Illinois — Full ELDT Hub

Illinois CDL & ELDT Training — FMCSA-Approved Online Courses

All FMCSA-approved ELDT courses for Illinois drivers — Hazmat, CDL A, CDL B, Passenger, School Bus. Accepted at Illinois Secretary of State — Driver Services (IL SOS).

★★★★★ 5.0 Google Rating  ·  3,500+ Graduates
FMCSA-Approved 49 States Auto-Submitted to TPR Under 2 Hours No Hidden Fees
Quick answer: ELDT in Illinois costs $20 per course at DLA Academy — FMCSA-approved, online, completed in under 2 hours, and auto-submitted to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry within 24 hours. Illinois Secretary of State — Driver Services (IL SOS) verifies completion through the federal TPR before testing. Required only for first-time CDL applicants and endorsement-adds after February 7, 2022.
Getting your CDL in Illinois means working with the Illinois Secretary of State — Driver Services (IL SOS). Federal law requires all new CDL applicants to complete FMCSA-approved Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) before you can test for your license or endorsement. DLA Academy is FMCSA-approved, listed on the Training Provider Registry, and accepted in Illinois and 48 other states. Pick the course that matches your goals — theory for your license class, endorsement training for Hazmat/Passenger/School Bus, or a bundle to save money.
Illinois — State-Specific Note

Illinois CDLs are issued by Illinois Secretary of State — Driver Services (IL SOS). Illinois has no DMV — the Secretary of State's office serves that function. CDL knowledge and skills testing happen at Secretary of State CDL Facilities, not at a state police or transportation department. Source: www.ilsos.gov

Illinois CDL Requirements — Quick Reference

To get any Commercial Driver's License in Illinois you'll work through Illinois Secretary of State — Driver Services (IL SOS). Federal ELDT requirements apply across all 49 states — DLA Academy's online theory courses satisfy the ELDT mandate, and behind-the-wheel training (where required for CDL A or CDL B) must be completed locally at an FMCSA-registered BTW provider.

For Hazmat endorsements, Illinois uses the standard IDEMIA TSA enrollment process — schedule your fingerprinting through Universal Enroll.

Illinois State Agency
Illinois Secretary of State — Driver Services (IL SOS)

Apply for your CLP, schedule skills tests, and verify ELDT submission through your state agency's CDL portal.

https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/drivers-license/cdl/cdl.html

Illinois CDL & ELDT Fees (2026)

What you'll actually pay to get your Illinois CDL: DLA Academy charges a flat $20 per FMCSA-approved ELDT course, and the federal TSA Hazmat background check is a fixed national fee. The state DMV fees below are set by IL SOS and vary — we link the official source rather than print a number that could be out of date.

Fee Amount Notes
FMCSA-approved ELDT theory (DLA Academy)$20 per courseFlat rate — Hazmat, CDL-A, CDL-B, Passenger, or School Bus
CDL-A Permit Prep (optional study aid)$15DMV knowledge-test practice — not ELDT
Illinois CLP / permit feeVaries — check IL SOSSet by IL SOS, paid at the DMV
Illinois CDL license feeVaries — check IL SOSSet by IL SOS
Illinois endorsement fee (H / P / S)Varies — check IL SOSSet by IL SOS, per endorsement
TSA Hazmat background check~$86.50 (~$41 with a valid TWIC)Federal TSA fee via IDEMIA — Hazmat endorsement only

Only the DLA Academy ELDT price and the federal TSA Hazmat fee are fixed nationwide; IL SOS sets the permit, license, and endorsement fees. Confirm current amounts on the official IL SOS site before you budget.

More Illinois CDL Resources

Real Drivers, Real Reviews
What DLA Academy Drivers Say

5.0 Google rating from 202+ verified reviews. 3,500+ drivers trained nationwide.

★★★★★

"DLA Academy's Hazmat ELDT was straightforward and finished in under two hours. Completion auto-submitted to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry the same day."

Marcus T. — CDL A driver Verified · Google
★★★★★

"Twenty bucks for FMCSA-approved ELDT and it actually showed up on the registry when my DMV checked. Cheapest legit option I found."

Jessica R. — Owner-operator Verified · Google
★★★★★

"Took the 3-endorsement bundle (Hazmat, Passenger, School Bus). $50 total, completed on my phone, all three on the TPR within 24 hours. Done."

David K. — CDL driver Verified · Google

Verify DLA Academy by name at the FMCSA Training Provider Registry: tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov

Why DLA Academy
The Numbers Behind the 5.0 Stars
3,500+
Graduates Across 49 States
5.0
Google Rating
$20
Lowest Price — Every Course
24 hrs
Auto-Submitted to FMCSA TPR
FMCSA-Approved Listed on TPR 100% Online Self-Paced Mobile-Friendly No Hidden Fees 49 States Under 2 Hours
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between ELDT and the permit test?+
ELDT (Entry-Level Driver Training) is federally mandated training you complete with an FMCSA-approved provider like DLA Academy. The permit test is the DMV knowledge test you take at the IL SOS office to get your Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP). You need both. DLA's CDL-A Permit Prep ($15) is a study tool with 119 practice questions to help you pass the permit test — it's not ELDT. CDL-A Theory ELDT ($20) is the federally required training.
Do I need ELDT if I already have a CDL?+
No, if your CDL was issued before February 7, 2022, you're grandfathered and don't need retroactive ELDT. However, if you're upgrading your class (e.g., Class B to Class A) or adding any new endorsement (H, P, or S), you'll need ELDT for that upgrade or endorsement, even if your original license is grandfathered.
How does DLA Academy submit my ELDT to the state?+
When you complete any FMCSA-approved ELDT course, DLA Academy automatically submits your completion to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry (TPR) within 24 hours. The Illinois Secretary of State — Driver Services verifies your ELDT by querying the TPR — DLA doesn't submit directly to IL SOS, but the state can see your completion instantly through the federal registry.
How long does each ELDT course take?+
All individual ELDT courses (CDL-A Theory, CDL-B Theory, Hazmat, Passenger, School Bus) complete in under 2 hours. You can spread it across multiple sessions if you prefer, but most drivers finish in one sitting.
What about the behind-the-wheel (BTW) portion for CDL-A or CDL-B?+
DLA Academy provides the required online theory training. Behind-the-wheel training is a separate step — you'll need to complete it at a local FMCSA-registered BTW provider in Illinois. The IL SOS office can direct you to approved providers, or you can search the FMCSA registry online.

Illinois CDL Drivers — Start Your ELDT Today

FMCSA-approved ELDT courses starting at $20. Auto-submitted to TPR. Accepted at Illinois Secretary of State — Driver Services.

FMCSA-Approved No Hidden Fees Under 2 Hours 5.0 Google Rating 3,500+ Graduates 49 States
Illinois ELDT — Starting at $20 FMCSA-Approved · 3,500+ Graduates
See Courses