(1)     Applicants attempting to obtain a CDL and/or CLP of any class 
         shall be required to take and pass the CDL general knowledge exam.

(2)     Applicants must complete ELDT prescribed by the FMCSA prior to 
         obtaining a CDL.

(3)     Applicants for all classes of CDL, including CLPs, must receive a grade 
         of at least 80 percent out of a possible 100 percent on the appropriate 
         knowledge exam(s). Exam scores are considered valid for one year.

         (a)     The CLP must be valid for no more than 365 days from the date 
                  of issuance. Any renewal or extension of this term requires the 
                  CLP holder to retake the general and endorsement knowledge 
                  exams.

         (b)     The issuance of a CLP is a precondition to the initial issuance of 
                   a CDL. The issuance of a CLP is also a precondition to the 
                   upgrade of a CDL if the upgrade requires a skills test.

         (c)     The only endorsements that will be allowed on a CLP are the “P” 
                  (passenger), and “S” (school bus). The Passenger endorsement 
                  will require that the CLP have a “P” restriction which prohibits 
                  passengers in a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) bus.

         (d)     The “N” (tank) endorsement will require that the CLP have an 
                   “X” restriction which prohibits any cargo in the CMV tank vehicle.

         (e)     The CLP holder is not eligible to take the CDL skills test in the 
                   first 14 days after initial issuance of the CLP.

(4)     Out of state applicants who move to Georgia and have a CDL issued 
         from their prior state of residence will be required to apply for a 
         Georgia CDL by completing a CDL application and paying the 
         appropriate fee. However, these licenses will be exchanged one for one. 
         For applicants with an “H” endorsement, if the applicant’s current, 
         unexpired TSA threat assessment can be verified electronically, the 
         endorsement will be added to the Georgia CDL; otherwise, applicants 
         will be required to pass the hazardous materials knowledge exam to 
         maintain this endorsement. If applicants apply for a higher class of
         CDL or additional endorsements, the necessary test(s) and applicable 
         fees will be required.

(5)     Applicants for CDLs and CLPs of classes A and B, whose vehicles are 
         equipped with air brakes, must pass the air brakes test.

(6)     Applicants are required to pay the fee for issuance of a Class 
         A or B CLP prior to attempting the written exam(s) required 
         for such permit. If the applicant does not achieve a passing score, 
         the issuance fee shall be retained by the Department as a testing fee,
         and such fee shall be pre-paid by the applicant on each successive 
         attempt until a passing score is achieved at which time such fee shall 
         be considered the fee for issuance of the CLP.

(7)     Applicants must pass the written exam and skills test, if required 
         for the specific endorsement sought before the endorsement 
         can be applied to the license. A “P” endorsement may be applied 
         to a commercial Class A or B CLP upon satisfactory completion
         of the applicable written exam. An “S” endorsement shall be applied 
         to any class CLP and may only be applied to CDLs upon satisfactory 
         completion of both the written exam and skills test for such 
         endorsement.

(8)     The initial license issuance fee of a CDL, regardless of how many 
          endorsements are added, will be $32.00 for a term of eight years.

(9)     Applicants will be required to pay a $10.00 fee for each attempt on 
         the knowledge exam(s).

(10)   Applicants must also pay a commercial application fee of $35.00 
         prior to knowledge testing, unless the applicant is exempt from 
         this fee due to being a veteran or being sponsored by a school 
         district. This fee must be repaid if the applicant fails the knowledge 
         exam four times.

(11)   After the initial CDL issuance, additional endorsements may be added 
         upon passing the test(s) for the additional endorsements requested. 
         A fee of $5.00 for each additional endorsement may be assessed, 
         plus a $32.00 license renewal fee.

(12)   To add the Passenger “P” endorsement to a license the applicant must 
          take and pass both the appropriate knowledge exam and the skills 
          test in the type of bus the applicant plans to operate (i.e. transit 
          bus, church bus, school bus).

(13)   Upon passing the required knowledge exam(s) an individual will be 
          issued a CLP. A CLP is considered a valid CDL for purposes of behind
          -the-wheel training on public roads or highways, if all of the following 
          minimum conditions are met:

           (a)     The CLP holder is at all times accompanied by the holder of a 
                    valid CDL who has the proper CDL class and endorsement(s) 
                    necessary to operate the CMV. 

           (b)     The CDL holder must at all times be physically present in the 
                     front seat of the vehicle next to the CLP holder or, in the case 
                     of a passenger vehicle, directly behind or in the first row 
                     behind the driver and must have the CLP holder under
                     observation and direct supervision.

           (c)     The CLP holder holds a valid driver’s license issued by the 
                    same jurisdiction that issued the CLP.

           (d)     The CLP holder does not operate a CMV transporting 
                     hazardous materials as defined in 49 C.F.R. § 383.5.

(14)     When issued to a CDL holder, a CLP serves as authorization 
            for accompanied behind-the-wheel training in a CMV for 
            which the holder’s current CDL is not valid.

(15)     All applicants must meet the medical requirement of 
           49 C.F.R. § 391.41 and provide a copy of the DOT Medical 
           Certificate at the time of application for initial issuance of a
           CLP, renewal of a CDL or transfer of a CDL from another 
           state unless exempt under CDL Rule 1-1-.07.

Authority: O.C.G.A. §§ 40-5-156, 40-16-5(c), 49 C.F.R. § 383.133(c)(6)(ii), 
49 C.F.R. § 383.135, 49 C.F.R. § 390.9.
History: Original Rule entitled "1-1-.08 Knowledge Test and Endorsement Tests. 
Amended" adopted. Effective Feb. 8, 2017.
Amended: New title "1-1-.10 Knowledge Exam and Endorsement Tests"; 
Effective Nov. 9, 2022.

Short Title
CDL Rule 1-1-.10