Can I take the CDL written test before I do any training?

For a Class A or B CDL, yes. 49 CFR 383.71 ties the training to the first skills test, not the general knowledge test. The one exception is the hazmat (H) endorsement. For H, the rule says the training comes before the knowledge test.

I got my permit before February 7, 2022. Do I need ELDT?

Usually not. 49 CFR 380.603 says drivers issued a Class A, Class B, P, S or H credential before that date do not have to comply for that credential. The FMCSA says there is an exception: if your permit expired before you applied for your CDL, you must complete training.

Will the government pay for my CDL training?

Sometimes. A July 2026 Department of Labor notice says many states list CDL programs that WIOA funds can pay for, through an individual training account or on-the-job training. You must be approved first. Ask your local American Job Center.

How to Get a CDL Without School: Skip the Degree, Not ELDT

You can get a CDL without a degree or a long classroom program, but not without training. Federal ELDT rules require a registered provider before your first Class A or B skills test. You can study and pass the written tests on your own first. FirstTry CDL helps with that part.

What "without school" really means

There is no degree to earn. There is no required number of classroom hours in the rule. But since February 7, 2022, a first-time CDL applicant must finish entry-level driver training (ELDT) from a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry (TPR). The rule is 49 CFR 383.71. It says you must finish the training "before taking the skills test for a Class A or B CDL for the first time." The same goes for the skills test for a first passenger (P) or school bus (S) endorsement, and the knowledge test for a first hazmat (H) endorsement.

The written permit test is not on that list for Class A or B. So you can pass it on your own, before you spend a dollar on training. More on ELDT in ELDT explained.

Who can skip ELDT

49 CFR 380.603 says drivers who were issued a Class A, Class B, P, S or H credential before February 7, 2022 do not have to comply for that credential. It also says people who get a permit (CLP) on or after that date do. The FMCSA adds one catch: if your old permit expired before you applied for your CDL, you must complete training.

The four routes, side by side

Route	Who pays	Typical cost	Time	The catch	You still must pass
Company-paid training	The carrier, often with a work commitment	No sourced figure. Ask for it in writing.	Ask the carrier	Many carriers want you to stay a set time. Leave early and you may owe money.	Written tests, skills test
Workforce funds (WIOA)	Public workforce system, if you are approved	Varies by state and program. No sourced figure.	Ask your American Job Center	You must be approved first. The program must be on your state's approved list.	Written tests, skills test
Short private school on the TPR	You	No sourced figure. Get a written quote.	Ask the school	Price lists differ on what is included.	Written tests, skills test
Community college	You, or financial aid or WIOA	Varies by college. See the Ohio example below.	Ask the college	Fees outside tuition add up.	Written tests, skills test

The Department of Labor notice (TEN 01-26, July 8, 2026) says many states list CDL programs for WIOA funds. It also names community colleges, truck driving schools, and carrier-sponsored schools as the three kinds of CDL training programs. I could not find a price for any of them that I could read and check today. So this guide does not print one. Ask each provider for a total in writing.

One worked example of costs outside tuition

Stark State College in Ohio lists "additional estimated costs" for its 2026-2027 CDL program. They are not tuition.

Item	Estimate
Five-panel drug screen	$60.00
DOT physical	$150.00
CDL temporary permit fee (Ohio BMV)	$28.50
First CDL license (Ohio BMV)	$44.50
Total without hazmat	$283.00

Your state's fees will differ. See CDL permit cost by state.

Once you have the CDL, here is what a truck really costs to run: the cost-per-mile calculator shows it per mile.

Order of operations

Study and pass the written tests yourself first. Start with the general knowledge test, plus any tests your class needs. A passed permit costs you only the state fee and your study time. If you want a plan, see pass the CDL permit test on the first try.
Decide the class. Class A and Class B train on different trucks, and the skills test matches. Read Class A vs Class B before you pick a provider.
Get your permit, then count 14 days. 49 CFR 383.25 says a CLP holder is not eligible to take the skills test in the first 14 days after the permit is first issued. Plan for day 15 at the earliest, and confirm the date with your state. The same rule says a CLP is valid for no more than one year from first issue without retaking the knowledge tests. Do not start so late that the clock runs out.
Search the TPR, not a Google ad. Use "Find a Provider" on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. You can filter by training type (Class A, Class B, Passenger, School Bus, Hazardous Materials theory), by location, or by name. If a school is not in the registry, its training will not count.
Ask which truck they test in. Many schools train in one truck and test in another. Ask what the skills test vehicle is, and whether you get practice time in it. See the CDL road test guide.
Get the payback terms in writing. For company-paid training, ask: How many months must I stay? What is the exact dollar amount I owe if I leave? Does it drop each month? Who is the contract with? If a recruiter will not put it on paper, treat that as an answer.
Confirm the certification step. After you finish, the provider has until midnight of the second business day to send your certification to the FMCSA through the TPR. Ask your state how it checks that before it schedules your skills test.
Take the skills test. Then you hold the CDL.

If you are going for H, P or S

Hazmat is the odd one. The rule puts the training before the hazmat knowledge test, so you cannot treat it like a Class A or B written test. Passenger and school bus endorsements need the training before the skills test. Check CDL endorsement tests before you book anything.

Questions to ask every provider

Are you listed on the TPR for the class I want?
What is the full price, in writing, with every fee?
Which truck is the skills test in?
When can I start behind-the-wheel time?
If a company pays, what do I owe if I leave early?

Try 10 exam-style questions built from the official CDL manual.