CDL Requirements in South Dakota (2026): Steps, Cost & Testing

Requirements verified July 20, 2026 against South Dakota Department of Public Safety (Driver Licensing Program)

South Dakota issues CDLs through the Department of Public Safety's Driver Licensing Program. You hold a regular license, complete federal ELDT, pass the knowledge tests for a Commercial Learner Permit (about $43), hold it 14 days, then pass a three-part skills test — usually through a state-authorized third-party tester (capped at $90 per attempt) in a vehicle you supply. Both the CLP and CDL application fee are $43.

South Dakota runs its CDL program through the Department of Public Safety's Driver Licensing Program. The process follows the federal pattern — a regular license first, ELDT with a registered provider, knowledge tests for the Commercial Learner Permit, a 14-day hold, then a three-part skills test. In practice most skills tests are administered by state-authorized third-party testers, whose fee is capped at $90 per attempt.

State application fees are low and flat: $43 for the permit and $43 for the CDL (both raised from $33 on July 1, 2025), plus $20 per endorsement knowledge test. The larger costs are ELDT tuition (surveyed at roughly $3,000–$7,000 for a Class A program) and, for hazmat, the TSA fingerprint fee.

Two medical changes matter here: since June 23, 2025 your examiner transmits results electronically, and effective July 1, 2026 South Dakota removes its prior medical-card exception so most CDL holders must keep a valid card. Veterans with recent qualifying experience can apply for a Military Skills Test Waiver.

Eligibility and documents in South Dakota

• Age: at least 18 for intrastate driving; 21 to drive interstate or haul hazmat.
• Proof of identity and date of birth
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence
• Proof of Social Security number
• Single-state-license self-certification (surrender any license from another state)
• A Medical Examiner's Certificate where your self-certification category requires one

How to get your CDL: step by step

1. Get your Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP). Pass the required knowledge tests: General Knowledge (all applicants); Combination Vehicles (Class A); Air Brakes (if applicable); Any endorsement tests you need (P, S, H, N, T).
2. Complete ELDT training. For a first Class A/B CDL or a first hazmat, passenger, or school-bus endorsement, you must train with a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. South Dakota relies on the federal FMCSA Training Provider Registry. Your ELDT must be completed with a provider listed on the registry, and FMCSA transmits your completion electronically to the state before you can take the relevant test. There is no separate state ELDT portal. Drivers who held a valid CDL or the applicable endorsement before February 7, 2022 are grandfathered.
3. Hold your permit 14 days. Federal rules require at least 14 days before the skills test.
4. Pass the skills test. It has 3 parts: Pre-trip inspection, Basic vehicle control, On-road driving test. South Dakota relies largely on state-authorized third-party CDL skills testers rather than administering every test at a state office. A third-party tester may charge up to $90 per attempt by statute (some full-service schools quote around $150 all-in including the vehicle).
5. Get your CDL issued. Pay the license fee, submit your medical self-certification, and receive your license (valid 5 years). A South Dakota CDL is reported to be valid 5 years (confirm the term with SD DPS — the official fee schedule renders only as a JavaScript knowledge base and could not be read directly). Besides the 14-day CLP hold, South Dakota notes a 2-day waiting period between scheduling and taking the skills test. Upgrading class or adding endorsements requires the applicable knowledge/skills tests and ELDT for first-time H/P/S.

Medical certification in South Dakota

Self-certify your operating category with the Driver Licensing Program and submit a Medical Examiner's Certificate where required. Under National Registry II, since June 23, 2025 your certified medical examiner transmits your exam results electronically to FMCSA, which passes the data to the state — you no longer upload the paper card yourself. South Dakota examiners submit certificates to Driver Licensing within 2 business days.

If your card lapses: A significant change is coming: effective July 1, 2026, South Dakota adopts 49 CFR 391.11 requiring most CDL holders to maintain a valid medical card, removing the state's prior exception. Drivers currently carrying a 'K' restriction have until August 29, 2026 to obtain a medical certificate.

Every CDL holder must self-certify one operating category. The categories offered here:

• NI — Non-excepted Interstate (medical card required)
• EI — Excepted Interstate
• NA — Non-excepted Intrastate (medical card required)
• EA — Excepted Intrastate

New to the DOT physical? See our DOT physical guide and CDL medical card explainer.

What a CDL costs in South Dakota

State application fees are $43 each for the CLP and CDL (raised from $33 on July 1, 2025), plus $20 per endorsement knowledge test. Third-party skills testing is capped at $90 per attempt by statute. For hazmat, the TSA Security Threat Assessment fee is set by TSA (historically around $85 — confirm with IdentoGO). ELDT tuition is the largest cost.

See the full national breakdown on our CDL cost guide.

Skills testing in South Dakota Third-party testing allowed

South Dakota allows approved third-party testers to administer the CDL skills test, which can mean shorter waits than a state office. Besides the 14-day CLP hold, there is a 2-day waiting period between scheduling and taking the skills test. South Dakota does not publish official statewide wait times.

Your test vehicle: You must provide a vehicle representative of the class and type of CDL you are seeking; the tester does not supply one.

Endorsements available in South Dakota

South Dakota offers the standard federal endorsements. Adding one usually means an extra knowledge test (and a skills test for passenger and school bus). Tap an endorsement for the full federal process and cost:

• HHazmat — South Dakota is NOT a TSA self-managed state. The fingerprint-based TSA Security Threat Assessment is handled through TSA's enrollment contractor (TSA Enrollment by IDEMIA / IdentoGO), which operates locations in South Dakota. You pass the hazmat knowledge test and clear the TSA assessment before issuance; the HME is renewed every 5 years, and TSA recommends enrolling at least 60 days ahead.
• NTanker — Tank vehicle.
• XHazmat + Tank — Combined hazmat + tank; subject to the same TSA Security Threat Assessment as H.
• PPassenger — Requires ELDT for first-time applicants.
• SSchool Bus — Requires ELDT for first-time applicants; excluded from the military skills-test waiver.
• TDoubles/Triples — Doubles/triples. Air brakes are handled as a restriction removal (L) rather than an endorsement.

CDL disqualifications

Disqualifying offenses are set by federal law (49 CFR 383.51) and apply in every state — including offenses in your personal vehicle. South Dakota adopts the federal 49 CFR 383.51 disqualification framework through SDCL Chapter 32-12A. No documented South Dakota carve-out stricter than the federal baseline was confirmed on a rendered official page (the ServiceNow knowledge base and a statute mirror could not be read) — verify any state-specific provisions with SD DPS.

Full federal detail: CDL disqualifications explained.

Military skills-test waiver

South Dakota offers a Military Skills Test Waiver. A currently licensed service member who has operated a commercial-type vehicle for the prior 2 years and is (or within the past year was) employed in a qualifying military driving position may apply to waive the CDL skills test, and under the 'Even Exchange' provision may waive both knowledge and skills for qualifying roles. Hazmat and school bus endorsements are excluded from the waivers. Request the current application form from SD DPS.

South Dakota CDL FAQ