To apply for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in Washington state, you need to be 18 years or older, have a valid WA driver’s license, and be free of any lifetime disqualifications outlined by the Washington Department of Licensing (DOL).

Anyone who operates a commercial vehicle in Washington, such as a bus or semi-truck, must have a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL). The WA CDL application process is specific to the type of commercial driving that you’ll be doing, but the basic requirements are fairly simple.

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What is required for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in Washington?

As long as you have a valid

Washington driver’s license

, are 18 years or older, and are not disqualified, you have all that’s required to begin the process of applying for your CDL. Before you get a Washington CDL, though, you’ll need to get a

commercial learner’s permit (CLP)

Washington CDL disqualifications

If you’ve had your driver’s license suspended, revoked, canceled, or surrendered, you’ll be

disqualified from getting your CDL

. Other violations can also get you disqualified, including:

DUI

Committing multiple traffic offenses within 3 years

Using a vehicle while committing a crime

Leaving the scene of a car accident

Refusing a breath or blood test when pulled over

Washington CDL classes

There are three classes of WA CDL, depending on the type of commercial vehicle that you intend to operate. The classes are based on gross vehicle/combined weight rating (GVWR/GCWR), the number of persons the vehicle carries, and the types of materials you’ll be carrying. Here are the different classes and the vehicles they allow you to drive:

Class A: Any combination vehicle with a GCWR of 26,001 or more pounds for which the vehicle or vehicles being towed are over 10,000 pounds

Class B: Any single vehicle with GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more or combination vehicles towing a trailer that weighs 10,000 pounds or less

Class C: Vehicles carrying 16 or more people including the driver or vehicles transporting hazardous materials requiring a placard

For example, you’ll need a Class C CDL to operate a city bus, while a trucker driving the heaviest loads will likely need a Class A CDL. You’ll typically also need endorsements for your commercial purposes, especially for a Class C CDL.

Endorsements

When you apply for your CLP, you’ll need to apply for certain endorsements, based on the type of vehicle(s) you plan to operate. The available endorsements for a CLP in Washington state are as follows:

P: for passenger vehicles

S: for school buses

N: for tank vehicles transporting liquid or gas

Here are the endorsements for when you get your full WashingtonCDL:

P: passenger

S: school bus

T: double and triple trailers

N: tank vehicles

H: hazardous materials

X: a combination of tank and hazardous materials

Certain restrictions may be added to your CDL depending on the vehicle you take your skills test with. On top of this, the self-certification process may require a

medical report

from your doctor, depending on how you self-certify.

Minimum age requirement

You must be 18 years or older to operate a commercial vehicle within state lines. For state-to-state driving, the minimum age requirement is 21 years.

New ELDT requirements for 2022

Anyone who has obtained a CLP on or after February 7, 2022 must follow new federal regulations for

Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT)

If that applies to you, you must complete training through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). You can find a training provider by using the

FMCSA’s registry

. This training must be completed before you can take your skills test.

How to apply for a CDL in Washington

To start the

application process

, you’ll need to make an appointment at your local driver's licensing office to pass a knowledge test specific to the type of vehicle that you’ll be operating. You’ll need a few documents when you come to your appointment:

Your current driver’s license

Your social security card

Proof of U.S. Citizenship/Permanent Residency/non-domicile document

You’ll also need to self-certify based on the type of vehicle you’ll be operating. This mostly means submitting pertinent medical documents.

Once this has been done, you’ll be ready to take on the

knowledge test

. There is a $35 fee to take the test and an additional $40 fee to get your commercial learner’s permit (CLP) if you pass. All the materials that you’ll need to study for the knowledge test are included in the

commercial driver guide

Once you have your CLP, you’ll need to fulfill

training requirements

and pass a skills test before being issued your CDL. Each CDL Class requires a specific amount of total training hours, including classroom instruction, street driving, backing maneuvers, proficiency development, and more.

You have to wait at least 14 days after getting your CLP before you can take the CDL skills test. You will need to provide the vehicle you use for your skills test and it must match the type of vehicle your CLP is for.

Here are some things you can expect to be tested on for your Washington CDL skills test:

Vehicle inspection—instantly ends the test if you fail

Basic controls

Backing up an obstacle course

On-road test

Knowledge of inspections items

Air supply system check

Safe operation according to the CDL guide

The skills test for a truck costs $250 to take. The school bus test costs $100. If you pass the test, congratulations! Now you can

schedule your appointment

to get your new CDL issued to you. Adding your CDL to your valid WA license will cost $40, and each added endorsement costs $10.

How long is a CDL valid in Washington?

Most Washington State driver’s licenses need to be renewed every six years and it usually expires on your birthday. You can renew your license as early as one year before it expires. There’s an extra $10 late fee if you renew your license 60 days after it has expired.

The regular fee to renew a CDL is $55. If your license expired over 6 years ago, you will need to start the entire CDL application process from scratch.

MORE:

Why is gas so expensive in Washington?

How to save on car insurance in Washington

If you’ve been following along up to this point, you might have noticed that the CDL application process can be expensive—especially if you don’t pass the test on the first try.

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