How to Get a CDL in Illinois (2026)
Complete sequence to get your Illinois CDL — permit test, ELDT, BTW, skills test, endorsements. State-specific rules and IL SOS requirements.
What It Costs and Where to Start in Illinois
Every FMCSA-approved ELDT theory course is $20, online, and finished in under 2 hours. Completion is filed to the federal Training Provider Registry within 24 hours.
- Hazmat — $20 FMCSA-approved ELDT
- CDL A — $20 FMCSA-approved ELDT
- CDL B — $20 FMCSA-approved ELDT
- Passenger — $20 FMCSA-approved ELDT
- School Bus — $20 FMCSA-approved ELDT
- 3-Endorsement Bundle — $50 FMCSA-approved ELDT
- All Bundles — from $30 FMCSA-approved ELDT
- Hazmat + Test Prep — $30 FMCSA-approved ELDT
- CDL-A Permit Prep — $15 DMV study aid — not ELDT
Not sure which one?
- I already have a CDL and want to add an endorsement — you only need the endorsement course: Hazmat, Passenger, or School Bus, $20 each. Skip CDL-A and CDL-B entirely.
- I'm brand new and have no CDL — start with CDL-A or CDL-B theory, then complete behind-the-wheel training locally. Theory alone does not get you licensed.
- I want all three endorsements — the 3-endorsement bundle is $50 instead of $60 separately.
- What's the cheapest way to do everything? — bundles are the floor: $50 for H+P+S, or $30 for either CDL theory course paired with permit prep. Adding Hazmat all-in, including the federal TSA background check and your state's endorsement fee, typically runs $110–$150.
- Tanker (N) or Doubles/Triples (T)? — neither has an ELDT requirement. The federal rule covers Class A, Class B, the B-to-A upgrade, and Hazmat, Passenger and School Bus only. Both are knowledge-test only at your state DMV: Tanker Test Prep — $15, or Hazmat & Tanker Complete — $45 if you need the Hazmat ELDT too.
Illinois CDL Requirements — The Complete Picture
To get a Commercial Driver's License in Illinois, you work through Illinois Secretary of State — Driver Services (IL SOS). The federal FMCSA ELDT mandate (effective February 7, 2022) applies in every state including Illinois — any new CDL applicant, class upgrade, or endorsement addition requires you to complete FMCSA-approved ELDT before sitting for the CDL skills test.
How to Get a CDL in Illinois — Step by Step
Pass the DMV permit test at IL SOS
Study for and pass the knowledge test at Illinois Secretary of State — Driver Services (IL SOS) to earn your Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP).
Hold your CLP for at least 14 days
Federal minimum before you can take the CDL skills test — Illinois follows the federal 14-day rule.
Complete FMCSA-approved ELDT theory training
This is what DLA Academy provides — $20 per course, 100% online, auto-submitted to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry within 24 hours.
Complete behind-the-wheel (BTW) training
Done at a local FMCSA-registered BTW provider for CDL-A and CDL-B — separate from DLA Academy. Hazmat, Passenger, and School Bus are theory-only on the federal side.
Pass the CDL skills test at IL SOS
Pre-trip inspection, basic vehicle control, and the road test. IL SOS verifies your ELDT completion through the FMCSA TPR before you test.
Receive your Illinois CDL
Once you pass, IL SOS issues your CDL — you're cleared to drive commercially.
Hazmat endorsement applicants additionally need TSA threat-assessment fingerprinting through IDEMIA Universal Enroll (standard process — typical wait time 30–45 days for clearance).
Behind-the-Wheel (BTW) Training — Required, But Not From Us
For CDL-A and CDL-B applicants, federal ELDT requirements have two parts: theory (what DLA Academy provides) and behind-the-wheel training (BTW). BTW must be completed at a local FMCSA-registered BTW provider — typically a trucking school, a CDL training facility, or an employer-sponsored program. DLA Academy does not offer BTW.
BTW for CDL-A and CDL-B typically takes 40–160+ hours depending on the program, costs $3,000–$10,000+ depending on the provider, and must be done at an FMCSA-registered facility (the FMCSA TPR has a directory) — many are located in Illinois metro areas.
