The steps
- Get a DOT medical card. A commercial driver must pass a physical with a medical examiner listed on FMCSA’s National Registry (49 CFR 391.41, 391.43); the certificate lasts up to 24 months.
- Pass the knowledge test and get a commercial learner’s permit (CLP). The CLP lets you practise with a qualified CDL holder beside you and is valid for no more than a year (49 CFR 383.25).
- Hold the CLP for at least 14 days before taking the skills test (383.25(e)).
- Complete entry-level driver training with a provider on FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry, if this is your first Class A or B CDL, an upgrade, or a first passenger, school bus or HazMat endorsement (49 CFR 380.609). 478 registered providers have a training location in California, 464 of them offering behind-the-wheel training.
- Take the skills test: vehicle inspection, basic control skills and an on-road test, in a vehicle of the class you want (49 CFR 383.113). California names 29 places as CDL skills test sites.
- Age. Driving across state lines requires being at least 21 (49 CFR 391.11(b)(1)); a state may license drivers from 18 for driving inside the state only.
Where to take the CDL test in California
187 offices and test sites in California are on the official lists, and 29 are named by the state as CDL skills test sites. The most are in Fresno (4), Sacramento (3), Bakersfield (3), El Cajon (3), San Diego (3), Salinas (2), Mountain View (2), San Bernardino (2), Fairfield (2), Winnetka (2). See all CDL testing and DMV offices in California, with a map and search by city or ZIP.
CDL schools in California
478 training providers registered with FMCSA list a location in California. The most are in Fresno (20), Bakersfield (19), San Bernardino (17), Los Angeles (17), Sacramento (16), Stockton (15), Salinas (9), Hayward (9), Visalia (8), Redding (8). See all CDL schools in California.
What a CDL costs in California
| Commercial Class A or B, original | $100 |
|---|---|
| Commercial Class A or B, renewal | $59 |
| Commercial driving or skill retest | $46 |
| Adding a passenger endorsement (Class A or B) | $100 |
| Adding tank, doubles/triples or HazMat endorsements (Class A or B) | $59 |
| Removing an air brake or automatic transmission restriction (requires a driving test) | $100 |
| Commercial Class C, original or renewal | $59 |
| Replacement (lost or stolen) | $44 |
Source: Licensing Fees, California Department of Motor Vehicles. Checked September 24, 2026. Training, the medical exam and third-party testers’ charges are separate.
Adding HazMat
The hazardous materials endorsement needs a TSA security threat assessment with fingerprints (49 CFR 1572). 48 TSA enrollment centers in California take HazMat applications. See the enrollment centers in California.