Alaska CDL Requirements Guide

This page summarizes what Alaska requires of Class A Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) and Commercial Driver's License (CDL) applicants, with links to the official government sources. Requirements come from Alaska's licensing agencies and federal regulations; FLO LLC's own training standards appear separately below. Sources were checked on 2026-10-13. Where anything here differs from the agency, the agency controls.

• Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Official Alaska CDL Manual

Commercial Driver License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System, Version: July 2017 (Alaska DMV) — published by the state. FLO LLC links to the state's own document; it does not copy or host it.

READ ALASKA CDL MANUAL

Opens the official PDF in a new tab. If it does not open, use the state's manual page: Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — manual page.

Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) requirements

• You must be at least 18 years old (21 to request a School Bus or Hazmat endorsement, or to operate as an inter-state driver), be an Alaska resident domiciled in the state, and pass all appropriate written knowledge tests.
• A CLP allows you to drive with a qualified driver to learn the skills needed to operate the vehicle safely.

Sources: Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CLP page · Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.25 — Commercial learner's permit

CDL eligibility and age requirements

• Alaska: at least 18 years old; 21 for School Bus or Hazmat endorsements or for inter-state driving.
• Federal rule: a driver must be at least 21 years old to drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce (49 CFR 391.11(b)(1)).

Sources: Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CLP page · 49 CFR 391.11 — General qualifications of drivers

Interstate versus intrastate driving

• Federal rule: a driver must be at least 21 years old to drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce (49 CFR 391.11(b)(1)).
• Every CLP and CDL applicant must self-certify one of four types of commercial driving — non-excepted interstate, excepted interstate, non-excepted intrastate, or excepted intrastate — and non-excepted drivers must provide a current medical examiner's certificate (49 CFR 383.71(b)(1)).
• Confirm Alaska's current procedure on the official Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) page linked below.

Sources: Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CLP page · 49 CFR 391.11 — General qualifications of drivers · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Identity and residency documentation

• Show proof of your legal name, date of birth and citizenship, proof of your residence address in Alaska, and a valid Social Security Number.

Sources: Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CLP page

Legal-presence requirements

• Show proof of lawful status as a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (for example a birth certificate from Vital Statistics — certified informational copies are not valid for identity — or a Certificate of Citizenship, Naturalization or Birth Abroad).
• Federal rule: CLP and CDL applicants must prove U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency, or qualify under the federal non-domiciled rules (49 CFR 383.71).

Sources: Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CLP page · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Medical certification and self-certification

• You must be medically qualified; unless exempted you must provide a valid Medical Examiner's Certificate. If you choose a 'Non-Excepted' type of operation, a valid Medical Examiner's Certificate is required.
• A CDL vision test is required if you are not submitting a medical examiner certificate.
• Every CLP and CDL applicant must self-certify one of four types of commercial driving — non-excepted interstate, excepted interstate, non-excepted intrastate, or excepted intrastate — and non-excepted drivers must provide a current medical examiner's certificate (49 CFR 383.71(b)(1)).

Sources: Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CLP page · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Knowledge examinations required

• Commercial knowledge test; the Commercial Combination knowledge test (required for Class A); the Air Brake knowledge test (to remove the L air-brake restriction); and the general (non-commercial) knowledge test if you are new to Alaska, have returned, or your Alaska license expired more than one year ago.
• Class A applicants take the General Knowledge and Combination Vehicles knowledge tests, plus Air Brakes for an air-brake vehicle (Alaska manual, Section 1.1). Endorsements require their own tests.
• Federal standard: at least 80% correct is required to pass each knowledge test (49 CFR 383.135).

Sources: Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CLP page · 49 CFR 383.135 — Passing knowledge and skills tests

Steps to obtain the CLP

• Prepare in advance: study, complete the required forms, and obtain a medical exam if required, then submit proof of identification, the application forms and your medical card and take the knowledge tests at your local DMV office.

Sources: Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page · Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CLP page

CLP holding period

• You must wait at least 14 days after your CLP is issued before taking any road test.
• After obtaining your CLP you have 180 days to schedule and complete the road skills test; the permit may be extended one time for another 180 days by resubmitting your forms.
• Federal rule: a CLP holder may not take the CDL skills test during the first 14 days after the CLP is first issued (49 CFR 383.25(e)).

Sources: Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CLP page · Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.25 — Commercial learner's permit

Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements

• Completion of ELDT is required for your first CDL issuance.
• Federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) applies to anyone obtaining a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time, upgrading to Class A or B, or obtaining a first school bus, passenger or hazardous materials endorsement (49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F).
• ELDT has two parts — theory (classroom/online) and behind-the-wheel (range and public road) — and both must be completed with providers listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, which reports your completion electronically before you may take the skills test.

Sources: Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CLP page · 49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F — Entry-Level Driver Training · FMCSA Training Provider Registry

Behind-the-wheel training requirements

• ELDT behind-the-wheel training must be taken from a behind-the-wheel provider listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, on a range and on public roads, in a vehicle of the class you are training for. The instructor decides when you are proficient; federal rules set no minimum number of hours (49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F, Appendix A).
• FLO LLC's online course is ELDT THEORY only. It does not provide behind-the-wheel training.

Sources: Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CLP page · 49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F — Entry-Level Driver Training · FMCSA Training Provider Registry

Skills examination procedures

• Pass all appropriate skills tests in a representative vehicle of the class you wish to obtain; schedule a road test online.
• The skills test has three parts taken in order — vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control and on-road driving. The Alaska manual's basic control section describes the exercises described in Section 12 of the manual (straight-line backing, offset backing, and alley dock or parallel parking as listed there).

Sources: Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page · Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CLP page

Licensing office and scheduling resources

• Use the official Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) pages linked below to find offices, schedule tests and confirm current procedures.

Sources: Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CLP page · Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page · Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — Selfcert page · Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — ELDT page

Steps to receive your Class A CDL

• Hold a CLP matching the class and endorsement for at least 14 days, complete ELDT if this is your first CDL, schedule a road test, and pass it in a vehicle matching the class and endorsement.

Sources: Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page · Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CLP page