How to Get a CDL in Arkansas
Six steps, in order, with the Arkansas numbers that actually matter. Median heavy-truck pay is $54K+ — and step one takes a day and costs $20.
FMCSA-compliant under 49 CFR Part 380 · Reported to the federal TPR · 7-day refund
The short version
- 01Check eligibility — 18 in-state, 21 across state lines
- 02Finish ELDT theory training — today, $20
- 03Pass the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), Driver Services knowledge test, get your CLP
- 04Behind-the-wheel practice, then the skills test
- 05DOT medical card on the national registry
- 06Upgrade the CLP to a full Arkansas CDL
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Am I eligible for a CDL in Arkansas?
You can get an Arkansas CDL at 18 to drive commercially inside Arkansas, or at 21 to drive across state lines, haul hazmat, or transport placarded loads. You need an Arkansas residential address, a valid Arkansas driver's license in good standing, and — for most classes — a current DOT medical certificate.
Disqualifiers are federal, not state: a suspended license, certain drug or alcohol convictions, or an open Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse prohibition will stop you at the counter. Clear those first — the rest of this page assumes you're eligible.
The CLP holder must be 18 years of age or older and must hold a valid driver license issued by the same jurisdiction that issued the CLP. While driving on a CLP the holder must be accompanied by a CDL holder with the proper endorsements who is physically present in the front seat next to the CLP holder or directly behind them.
New to the requirement? What is ELDT? →
Step 1 · How do I complete ELDT theory training?
Since February 7, 2022, the FMCSA requires Entry-Level Driver Training before you can take the CDL knowledge test. Take the theory course from a provider on the federal Training Provider Registry, and your completion is reported electronically to the registry — usually within a day.
This step is not Arkansas-specific. The theory curriculum is standardized nationally under 49 CFR Part 380, so a $150 course and a $20 course put the identical record in the same federal registry. Paying more buys marketing, not a better certificate.
Do step 1 right now
Class A ELDT Theory Course
Self-paced · finishable in one day · lifetime access · no subscription
Need endorsements too? The All-Access bundle covers all 7 courses for $49.
Step 2 · How do I get an Arkansas CDL learner's permit?
Once your ELDT completion is in the federal registry, take your documents to an Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), Driver Services driver exam station and pass the general knowledge test plus any endorsement tests. The agency issues your commercial learner's permit (CLP), and you must hold it at least 14 days before the skills test.
- Permit validity: Valid for up to 1 year; on expiration the holder must retake the general and endorsement knowledge tests
Bring with you — per the AR checklist
- Valid Arkansas driver license
- Current CDL-1 form (test packet purchased from the Department of Finance and Administration revenue office)
- Proof of legal presence document
- Commercial Learner's Permit
- Two wheel chocks
- Empty commercial motor vehicle and trailer
Knowledge test covers
- General knowledge test meeting federal standards for the commercial motor vehicle operated
- Hazardous Materials (H)
- Tank Vehicle (N)
- Passenger Transport (P)
- School Bus (S)
- Doubles/Triples (T)
Find an Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), Driver Services location →
Step 3 · Do I need behind-the-wheel training?
Yes. ELDT has two halves: the theory course you finished in step 1, and behind-the-wheel (BTW) training on a range and on public roads. BTW must be done in person with a registered provider, has no minimum hour requirement, and ends when an instructor judges you proficient.
Your CLP lets you drive a commercial vehicle only with a qualified CDL holder in the passenger seat. Most drivers do BTW through a local school or a carrier-sponsored program — look near Little Rock, Fayetteville, or Fort Smith.
Step 4 · How do I schedule the Arkansas skills test?
Arkansas runs CDL skills testing through examiners approved by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), Driver Services, and you schedule once your 14-day CLP hold is up. The test has three parts — pre-trip inspection, basic control skills, and an on-road drive — and you must supply a vehicle representing the class you're testing for.
- Third-party testing: yes - Arkansas State Police certifies third-party CDL testers (government entity, association, school district, educational co-op, educational institution or…
- Commercial motor vehicle must have a legible DOT inspection sticker less than one year old
Fail one part and you retest only that part, but each attempt is charged separately and slots fill weeks out in metro areas. Book the date before you finish BTW.
Step 5 · Do I need a DOT medical card?
Almost certainly. Most CDL drivers must pass a DOT physical with an examiner listed on the FMCSA National Registry and file the certificate with the state. A standard card is good for up to 24 months; conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes can shorten that to 12 months or less.
Get this done before your Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), Driver Services visit — you'll need the certificate on file to be issued the CLP, so it isn't really step 5 in practice.
Step 6 · When do I actually get the CDL?
After you pass the skills test, you take the examiner's results and your CLP to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), Driver Services, pay the license fee, and are issued a temporary CDL on the spot. The permanent card arrives by mail, and your driving record shows the class and endorsements immediately.
Endorsements you skipped now can be added later — each one is a knowledge test, and Hazmat adds a TSA background check.
Compare your ELDT options
Same federal curriculum, same registry, same certificate. The difference is what you pay and how long it takes.
| ELDT HQ | Typical online | CDL school theory | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theory course price | $20 | $99 – $150 | Bundled, $3k – $8k total |
| All 7 endorsements | $49 bundle | $300+ | Varies |
| Time to complete | One day, self-paced | One day – two weeks | 3 – 8 weeks, fixed schedule |
| Reported to federal TPR | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Curriculum | 49 CFR Part 380 | 49 CFR Part 380 | 49 CFR Part 380 |
| Refund window | 7 days before starting | Often none | Enrollment contract |
Competitor figures are typical advertised ranges, not quotes. Behind-the-wheel training is priced separately by every provider, including us.
Arkansas CDL questions
No. Transferring an existing, valid CDL to Arkansas is a license transfer at the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), Driver Services, not new training. ELDT is required only when you first obtain a Class A or B CDL, upgrade a class, or add a Hazmat, Passenger, or School Bus endorsement for the first time.
Most people take four to eight weeks. Theory training is one day, the CLP hold is 14 days minimum, and the rest is behind-the-wheel practice and how far out your skills test appointment lands. Metro testing sites book further out than rural ones.
It is if the provider is listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry — that listing is the only thing that makes any theory course count. The curriculum is standardized in 49 CFR Part 380, so every registered provider teaches the same required topics.
Yes, for intrastate driving only. You must be 21 to drive across state lines, haul hazardous materials requiring placards, or transport passengers interstate.
No. Our course is the theory half. Behind-the-wheel must be completed in person with a registered provider on a range and on public roads, and it is priced and scheduled separately.
No. ELDT is training, not an exam. You still take Arkansas's knowledge test for the CLP and the three-part skills test for the CDL, both administered by the state.
You retake only the portion you failed, but each attempt carries its own fee and requires a new appointment. Your CLP must still be valid on the retest date.
Add endorsements while you're at it
Each endorsement is another knowledge test — and more pay. All seven courses are $49 in the All-Access bundle.
Hazmat
Placarded loads. Adds a TSA background check and a knowledge test.
$20
Passenger
Buses, shuttles, motorcoaches. Required ELDT theory course.
$20
School Bus
Highest-demand seasonal work. ELDT theory required.
$20
Tanker
Liquid bulk. Pairs with Hazmat for the best pay.
$20
Hauling hazardous materials? Read the Hazmat endorsement guide →
Step 1 takes a day. Start it now.
$20 · self-paced · reported to the federal registry · 7-day refund
How to get a CDL in other states
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