Kansas · DOV

How to get your CDL permit in Kansas

In Kansas you get a $13 CLP from the Division of Vehicles after passing your written tests, which you schedule online. Your medical certificate must reach Kansas electronically from the National Registry.

Last checked September 26, 2026 against official DOV sources

Start the free Kansas permit classroom Official Kansas CDL manual

Minimum age: 21 to cross state lines (in-state minimum: check with DOV)
Permit fee: $13
Permit valid for: Check with DOV
Wait before road test: 14 days
Knowledge test language: Not published
Passing score: 80%

Step by step

1Hold a valid Kansas driver's license.
2Get a DOT physical from a medical examiner on the FMCSA National Registry, who sends your certificate electronically.
3Complete the online Medical Self-Certification on the KDOR portal.
4Schedule your written exams online, and gather your identity, Social Security and two Kansas residency documents.
5Pass the General Knowledge test and any class or endorsement tests you need.
6Pay $13 for your CLP, then practice with a qualified CDL holder for at least 14 days.
7Complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) with a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry.
8Call a CDL testing office to book your skills test appointment.

What to bring

Your valid Kansas driver's license
Proof of identity and lawful presence, such as a birth certificate, U.S. passport or permanent resident card
One document showing your name and Social Security number (SS card, W-2, 1099 or pay stub)
Two proofs of Kansas residency with your current name and home address

Medical card

You self-certify your type of driving through the online Medical Self-Certification application on the KDOR portal. Since June 2, 2025, Kansas no longer enters medical cards by hand; your certificate must come electronically from the FMCSA National Registry.

Fees

Commercial learner's permitSame fee for all ages.	$13
CDL skills test	$15
CDL skills retest	$10
New CDL with testing, over age 21Includes the $15 skills test fee. Costs more for under-21 drivers or with a motorcycle endorsement.	$41
New CDL without testing, or renewal, over age 21	$26

Fees change. Confirm the current amount with DOV before you go.

The tests you'll take

General Knowledge (everyone)
Air Brakes (if your truck has air brakes)
Combination Vehicles (Class A)
Endorsement tests such as Passenger, School Bus, Tank, Doubles/Triples or HazMat, if you want them

Testing in Kansas

Written exams are scheduled online; some offices ask you to call before coming in.
Skills tests are by appointment only. Call the testing office to book.
Kansas has 11 CDL skills testing offices.

Study for these tests in the Kansas classroom

Good to know in Kansas

Bringing a paper medical card won't work. Make sure your examiner submits it to the National Registry.
Kansas uses the national CDL manual with no Kansas-specific section.
A failed skills test costs $10 to retake.

Non-domiciled applicants

A non-domiciled CDL in Kansas requires an H-2A, H-2B or E-2 visa, plus a valid passport and an I-94 or I-797A.

Confirm with DOV before you go

We couldn't confirm these from official sources, so we left them out rather than guess:

How long the Kansas CLP is valid and whether it can be renewed. Ask the DOV.
The minimum age to drive commercially within Kansas only.
Whether there is a separate knowledge test fee.
Which languages the knowledge tests are offered in.
How long you must wait to retake a failed test.
The vision standard you must meet.

Federal rules that apply in every state(show)

Age: You can get a CLP at 18, but until you turn 21 you can only drive a commercial vehicle inside your own state. Hauling hazmat requires you to be 21.
Knowledge tests: Everyone takes General Knowledge. Class A adds Combination Vehicles, and anyone driving a truck with air brakes takes Air Brakes. You need at least 80% on each test.
14-day wait: You must hold your CLP for at least 14 days before you can take the skills (road) test. Some states make you wait longer.
Driving on a CLP: A CDL holder with the right class and endorsements must sit in the front seat whenever you drive. Hazmat is never allowed on a CLP. With a passenger or school bus permit you can't carry passengers, and with a tank permit the tank must be empty.
Entry-Level Driver Training: You must finish ELDT with a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry before your Class A or B skills test. You do not need it to get the permit itself.
Medical card: You self-certify the kind of driving you will do. Most new drivers are 'non-excepted interstate' and need a DOT physical from a certified medical examiner, who now sends the results to your state electronically.
Clearinghouse check: Before issuing a CLP, your state checks FMCSA's Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. A 'prohibited' status blocks the permit until return-to-duty is complete.

Ready to study?

Short lessons with diagrams, a quick check after each one, and a practice test for every permit exam Kansas gives. Free.

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Official sources

This page is a study aid, not legal advice, and we are not affiliated with Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Vehicles. Rules and fees change, so always check with DOV before you apply.