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Kentucky CDL Requirements Guide

Commonwealth of Kentucky

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FLO LLC course enrollment for Kentucky is not open yet. This guide is information only; it does not open enrollment or training in Kentucky, and it does not mean FLO LLC is approved, licensed or endorsed by any Kentucky agency.

This page summarizes what Kentucky 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 Kentucky'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.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police (CDL testing)

Official Kentucky CDL Manual

Commercial Driver's License Manual (Modernized), Version: March 2025 (Kentucky, file dated 9-8-2025) — published by the state. FLO LLC links to the state's own document; it does not copy or host it.

Opens the official PDF in a new tab. If it does not open, use the state's manual page: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police (CDL testing) — 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 Kentucky's current procedure on the official Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police (CDL testing) page linked below.

Sources: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police (CDL testing) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.25 — Commercial learner's permit

CDL eligibility and age requirements

Be at least 18 to drive within Kentucky (21 for interstate travel).
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: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police (CDL testing) — 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 Kentucky's current procedure on the official Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police (CDL testing) page linked below.

Sources: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police (CDL testing) — CDL page · 49 CFR 391.11 — General qualifications of drivers · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Identity and residency documentation

U.S. citizens, permanent residents or eligible non-domiciled applicants may apply; bring proof of Kentucky residency (two for a REAL ID).

Sources: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police (CDL testing) — 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 Kentucky's current procedure on the official Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police (CDL testing) page linked below.

Sources: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police (CDL testing) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Medical certification and self-certification

Have a certified medical examiner complete your Medical Examiner's Certificate and upload it to the FMCSA National Registry. Effective June 8, 2026, medical examiners submit certificates directly to FMCSA and the Division of Driver Licensing no longer accepts paper copies. Complete a CDL self-certification form at the Regional 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: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police (CDL testing) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Knowledge examinations required

Schedule the written/vision test with Kentucky State Police. All applicants must pass a knowledge test (written or oral; no oral test for the Hazardous Materials endorsement) and a vision test; the written test may be taken as many times as needed. A temporary paper permit is issued until the permanent credential arrives by mail.
Class A applicants take the General Knowledge and Combination Vehicles knowledge tests, plus Air Brakes for an air-brake vehicle (Kentucky 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: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police (CDL testing) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.135 — Passing knowledge and skills tests

Steps to obtain the CLP

1. Study the official Kentucky 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 Kentucky's CDL licensing agencies.
4. Receive your CLP.

Sources: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police (CDL testing) — CDL page

CLP holding period

Hold your CLP for at least 14 days before taking the 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: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police (CDL testing) — CDL page · 49 CFR 383.25 — Commercial learner's permit

Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements

If required, complete ELDT before scheduling your road test.
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: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police (CDL testing) — 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: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police (CDL testing) — CDL page · 49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F — Entry-Level Driver Training · FMCSA Training Provider Registry

Skills examination procedures

Schedule the road test with Kentucky State Police; the skills test must be completed in the same class of vehicle you intend to operate. You receive your CDL after successfully completing the skills test with KSP.
The skills test has three parts taken in order — vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control and on-road driving. The Kentucky manual's basic control section describes the Modernized exercises: Forward Stop, Straight-Line Backing, Forward Offset Tracking and Reverse Offset Backing.

Sources: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police (CDL testing) — CDL page

Licensing office and scheduling resources

Use the official Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police (CDL testing) pages linked below to find offices, schedule tests and confirm current procedures.

Sources: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police (CDL testing) — CDL 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 Kentucky's CDL licensing agencies or an authorized tester.
4. Obtain your Class A CDL from Kentucky's CDL licensing agencies.

Sources: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police (CDL testing) — CDL page

Three different kinds of tests

FLO LLC practice tests: Study tools inside this portal. They prepare you for your state's knowledge tests; they are not state tests.
FLO LLC ELDT theory assessments: The module and final assessments that complete FLO's ELDT theory course (85% FLO standard).
Official state CDL examinations: The knowledge and skills tests given only by your state licensing agency or its authorized testers.

FLO LLC enrollment status

FLO LLC course enrollment is not open for Kentucky yet, so accounts and course payments are not accepted for this state. Use this guide and the official Kentucky sources above to prepare.