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). 85 registered providers have a training location in Virginia, 81 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). Virginia names 8 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 Virginia
81 offices and test sites in Virginia are on the official lists, and 8 are named by the state as CDL skills test sites. The most are in Richmond (4), Suffolk (2), Manassas (2), Roanoke (2), South Boston (2), Abingdon (2), Norton (2), Alexandria (2), Arlington (2), Norfolk (2). See all CDL testing and DMV offices in Virginia, with a map and search by city or ZIP.
CDL schools in Virginia
85 training providers registered with FMCSA list a location in Virginia. The most are in Roanoke (4), Manassas (4), Fredericksburg (3), Portsmouth (3), Galax (2), Martinsville (2), Weyers Cave (2), Emporia (2), Colonial Heights (2), Alexandria (2). See all CDL schools in Virginia.
What a CDL costs in Virginia
| Commercial learner's permit | $3.00 |
|---|---|
| Commercial driver's license | $8.00 per year, $20 minimum |
| CDL endorsement(s), per year | $1.00 |
| CDL skills test missed appointment | $50.00 |
| Replacement CDL | $20.00 |
| HazMat endorsement background check and fingerprinting | $83.00 |
Source: DMV Fees (DMV 201, 08/10/2026), Virginia 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). 13 TSA enrollment centers in Virginia take HazMat applications. See the enrollment centers in Virginia.