Licensed providers for professional drivers and small fleets, from official registersSources: 110 official government lists
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HazMat Training1,629Vehicle Inspection67,637CDL & ELDT Training4,122CDL Testing & DMV3,997TSA HazMat & TWIC Enrollment619BOC-3 Process Agents3,738Truck Parking1,915Truck Stops2,835ELD DevicesDOT Physicalssoon

How to get a CDL in Kentucky

35 testing offices85 registered schoolsUpdated September 2026

Getting a commercial driver’s license in Kentucky follows the federal steps in 49 CFR Parts 383, 380 and 391, run by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. This page lists those steps with their rules, then what Kentucky has: where the test is given, the registered schools.

The steps

  1. 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.
  2. 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).
  3. Hold the CLP for at least 14 days before taking the skills test (383.25(e)).
  4. 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). 85 registered providers have a training location in Kentucky, 82 of them offering behind-the-wheel training.
  5. 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). Where it is given in Kentucky is listed below.
  6. 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 Kentucky

35 offices and test sites in Kentucky are on the official lists. The most are in Louisville (5), Lexington (2), Bowling Green (1), Burlington (1), Columbia (1), Elizabethtown (1), Frankfort (1), Jackson (1), Madisonville (1), Morehead (1). See all CDL testing and DMV offices in Kentucky, with a map and search by city or ZIP.

CDL schools in Kentucky

85 training providers registered with FMCSA list a location in Kentucky. The most are in Louisville (5), Lexington (4), London (3), Barbourville (3), Paducah (2), Mayfield (2), Frankfort (2), Somerset (2), Nicholasville (2), Berea (2). See all CDL schools in Kentucky.

Adding HazMat

The hazardous materials endorsement needs a TSA security threat assessment with fingerprints (49 CFR 1572). 5 TSA enrollment centers in Kentucky take HazMat applications. See the enrollment centers in Kentucky.

Questions about getting a CDL in Kentucky

How long does it take to get a CDL in Kentucky?
At least 14 days: that is the minimum time between getting the CLP and taking the skills test (49 CFR 383.25(e)). Entry-level training and booking the test usually add several weeks.
Where can I take the CDL skills test in Kentucky?
35 testing and licensing offices are listed in total.
How many CDL schools are there in Kentucky?
85 providers on FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry list a location in Kentucky.