For Hazmat, Passenger, and School Bus endorsements: no BTW required. Those endorsements are theory-only on the federal side — though some states require additional in-vehicle testing for School Bus and Passenger at the state level.
TSA Hazmat Fingerprinting
For the Hazmat endorsement, Illinois requires a TSA threat assessment. Schedule your fingerprinting appointment through IDEMIA (Universal Enroll). Results typically take 30–45 days. Illinois Secretary of State — Driver Services (IL SOS) cannot add the H endorsement to your CDL until TSA clears you.
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
Pre-February 2022 CDL Holders — Are You Grandfathered?
The FMCSA ELDT mandate took effect February 7, 2022. If your CDL was issued before that date, you are grandfathered for your current license class. You don't have to retroactively complete ELDT to keep driving.
BUT — grandfathering only covers your existing license class. If you're doing any of the following after February 7, 2022, ELDT is required regardless of when your CDL was issued:
- Upgrading from Class B to Class A → need CDL-A Theory ELDT
- Upgrading from Class C to Class B → need CDL-B Theory ELDT
- Adding the Hazmat (H) endorsement → need Hazmat ELDT
- Adding the Passenger (P) endorsement → need Passenger ELDT
- Adding the School Bus (S) endorsement → need School Bus ELDT
Illinois Secretary of State — Driver Services (IL SOS) verifies your ELDT completion through the FMCSA TPR before issuing the new class or endorsement.
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
Every course is FMCSA-approved and auto-submitted to the Training Provider Registry. Accepted at Illinois Secretary of State — Driver Services (IL SOS).
Add the H endorsement to your Illinois CDL. Theory only — no BTW required.
Illinois Class A CDL theory required before the skills test at IL SOS.
Illinois Class B CDL theory for straight trucks, dump trucks, and buses.
Add the S endorsement to your Illinois CDL to drive a school bus.
Add the P endorsement to operate 16+ passenger vehicles in Illinois.
Save $10 by bundling Hazmat, Passenger, and School Bus for Illinois.
Common Questions About ELDT & CDL Endorsements
More Illinois CDL Resources
Illinois ELDT Pricing — Every Course, Every Bundle
Every individual FMCSA-approved ELDT course on DLA Academy is $20 flat in Illinois — no discounts, no surge pricing, no surprise fees. Bundles save money when you're stacking endorsements:
- Hazmat ELDT — $20 (H endorsement, theory only)
- CDL-A Theory ELDT — $20 (BTW required separately at a local FMCSA-registered provider)
- CDL-B Theory ELDT — $20 (BTW required separately)
- School Bus ELDT — $20 (S endorsement)
- Passenger ELDT — $20 (P endorsement)
- CDL-A Permit Prep — $15 (DMV practice questions — not ELDT, paired study aid)
- Hazmat ELDT + DMV Test Prep Bundle — $30 (Hazmat ELDT + Hazmat DMV knowledge-test prep, saves $5)
- CDL A ELDT + Permit Prep Bundle — $30 (CDL-A ELDT + CDL Permit Practice Test, saves $5)
- CDL B ELDT + Permit Prep Bundle — $30 (CDL-B ELDT + CDL Permit Practice Test, saves $5)
- 3-Endorsement Bundle (H + P + S) — $50 (saves $10 vs. buying each separately)
The Bundle Math — Every Bundle Saves You Money
All three bundles are genuine discounts off buying the components individually. The math:
- 3-Endorsement Bundle ($50): Hazmat + Passenger + School Bus ELDT. Individual price: $20 × 3 = $60. Saves $10. Worth it if you're adding all three endorsements.
- CDL A ELDT + Permit Prep Bundle ($30): CDL-A Theory ELDT + CDL Permit Practice Test. Individual price: $20 + $15 = $35. Saves $5. The Class A starting point — the FMCSA-approved theory your skills test needs, plus 119 DMV practice questions for the permit.
- CDL B ELDT + Permit Prep Bundle ($30): CDL-B Theory ELDT + CDL Permit Practice Test. Individual price: $20 + $15 = $35. Saves $5. The same pairing for Class B — straight trucks, dump trucks and buses.
