The Iowa CDL permit test

Getting the CLP

• You need one for your first CDL, after a year or more without one, or for an upgrade that needs a skills test.
• Bring proof of citizenship, permanent residency or work authorization and proof of Iowa residency. A REAL ID license with the gold star covers both.
• Certify the kind of commercial driving you do. Some categories need a medical certificate.
• Book through the DOT's CDL appointment page and pass your knowledge tests.
• Pay $12. The CLP lasts one year and can't be renewed.

From the CLP to the skills test

1. Hold the CLP for at least 14 days and finish Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) if it applies to you.
2. Book the skills and drive test at a DOT or county location that gives it.
3. Bring a registered vehicle in good order that matches the class you want.
4. Pass the air brake check first, then the pre-trip inspection, the cone and backing exercises, and a drive on public roads. Fail the air brake check or the pre-trip, and you book again, which the DOT says can be two or three weeks out.

A hazmat endorsement also needs ELDT the first time, a hazmat test at every renewal, and fingerprints through IBT for a threat assessment every five years.