Illinois CDL Requirements Guide

This page summarizes what Illinois 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 Illinois'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.

• Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department

Official Illinois CDL Manual

Illinois Commercial Driver's License Study Guide, DSD CDL 10 (July 2025) — published by the state. FLO LLC links to the state's own document; it does not copy or host it.

READ ILLINOIS CDL MANUAL

Opens the official PDF in a new tab. If it does not open, use the state's manual page: Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department — manual page.

Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) requirements

• Federal rule: a CLP is valid for no more than one year, and its holder may drive a commercial motor vehicle on public roads only when accompanied by a CDL holder with the proper class and endorsements (49 CFR 383.25).
• Confirm Illinois's current procedure on the official Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department page linked below.

Sources: Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.25 — Commercial learner's permit

CDL eligibility and age requirements

• You must be at least 18 to obtain an Illinois CLP or CDL; a CLP/CDL held by someone under 21 is good for driving intrastate only. You must be 21 to drive interstate or to transport passengers.
• 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: Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department — FAQ page · Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department — 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 Illinois's current procedure on the official Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department page linked below.

Sources: Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department — CDL page · 49 CFR 391.11 — General qualifications of drivers · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Identity and residency documentation

• Provide acceptable identification verifying your full name, date of birth, Social Security number, Illinois residency and written signature.

Sources: Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department — FAQ page · Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department — 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 Illinois's current procedure on the official Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department page linked below.

Sources: Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Medical certification and self-certification

• All CDL holders and CLP applicants obtaining, renewing or upgrading must self-certify their medical category, based solely on where they drive and what they transport. For intrastate medical information contact the Illinois State Police.
• 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: Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department — FAQ page · Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Knowledge examinations required

• Class A applicants take the General Knowledge and Combination Vehicles knowledge tests, plus Air Brakes for an air-brake vehicle (Illinois 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: Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.135 — Passing knowledge and skills tests

Steps to obtain the CLP

• 1. Study the official Illinois 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 Illinois Secretary of State.
• 4. Receive your CLP.

Sources: Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department — CDL page

CLP holding period

• 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)).
• Confirm Illinois's current procedure on the official Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department page linked below.

Sources: Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department — 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 Illinois's current procedure on the official Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department page linked below.

Sources: Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department — 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: Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department — CDL page · 49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F — Entry-Level Driver Training · FMCSA Training Provider Registry

Skills examination procedures

• Schedule a CDL appointment for skills/drive testing, conducted at a full-service CDL facility in a representative vehicle of the proper class. The Secretary of State's letter in the CDL Study Guide notes that pre-trip, skills and road exams can be scheduled online at ilsos.gov.
• The skills test has three parts taken in order — vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control and on-road driving. The Illinois manual's basic control section describes the Modernized exercises: Forward Stop, Straight-Line Backing, Forward Offset Tracking and Reverse Offset Backing.

Sources: Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department — FAQ page · Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department — CDL page

Licensing office and scheduling resources

• Use the official Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department pages linked below to find offices, schedule tests and confirm current procedures.

Sources: Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department — CDL page · Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department — FAQ page

Steps to receive your Class A CDL

• 1. Hold your CLP for at least the required holding period (federal minimum 14 days).
• 2. Complete ELDT theory (for example, FLO LLC's online course) and ELDT behind-the-wheel training with providers on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry.
• 3. Pass the three-part skills test with the Illinois Secretary of State or an authorized tester.
• 4. Obtain your Class A CDL from the Illinois Secretary of State.

Sources: Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department — CDL page