a medical exam. Non-excepted drivers need a physical from a National Registry examiner (typically every two years). Updated medical certificates may be submitted online. If your medical or commerce status changes, file a new self-certification and MEC as needed.
What do I need to bring to apply for a CDL permit in Vermont?
You must already hold a valid Vermont operator's license. Bring identity and residency documents as required for DMV transactions, complete CDL Medical Certification form VL-033, and have a current Medical Examiner's Certificate on file if your category requires it. Schedule knowledge testing by calling 802-828-2000 — ask for an oral/audiotape test if you need it.
Do I need a background check for a hazmat endorsement in Vermont?
Yes. Complete fingerprinting and a TSA security threat assessment, finish hazmat ELDT before the first-time knowledge test, and pass the hazmat exam. You must retest hazmat knowledge and complete fingerprinting again at each CDL renewal to keep the endorsement. Intrastate hazmat drivers must still meet federal medical standards (age requirements for interstate travel are excepted for intrastate).
How much do Vermont CDL permits and tests cost?
A Commercial Learner's Permit is $18 for one year (no renewals). Knowledge tests are $39 and each endorsement test is $17. The skills road test is $39 plus a $29 scheduling deposit. A standard CDL is $72 for two years or $108 for four years (Enhanced CDL costs more).
Can Vermont CLPs be renewed?
No. A Vermont CLP is valid for one year from the issue date and cannot be renewed. To get another CLP, you must retake the required knowledge tests (23 V.S.A. § 4108).
Can military members waive Vermont CDL tests?
Possibly. Service members and recent veterans employed within the past 12 months in a military position requiring operation of a CMV-equivalent vehicle may apply with form VL-054 for a skills test waiver (and select knowledge tests in some cases). Additional eligibility restrictions apply.
Does Vermont check the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse?
Yes. CLP and CDL holders are subject to the federal Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. A prohibited status blocks CMV operation and, under Clearinghouse-II rules, can prevent you from continuing to hold a CLP or CDL until return-to-duty is complete.
Does PrepCDL cover Vermont?
Yes. PrepCDL includes state-specific study guides and practice questions aligned with the Vermont CDL manual, plus prep for every class and endorsement.