North Dakota · NDDOT

How to get your CDL permit in North Dakota

In North Dakota you book an appointment, pass an eye exam and your knowledge tests in English, and pay just $15 for a CLP. The permit lasts up to one year, and you must hold it 14 days before the road test.

Last checked September 26, 2026 against official NDDOT sources

Start the free North Dakota permit classroom Official North Dakota CDL manual

Minimum age: 18 (in-state only) · 21 to cross state lines
Permit fee: $15
Permit valid for: Up to 1 year
Wait before road test: 14 days
Knowledge test language: English only
Passing score: 80%

Step by step

1Hold a current driver license.
2Get a DOT physical from a National Registry certified medical examiner.
3Gather proof of legal presence and your residence address (NDDOT's REAL ID checklist lists what counts).
4Make an appointment for your knowledge test.
5Pass the eye exam and the knowledge tests for your class and endorsements.
6Practice only with a qualified CDL holder beside you, and hold your CLP at least 14 days.
7Finish Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) with a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before your skills test.
8Schedule and take your road test.

What to bring

Proof of legal presence
Proof of your residence address
Your current driver license

Medical card

You must meet federal medical standards. Since April 21, 2025, NDDOT no longer takes medical cards from drivers — your National Registry examiner uploads the results electronically.

Fees

Commercial learner's permit$20 for non-domiciled applicants	$15
Knowledge test	$5 per attempt
Road test	$5
CDL application$20 for nonresident or non-domiciled applicants	$15
Each endorsement	$3

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

The tests you'll take

Eye exam
General Knowledge (everyone)
Air Brakes (if your truck has air brakes)
Combination Vehicles (Class A)
Endorsement tests (only the ones you want)

Testing in North Dakota

You need an appointment for the knowledge test.
You get one knowledge test attempt per day, at $5 each.
Vision worse than 20/40 disqualifies you.
Tests are English only; an audio option is offered in Fargo, Jamestown, Bismarck, Dickinson, Williston, Minot, Devils Lake and Grand Forks.
You can't schedule the road test until you've held a valid CLP for 14 days.

Study for these tests in the North Dakota classroom

Good to know in North Dakota

At 16 you can test for a CDL limited to custom harvesting work only.
North Dakota's fees are among the lowest around: $15 permit, $5 per test, $3 per endorsement.
If your CLP runs out, NDDOT may give you a letter to drive to the test site, or let you retest for a new one-year permit.
You must be able to read, write and speak English.

Non-domiciled applicants

NDDOT paused non-domiciled CDLs in December 2025 and resumed April 13, 2026. They're now limited to H-2A, H-2B and E-2 visa holders, issued in person only, and valid for at most one year.

Confirm with NDDOT before you go

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

Which documents NDDOT accepts as proof of your Social Security number.
How long a CDL is valid in North Dakota.
Which self-certification form you'll fill out — ask NDDOT at your appointment.

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 North Dakota gives. Free.

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Official sources

This page is a study aid, not legal advice, and we are not affiliated with North Dakota Department of Transportation. Rules and fees change, so always check with NDDOT before you apply.