North Dakota commercial licensing
North Dakota CDL Requirements – Complete 2026 Guide
A North Dakota CDL plan starts with North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), then connects ELDT, knowledge testing, vehicle choice, and skills-test scheduling in the correct order.
Verified North Dakota data
The North Dakota credential in four practical facts
Issuing authority
North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT)
Commercial learner permit
$15 for a resident CLP or $20 for a nondomiciled CLP. Each knowledge-test attempt costs $5.
First CDL
$15 for the CDL, plus $3 for each endorsement. The road-test fee is $5.
Credential term
Approximately four years. North Dakota sets expiration using the applicant's birth date and the state's odd/even birth-year renewal cycle.
Local value
Where North Dakota applicants need extra coordination
North Dakota's commercial-driving rules include an agricultural reciprocity provision with South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, and Wyoming for qualifying farm operations within 150 miles of the farm. The state also provides a special custom-harvest CDL path beginning at age 16.
Do not miss the workflow check: Use the workflow section before scheduling with North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT); this page lists the CLP cost note as $15 for a resident CLP or $20 for a nondomiciled CLP. Each knowledge-test attempt costs $5..
State workflow
The appointment order for North Dakota applicants
- Complete the state transactionA CLP holder must be accompanied by a driver who is at least 18, has held a license for at least three years, and holds the same or a higher commercial class. The CLP must be held for at least 14 days before the skills test.
- Choose the license classMatch Class A, B, or C to the vehicle and work you actually plan to perform.
- Bring the correct vehicleThe skills-test vehicle determines the class and restrictions printed on the final CDL, so arrange it before booking.
- Meet federal training rulesFirst-time Class A or B applicants and applicants adding certain endorsements must complete applicable ELDT with a provider listed in the federal Training Provider Registry.
Knowledge and endorsements
From General Knowledge to the North Dakota skills test
Every applicant
Start with General Knowledge and the North Dakota manual, then match your checklist to this checkpoint: A CLP holder must be accompanied by a driver who is at least 18, has held a license for at least three years, and holds the same or a higher commercial class.
Class A combination
Study Combination Vehicles and Air Brakes for an air-brake-equipped vehicle. For this North Dakota path, the CLP charge or transaction is: $15 for a resident CLP or $20 for a nondomiciled CLP. Each knowledge-test attempt costs $5.
Passenger or school bus
Passenger Transport and School Bus tests apply to those operations. In North Dakota, connect that study to North Dakota's commercial-driving rules include an agricultural reciprocity provision with South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, and Wyoming for qualifying farm operations within 150 miles of the farm. The state also provides a special custom-harvest CDL path beginning at age 16.
Tank or hazardous materials
Tanker or Hazmat applicants add the appropriate knowledge test and federal TSA process. The current North Dakota license term is Approximately four years. North Dakota sets expiration using the applicant's birth date and the state's odd/even birth-year renewal cycle.; pair that with this CLP note before booking: $15 for a resident CLP or $20 for a nondomiciled CLP. Each knowledge-test attempt costs $5.
Official fee structure
North Dakota commercial-license budget notes
| Stage | Published state information |
|---|---|
| Commercial learner permit | $15 for a resident CLP or $20 for a nondomiciled CLP. Each knowledge-test attempt costs $5. |
| Initial commercial license | $15 for the CDL, plus $3 for each endorsement. The road-test fee is $5. |
| License term | Approximately four years. North Dakota sets expiration using the applicant's birth date and the state's odd/even birth-year renewal cycle. |
For North Dakota, training, the medical examination, a TSA background check when required, vehicle access, and private testing are separate charges when applicable. The state-issued CDL itself is described here as: $15 for the CDL, plus $3 for each endorsement. The road-test fee is $5.
Regional comparison
A regional check before choosing a CDL school
| State | CLP fee note | License term |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $15 for a resident CLP or $20 for a nondomiciled CLP. Each knowledge-test attempt costs $5. | Approximately four years. North Dakota sets expiration using the applicant's birth date and the state's odd/even birth-year renewal cycle. |
| South Dakota | Not separately itemized. South Dakota charges a $43 CDL application fee, plus $20 for each endorsement test. | 5 years; the license normally expires on the holder's birthday. |
| Montana | Commercial learner-license pricing is based on age and operating scope. For ages 21-71 without a motorcycle endorsement: $41.72 interstate or $35.54 intrastate. | Four years for ages 21-71; age-adjusted shorter terms apply at certain ages |
| Minnesota | $26.75 | Four years |
State Q&A
North Dakota testing questions answered
How should I read the North Dakota credential term 'Approximately four years. North Dakota sets expiration using the applicant's birth date and the state's odd/even birth-year renewal cycle.' alongside this rule: A CLP holder must be accompanied by a driver who is at least 18, has held a license for at least three years, and holds the same or a higher commercial class?
Approximately four years. North Dakota sets expiration using the applicant's birth date and the state's odd/even birth-year renewal cycle.
How should a North Dakota applicant plan around this local fact: North Dakota's commercial-driving rules include an agricultural reciprocity provision with South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, and Wyoming for qualifying farm operations within 150 miles of the farm?
North Dakota's commercial-driving rules include an agricultural reciprocity provision with South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, and Wyoming for qualifying farm operations within 150 miles of the farm. The state also provides a special custom-harvest CDL path beginning at age 16.
After the North Dakota CLP stage, how is the first CDL priced under this rule: $15 for the CDL, plus $3 for each endorsement. The road-test fee is $5.?
$15 for the CDL, plus $3 for each endorsement. The road-test fee is $5.
Why does this North Dakota process note matter: A CLP holder must be accompanied by a driver who is at least 18, has held a license for at least three years, and holds the same or a higher commercial class?
In North Dakota, the checkpoint is: A CLP holder must be accompanied by a driver who is at least 18, has held a license for at least three years, and holds the same or a higher commercial class. It affects when to pay, schedule, or arrange the test vehicle, so use it as the appointment filter before moving from manual study into a real CLP or skills-test booking.
Before this North Dakota step – A CLP holder must be accompanied by a driver who is at least 18, has held a license for at least three years, and holds the same or a higher commercial class – what CLP charge is published?
$15 for a resident CLP or $20 for a nondomiciled CLP. Each knowledge-test attempt costs $5.
Official verification
North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) application and manual links
These government pages were checked on August 22, 2026. For North Dakota, use them to recheck the published CLP note ($15 for a resident CLP or $20 for a nondomiciled CLP. Each knowledge-test attempt costs $5.), the final credential cost, and the license term before paying or scheduling.
