Do I need my DOT medical card to take the CDL permit test?

Not always. Federal rules say you certify a type of driving when you apply for a CLP. A medical examiner's certificate is required only if you certify non-excepted interstate. Check your state for how it wants to receive it.

What if my Social Security number does not match?

Federal rules say the state must check your name, date of birth and Social Security number with the Social Security Administration. If the data does not match, the state may not issue the permit. Fix the record with the Social Security Administration first.

Can I just bring my out-of-state driver license?

Not by itself. Federal rules say you must prove the state you apply in is your state of domicile. Acceptable proof is a document with your name and home address in the state. Your state may ask for more than one proof.

What to Bring to the CDL Permit Test: Checklist

Bring proof of your age, citizenship or lawful permanent residency, and proof you live in the state. Your state adds its own list, so read your state's page before the visit.

This guide covers what federal rules make a state check before it issues a commercial learner's permit (CLP). Only your state can tell you which documents its office accepts.

What federal rules make the state check

49 CFR 383.71 and 383.73 set the checks:

Age. You must be 18 or older and provide proof of your age.
Citizenship or lawful permanent residency. The rule lists the proofs. For a U.S. citizen: a valid, unexpired U.S. passport, a certified birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Certificate of Naturalization, or a Certificate of Citizenship. For a lawful permanent resident: a valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card. If you are neither, ask your state before you go.
State of domicile. You must prove the state you apply in is your state of domicile. The rule says acceptable proof is a document with your name and residential address in the state, such as a government issued tax form.
Social Security number. Before it issues a CLP, the state must verify your name, date of birth and Social Security number with the Social Security Administration. It may not issue the CLP if the data does not match.
Type of driving. You must give the state one certification about the type of driving you do or expect to do. The four choices are non-excepted interstate, excepted interstate, non-excepted intrastate and excepted intrastate.
Past licenses. You must give the names of all states where you were licensed to drive any type of motor vehicle in the last 10 years. The state requests your driving record from those states.
Other certifications. You certify that you have no disqualification and no driver's license from more than one state.
A passed knowledge test. You must pass the general knowledge test before you get the CLP.

About the medical card

The federal CLP rule does not say you must bring a medical card to the test.

If you certify non-excepted interstate, you are subject to 49 CFR part 391 and you are required to obtain a medical examiner's certificate. If you certify excepted interstate, the rule says you are not required to obtain one. Part 391 says a person subject to it must be medically certified as physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle.

For a non-excepted interstate CLP applicant, the state must post the medical certificate information to your driver record when FMCSA provides it electronically. Your state decides if it also wants to see the paper card.

Your checklist

Item	What to do before you go
Proof of age and citizenship or lawful permanent residency	Pick a proof from the federal list, such as a passport, certified birth certificate or Permanent Resident Card. Check that it has not expired.
Proof of domicile	Find a document with your name and home address in the state. Ask your state if it wants more than one.
Social Security number	Know the number. It must match your Social Security record. Ask your state if it wants the card.
Type of driving	Decide which of the four types you will certify.
Medical details	If you certify non-excepted interstate, you need a medical examiner's certificate. Ask your state how it wants it.
List of states	Write down every state that licensed you in the last 10 years.
Appointment and fee	Check how your state books the knowledge test and what it charges.

For fees, see CDL permit cost by state.

Your state adds its own rules

States can ask for more documents and set their own booking steps. These examples come from the state pages we checked. Open your own state's page for its full list.

Georgia. The DDS lists proof of identity, proof of Social Security number if the system cannot verify it, two proofs of Georgia residency from separate sources, and a medical card or waiver if your driving category requires it. For the permit exam, you must call to schedule an appointment.
Michigan. You take knowledge tests at a Secretary of State office and schedule the visit online. The state asks for proof of legal presence, proof of Social Security number such as a card, W-2, pay stub or military ID, and the Medical Examiner's Certificate if you need one.
Kentucky. You book knowledge tests online with Kentucky State Police. The state asks for a valid driver's license, a Medical Examiner's Certificate filed with the FMCSA National Registry, and a completed self-certification form (TC 94-169).
Illinois. If you pick non-excepted interstate, you need a current medical examiner's certificate from a National Registry examiner. Starting June 30, 2025, the examiner sends it electronically.

If your state is not here, check its official licensing site. Do not guess.

After you get the permit

See CDL permit to license steps for what comes next. To see which knowledge tests your license needs, read which CDL tests do I need.

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