Step 1 — Decide which class of CDL you need
Before you spend a dollar, decide which class you actually need. The vast majority of North Dakota applicants pursue a Class A CDL because it covers tractor-trailers and is the most marketable credential — most over-the-road and regional trucking jobs require it. A Class B CDL is appropriate if you're targeting straight-truck local delivery, dump-truck construction work, or urban transit bus driving in North Dakota. Class C is comparatively rare and typically used for shuttle drivers and small-volume hazmat carriers.
Step 2 — Self-certify your driving category
The North Dakota Department of Transportation will ask you to self-certify into one of four federally defined driving categories: non-excepted interstate (NI), excepted interstate (EI), non-excepted intrastate (NA), or excepted intrastate (EA). Most CDL holders self-certify as non-excepted interstate, which is the category that requires a current DOT medical examiner's certificate. You can change your certification later, but you'll need to submit a new medical card every time you do.
Step 3 — Pass the DOT physical and get your medical card
You must pass a U.S. Department of Transportation physical exam administered by a medical examiner listed on the FMCSA National Registry. The exam covers vision (20/40 or better in each eye, with or without correction), hearing (must hear a forced whisper at five feet), blood pressure (under 140/90 to receive a full two-year card), urinalysis (sugar and protein), and a review of any cardiovascular, neurological, or psychiatric conditions. The exam in North Dakota typically costs $80 to $150 out of pocket and takes about 30 minutes.
Step 4 — Complete federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT)
Anyone applying for a first-time Class A or Class B CDL — or upgrading from B to A, or adding a Hazmat, Passenger, or School Bus endorsement for the first time — must complete FMCSA Entry-Level Driver Training before sitting for the skills test. ELDT is delivered by training providers listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. In North Dakota, expect to pay $2,500 to $5,000 (private) or $0 to $1,200 (community college / company-sponsored) for a complete ELDT package. Many trucking carriers in North Dakota offer paid ELDT in exchange for a one- or two-year employment commitment.
Step 5 — Pass the knowledge tests and get your CLP
Visit a North Dakota Department of Transportation CDL testing office with: your current driver's license, a Social Security card or birth certificate, proof of North Dakota residency (utility bill, bank statement, lease), your DOT medical card, and your ELDT certificate (for Class A/B applicants). Pass the General Knowledge written test plus any required endorsement tests, pay the $50 to $100 plus a $20 to $35 commercial learner permit fee, and you'll be issued a Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP). The CLP allows you to practice driving a commercial vehicle on public roads in North Dakota with a CDL-holding supervisor in the passenger seat.
Step 6 — Hold the CLP for 14 days, then schedule your skills test
Federal law requires a minimum 14-day holding period between issuance of the CLP and your skills test. Use those two weeks (and ideally several more) to log behind-the-wheel hours with your supervisor. The three-part skills test includes a vehicle inspection (pre-trip) component, a basic control test (straight backing, offset backing, parallel park, and alley dock), and an on-road driving test. The skills test in North Dakota is administered either by North Dakota Department of Transportation examiners or by approved third-party testers. Bring a vehicle representative of the class you're testing for — most candidates use the truck their CDL school provided.
Step 7 — Pass the skills test and pay the licensing fee
Once you've passed all three components of the skills test, return to the North Dakota Department of Transportation to surrender your CLP and have your full Class A, B, or C CDL issued. The license fee in North Dakota is $50 to $100 plus a $20 to $35 commercial learner permit fee. CDL Prep Hub maintains a North Dakota CDL salary guide using the latest BLS data so you can see what the pay actually looks like in your local market.
Realistic timeline
Most candidates in North Dakota complete the full sequence — from first DOT physical appointment to license in hand — in about 6 to 12 weeks, depending on how quickly you can get into a CDL school cohort, finish ELDT, and book a skills test slot at a North Dakota Department of Transportation office. Self-paced candidates who already have access to a commercial vehicle and a supervising CDL holder can sometimes complete the process in 4 to 6 weeks; candidates relying on heavily-booked DMV offices in major metro areas may need 12 to 16 weeks. Read the North Dakota General Knowledge practice test to get a head start on the written exams.