- Hazmat ELDT + DMV Test Prep ($30): Hazmat ELDT plus the Hazmat DMV knowledge-test prep — paired together for the driver studying for both the FMCSA-approved Hazmat ELDT and the state DMV Hazmat knowledge test at once. Saves $5 compared to buying the components individually.
Whatever you pick, Illinois Secretary of State — Driver Services (IL SOS) verifies your ELDT completion through the FMCSA Training Provider Registry — DLA Academy auto-submits within 24 hours of completion.
ELDT Training Cost — DLA Academy vs Other ELDT Training Providers
How much is ELDT training? Across FMCSA-approved ELDT training providers, the online theory course typically runs $23–$75. DLA Academy is consistently the lowest-priced FMCSA-approved option at $20 per course — same regulatory coverage (Appendix A to Part 380), same auto-submission to the FMCSA TPR, same 49-state acceptance. The only differences are the price tag and the experience: under 2 hours, mobile-friendly, no hidden fees, no checkout upsells.
| ELDT Training Provider | Cost Per Course | Format |
|---|---|---|
| DLA Academy | $20 | 100% online, <2 hrs, mobile |
| Typical approved provider | $23–$50 | Online, often with upsells |
| Higher-priced providers | $50–$75 | Online, longer courses |
What's identical at every approved provider: the curriculum (set by FMCSA), the registration with the federal TPR, and the legal weight of the completion. What's different: the ELDT training cost, course length, and how aggressive the upsells are. At $20, DLA Academy is the cheapest FMCSA-approved ELDT training cost on the market.
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 course | Flat rate — Hazmat, CDL-A, CDL-B, Passenger, or School Bus |
| CDL-A Permit Prep (optional study aid) | $15 | DMV knowledge-test practice — not ELDT |
| Illinois CLP / permit fee | Varies — check IL SOS | Set by IL SOS, paid at the DMV |
| Illinois CDL license fee | Varies — check IL SOS | Set by IL SOS |
| Illinois endorsement fee (H / P / S) | Varies — check IL SOS | Set 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.
Quick Answers — 3-Endorsement Bundle (Hazmat + Passenger + School Bus) in Illinois
Who needs it?
Drivers adding the Hazmat, Passenger, and School Bus endorsements in Illinois. Each endorsement obtained after February 7, 2022 needs its own FMCSA-approved ELDT — the bundle covers all three.
How long does it take?
Under 6 hours total. It's self-paced and 100% online — start and stop on any device.
How much does it cost?
$50 for the 3-Endorsement Bundle (Hazmat + Passenger + School Bus) at DLA Academy — the lowest-priced FMCSA-approved option, with no hidden fees.
Can I do it online?
Yes. The entire course is online and your completion is auto-submitted to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry within 24 hours — no classroom and no appointment.
What's next?
Finish all three ELDT courses, then schedule the H, P, and S knowledge tests at IL SOS, plus TSA fingerprinting for the Hazmat endorsement.
Why Bundle?
Each individual ELDT course at DLA Academy is $20. The 3-endorsement bundle is $50 — saving you $10 compared to buying Hazmat, Passenger, and School Bus separately. Each course is FMCSA-approved and auto-submitted to the Training Provider Registry within 24 hours of completion, and all three are accepted by Illinois Secretary of State — Driver Services (IL SOS).
What's Inside the Bundle
- Hazmat ELDT (H endorsement) — FMCSA-approved theory training
- Passenger ELDT (P endorsement) — 16+ passenger vehicles
- School Bus ELDT (S endorsement) — student transport
- All three auto-submitted to FMCSA TPR within 24 hours
- Lifetime course access on any device
- Self-paced — start and stop anytime
More Illinois ELDT Resources
Owner-Operator Resources
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.
Bundles cost less than the same courses bought one at a time, and every price below is the bundled price.
Not sure which one? Every bundle is listed here, with what each one contains.
Training a crew? Fleet accounts cover 10 or more drivers from $25 a seat, billed once, with every completion tracked in one place.
Sending drivers our way? The affiliate program pays 25% commission on every enrollment you refer.
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Verify DLA Academy by name at the FMCSA Training Provider Registry: tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov
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.