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). 129 registered providers have a training location in Washington, 125 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). Washington names 25 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 Washington
74 offices and test sites in Washington are on the official lists, and 25 are named by the state as CDL skills test sites. The most are in Spokane (4), Tacoma (3), Everett (2), Pasco (2), Quincy (2), Moses Lake (2), Centralia (2), Shelton (2), Omak (2), Arlington (2). See all CDL testing and DMV offices in Washington, with a map and search by city or ZIP.
CDL schools in Washington
129 training providers registered with FMCSA list a location in Washington. The most are in Tacoma (8), Spokane (5), Puyallup (5), Spokane Valley (3), Pasco (3), Sunnyside (3), Auburn (3), Kent (3), Seattle (3), Bellingham (3). See all CDL schools in Washington.
What a CDL costs in Washington
| Commercial learner's permit (CLP) | $40 |
|---|---|
| CDL knowledge test | $35 |
| CDL skills test | $175 |
| CDL skills test for the school bus endorsement (the fee covers 2 attempts) | $100 |
| Add a CDL endorsement to a WA driver license ($20 plus $17 per year remaining) | $37 to $156 |
| Add a CDL special endorsement | $20 |
| Renew with CDL endorsement | $163 for 6 years or $217 for 8 years |
| Transfer an out-of-state CDL | $213 for 6 years or $267 for 8 years |
Source: Driver licensing fees, Washington State Department of Licensing. 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). 19 TSA enrollment centers in Washington take HazMat applications. See the enrollment centers in Washington.