How to Get a CDL in North Dakota: Permit, Training, and Costs

To get a CDL in North Dakota, you pass a DOT physical, complete federally required Entry-Level Driver Training, pass a written knowledge test to earn a Commercial Learner’s Permit, practice for at least 14 days, and then pass a three-part skills test in a vehicle that matches the class you want. Most applicants finish in several weeks to a few months, and training tuition is the dominant cost; state fees are low.

Who Qualifies

You must be at least 18 to drive commercially within North Dakota, and at least 21 to drive interstate, haul placarded hazardous materials, or carry passengers across state lines. You also need a valid North Dakota driver’s license before you apply.

Bring your current driver’s license, proof of legal presence in the United States, and proof of your North Dakota residence (a utility bill or vehicle registration works) when you visit a driver license site.¹ You’ll also need a current Medical Examiner’s Certificate from a DOT physical performed by a certified medical examiner.² Expect to pay $75 to $150 for the physical, depending on the examiner.

At the time you apply, you’ll also self-certify which type of commercial driving you plan to do. Federal rules recognize four categories: interstate non-excepted, interstate excepted, intrastate non-excepted, and intrastate excepted.³ Most new drivers fall into a non-excepted category and must keep a valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate on file with the NDDOT. Driving in a category different from the one you declared can suspend your commercial privileges.

Pick Your Class and Any Endorsements

North Dakota issues three CDL classes, matching federal vehicle group definitions.

Class A covers combination vehicles rated at 26,001 pounds or more where the towed unit exceeds 10,000 pounds. This is most tractor-trailer work.⁴
Class B covers single vehicles rated at 26,001 pounds or more, or such a vehicle towing a unit under 10,000 pounds. Straight trucks and large buses fit here.⁴
Class C covers smaller vehicles designed to carry 16 or more passengers (including the driver) or to transport placarded hazardous materials.⁴

A Class A license lets you drive Class B and C vehicles too; a Class B covers Class B and C. If you’re unsure which to pursue, think about the heaviest vehicle you expect to drive. Getting the higher class upfront saves you from retesting later.

Endorsements expand what you can haul or operate. Each one requires its own written knowledge test, and some add a skills test or background check.⁵ North Dakota offers six:⁶ H for hazardous materials, N for tank vehicles, X for a combined hazmat and tank, P for passenger vehicles, S for school buses, and T for double or triple trailers.

If you’re pursuing H or X, start the TSA security threat assessment early. It costs $85.25, involves fingerprinting and a background check, and can take 45 to 60 days. If you already hold a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential, the fee drops to $41.⁷ This clock runs independently of your state testing, so delays here can hold up the whole process.

Complete Entry-Level Driver Training

Before you can take the CDL skills test, federal rules require you to complete Entry-Level Driver Training through a provider listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. The requirement applies if you’re getting a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time, upgrading from Class B to Class A, or adding a passenger, school bus, or hazardous materials endorsement for the first time.⁸ The state won’t let you schedule a skills test until your training provider reports completion to the registry.

ELDT has two parts. The theory portion covers safe driving practices, vehicle systems, hazard perception, hours-of-service rules, and post-crash procedures, and you need at least 80% to pass the theory assessment. The behind-the-wheel portion includes range and public road training. There are no federally set minimum hours for either part, but the provider must cover every required curriculum topic and document the time.⁹

Professional CDL programs typically run $2,000 to $10,000 depending on length and class. Some trucking companies sponsor training in exchange for a driving commitment. You can search for approved programs at tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov.

Get Your Commercial Learner’s Permit

Your first in-person step is applying for a Commercial Learner’s Permit at a driver license site. Appointments are required.¹ You’ll fill out the application, pass an eye exam, and take the general knowledge test for your chosen class. If you want endorsements, take those knowledge tests at the same visit.

The knowledge test costs $5 per attempt, with one attempt allowed per day. The CLP itself costs $15, or $20 for non-domiciled applicants.¹⁰ Study the North Dakota Commercial Driver License Manual before you go. It covers everything on the exam, from air brakes to cargo securement to hazardous materials placarding, and free practice tests online closely mirror the real format.

With a CLP in hand, you can practice on public roads only when a licensed CDL holder with the correct class and endorsements sits in the front seat next to you.¹¹ The permit is valid for up to one year. If it expires before you pass the skills test, you’ll have to retake the knowledge tests.

Pass the Skills Test

You can’t take the skills test until at least 14 days after your CLP is issued.¹ You need an appointment, and you must bring a vehicle that matches the class you’re testing for. The state does not provide one. The test fee is $5.⁶

The test has three parts. In the pre-trip inspection, you walk around the vehicle and explain what you’re checking and why, covering engine components, brakes, tires, lights, coupling devices on combination vehicles, and safety equipment. In basic vehicle control, you demonstrate maneuvers like straight-line backing, offset backing, and parallel parking in a controlled area. This is where most first-time failures happen, so practice until the maneuvers are second nature. In the on-road portion, you drive a set route on public roads while the examiner evaluates your lane changes, turns, intersections, highway merging, and general traffic behavior.

North Dakota also authorizes third-party testers to administer the skills test under NDDOT monitoring.¹² A third-party tester can sometimes mean a shorter wait for an appointment. Once you pass all three parts, the NDDOT issues your CDL.

What It Costs

State government fees are modest. Budget for each item below, then add your ELDT tuition and DOT physical on top.

Knowledge test: $5 per attempt, one attempt per day¹⁰
Commercial Learner’s Permit: $15, or $20 for non-domiciled applicants¹⁰
Skills test: $5⁶
Each endorsement: $3, or $6 for the X combination endorsement⁶
TSA background check for H or X: $85.25⁷
DOT physical: typically $75 to $150
ELDT tuition: typically $2,000 to $10,000

How You Can Lose Your CDL

Disqualification standards for commercial drivers are stricter than for regular motorists, and getting a CDL back is far harder than earning one in the first place. A first conviction for any of the following while driving a commercial vehicle triggers at least a one-year disqualification:⁶ driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04% or higher (half the standard DUI threshold), refusing a breath or blood test, leaving the scene of an accident, or committing a felony with a commercial vehicle. If the violation happens while you’re hauling placarded hazardous materials, the minimum disqualification jumps to three years. A second conviction for any of these offenses results in a lifetime disqualification.

Keep your Medical Examiner’s Certificate current throughout the life of your CDL, not just at renewal. An expired medical certificate can downgrade your license to non-commercial status.

1
North Dakota Department of Transportation. How to Apply for a Commercial Driver License (CDL)
2
eCFR. 49 CFR Part 391 – Qualifications of Drivers and Longer Combination Vehicle (LCV) Driver Instructors
3
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Medical
4
North Dakota State Highway Patrol. What Class CDL Do I Need?
5
North Dakota Department of Transportation. Driver License Types
6
North Dakota Legislative Branch. North Dakota Code 39-06.2 – Commercial Driver’s Licenses
7
Transportation Security Administration. HAZMAT Endorsement
8
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT)
9
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. ELDT Curricula Summary
10
North Dakota Department of Transportation. Commercial Driver License
11
eCFR. 49 CFR 383.25 – Commercial Learner’s Permit
12
North Dakota Department of Transportation. CDL Third Party Testing