Colorado CDL Requirements Guide

This page summarizes what Colorado 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 Colorado'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.

• Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Official Colorado CDL Manual

Commercial Driver License Manual – 2023 CDL Testing System, DR 2251 (06/15/23) — published by the state. FLO LLC links to the state's own document; it does not copy or host it.

READ COLORADO CDL MANUAL

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

Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) requirements

• Colorado issues CLPs and CDLs to U.S. citizens or permanent residents only. You must be 18 or older (21 or older for hazardous materials endorsements).
• CLPs are valid for one year and cannot be renewed; written knowledge test results are valid for one CLP issuance only. If you do not get your CDL before the CLP expires, you must retake the commercial written tests in an office.

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

CDL eligibility and age requirements

• Age: 18+ (21+ for hazardous materials endorsements).
• 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: Colorado Division 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 Colorado's current procedure on the official Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) page linked below.

Sources: Colorado Division 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

• Proof of lawful presence (for example a valid, unexpired U.S. passport, Certificate of Citizenship, or valid full-term Permanent Resident Card I-551), Social Security Number (may be provided verbally), and two proofs of physical Colorado residency. The name on your CLP or CDL must match your lawful presence documentation.

Sources: Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page

Legal-presence requirements

• U.S. citizens or permanent residents only. Following FMCSA regulations, Colorado DMV has suspended issuance and renewal of non-domiciled CLPs and CDLs.
• 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: Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Medical certification and self-certification

• 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 Colorado's current procedure on the official Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) page linked below.

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

Knowledge examinations required

• Book a 'CDL Written Test' appointment at a state driver license office and pass the test. The CDL knowledge test is available in English and Spanish; the Hazmat knowledge test is available only in English.
• Class A applicants take the General Knowledge and Combination Vehicles knowledge tests, plus Air Brakes for an air-brake vehicle (Colorado 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: Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.135 — Passing knowledge and skills tests

Steps to obtain the CLP

• 1. Study the official Colorado 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 Colorado DMV.
• 4. Receive your CLP.

Sources: Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page

CLP holding period

• CLPs must be held for 14 calendar days before the CDL skills test can be taken.
• 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: Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.25 — Commercial learner's permit

Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements

• Complete the mandatory Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) at an approved CDL driver training school.
• 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: Colorado Division 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: Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page · 49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F — Entry-Level Driver Training · FMCSA Training Provider Registry

Skills examination procedures

• After the 14-day holding period, take the skills test at an approved third-party testing facility (the DMV page links the list).
• The skills test has three parts taken in order — vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control and on-road driving. The Colorado manual's basic control section describes the Modernized exercises: Forward Stop, Straight-Line Backing, Forward Offset Tracking and Reverse Offset Backing.

Sources: Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page

Licensing office and scheduling resources

• Schedule driver license office appointments online.
• Use the official Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) pages linked below to find offices, schedule tests and confirm current procedures.

Sources: Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — APPT page · Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page

Steps to receive your Class A CDL

• Once you pass the skills test, make a 'First Time Appointment' at a driver license office and bring your valid CLP, proof of ELDT completion and the skills test completion form to finalize your CDL. CDLs are valid for 4 years.

Sources: Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — CDL page