How to Get a CDL in Washington
Six steps, in order, with the Washington 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 Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) 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 Washington CDL
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Am I eligible for a CDL in Washington?
You can get a Washington CDL at 18 to drive commercially inside Washington, or at 21 to drive across state lines, haul hazmat, or transport placarded loads. You need a Washington residential address, a valid Washington 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.
18 for intrastate with a valid Washington driver license | 21 for interstate | DOL states it is not currently processing non-domicile CDL transactions
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 Washington-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 a Washington CDL learner's permit?
Once your ELDT completion is in the federal registry, take your documents to a Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) 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 fee: $40.00 (commercial learner's permit application); the CDL knowledge test is a separate $35.00 fee
- Permit validity: 180 days; may be renewed once for an additional 180 days if renewed within 30 days of expiration (no retest of knowledge exams required)
Bring with you — per the WA checklist
- Current driver license
- Social Security number
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency
- DOT physical and self-certification of driving type with the medical certificate uploaded to the National…
- Proof of completed CDL training (ELDT)
- Commercial learner's permit
Knowledge test covers
- CDL General Knowledge (50 questions
- 40 to pass)
- Combination Vehicles for Class A (20 questions
- 16 to pass)
- Air Brakes (25 questions
- 20 to pass)
Find a Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) 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 Seattle, Spokane, or Tacoma.
Step 4 · How do I schedule the Washington skills test?
Washington runs CDL skills testing through examiners approved by the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL), 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.
- Skills test fee: $175.00 per CDL skills test (fee covers one attempt since January 1 2024); $100.00 for the school bus endorsement skills test (fee covers two attempts). With a certified third-party examiner you pay the examiner directly.
- Third-party testing: yes - skills tests may be given by a DOL examiner or by a certified third-party examiner (TPE); DOL must authorize you first and TPE appointments must be…
- Test vehicle must be unloaded
Failing any one of the three skills test parts ends the test; all 3 parts must be retaken and applicable fees paid again. Minimum wait is 3 calendar days for any failed component. Equipment failure carries no wait time and does not count as an attempt. The knowledge test fee covers one attempt at each knowledge test taken within 90 days of receipt; passing knowledge scores are valid 180 days.
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 Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) 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 Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL), 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.
- License fee: Transfer an out-of-state CDL to a WA CDL: $213.00 for 6 years or $267.00 for 8 years ($50 application + $27 per year issuance + $1 technology fee). Add a CDL to an existing WA driver license: $37.00-$156.00 ($20 license fee + $17 per year of time remaining). CDL renewal: $163.00 for 6 years ($61 renew + $102 CDL) or $217.00 for 8 years ($81 renew + $136 CDL).
- License term: 6 or 8 years
- A temporary license is issued before you leave the office; the permanent card is mailed within 7-10 days (call DOL at 360-902-3900 if not received after 30 days)
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.
Washington CDL questions
No. Transferring an existing, valid CDL to Washington is a license transfer at the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL), 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 Washington'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