California CDL Requirements Guide

This page summarizes what California 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 California'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.

• California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Official California CDL Manual

California Commercial Driver Handbook DL 650 (DMV file dated August 2023) — published by the state. FLO LLC links to the state's own document; it does not copy or host it.

READ CALIFORNIA CDL MANUAL

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

Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) requirements

• If you have never had a CDL, or want a classification, endorsement or restriction change that requires a skills test, you first need a CLP and must hold it for at least 14 days.
• The CLP is valid for a maximum of 180 days from the date issued (it may expire earlier with limited-term legal presence documents).

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

CDL eligibility and age requirements

• 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)).
• Confirm California's current procedure on the official California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) page linked below.

Sources: California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL 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 California's current procedure on the official California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) page linked below.

Sources: California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page · 49 CFR 391.11 — General qualifications of drivers · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Identity and residency documentation

• Present acceptable residency documents if you have never had a California driver license or ID card.

Sources: California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page

Legal-presence requirements

• 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).
• Confirm California's current procedure on the official California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) page linked below.

Sources: California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Medical certification and self-certification

• Submit a completed Medical Examination Report (MCSA-5875) and Medical Examiner's Certificate (MCSA-5876).
• Effective July 27, 2026, medical examiners on the National Registry must submit interstate (NI) drivers' medical reports and certificates to DMV electronically; interstate drivers may no longer submit their own. Intrastate (NA) drivers may still submit paper forms in person, by mail or through DMV's Virtual Field Office.
• 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: California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Knowledge examinations required

• Pass the required knowledge test(s); you have three attempts to pass each. Knowledge tests are not given within 30 minutes of closing. DMV issues the CLP after you pass.
• If you do not meet all CDL requirements (knowledge and skills tests) within 12 months of applying, the application is no longer valid and you must reapply.
• Class A applicants take the General Knowledge and Combination Vehicles knowledge tests, plus Air Brakes for an air-brake vehicle (California 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: California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.135 — Passing knowledge and skills tests

Steps to obtain the CLP

• 1. Study the official California CDL manual (link above).
• 2. Gather the identity, residency, Social Security and legal-presence documents the agency lists, and complete your self-certification (and medical examination if you are non-excepted).
• 3. Pass the required knowledge tests with the California DMV.
• 4. Receive your CLP.

Sources: California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page

CLP holding period

• After you hold a CLP for 14 days you can apply to take the skills test; the 14-day wait also applies to upgrades and endorsement/restriction changes that require a skills test.
• 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: California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.25 — Commercial learner's permit

Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements

• 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.
• Confirm California's current procedure on the official California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) page linked below.

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

Skills examination procedures

• Schedule a skills test appointment — skills tests are not given without an appointment. The skills test includes a vehicle inspection, basic control skills test and road test; if you fail any part, all other testing is postponed. You have three tries to pass.
• If you hold a California CLP and completed training and passed the skills test in another state, you need not retest in California; results are sent to California DMV by the testing state.
• The skills test has three parts taken in order — vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control and on-road driving. The California 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: California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page

Licensing office and scheduling resources

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

Sources: California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page

Steps to receive your Class A CDL

• After you pass the skills test, DMV issues an interim CDL valid for 60 days.

Sources: California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page