The total cost of a Texas CDL has three parts: school tuition, state license fees and a DOT medical exam. Only the state fees are the same for everyone. How long it takes depends mostly on your school's schedule, plus a few fixed waiting periods.
- Tuition is set by each school and isn't published in federal data. Get written quotes from several schools.[1]
- Texas DPS fees: $25 for the commercial learner permit and $97 for the CDL (ages 18 to 84).[2]
- Time: federal rules set no minimum training hours, but you must hold your permit at least 14 days before the skills test.[3][4]
What you'll pay
School tuition
Each school sets its own price, and the federal Training Provider Registry doesn't list tuition. FMCSA suggests contacting several providers and asking what fees they charge.[1] When you compare quotes, ask what's included: permit and test fees, use of a truck for the skills test, retests, and books.
If you plan to use WIOA funds, ask your local Workforce Solutions office which programs on TWC's Eligible Training Providers list it will fund.[5] If you're hoping someone else will pay, read free and company-sponsored CDL training in Texas.
Texas DPS license fees
| Item | Fee | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial learner permit (CLP), original | $25 | 180 days |
| CDL, age 18 to 84, new | $97 | 8 years |
| CDL with hazardous materials endorsement, new | $61 | 5 years |
Fees from Texas DPS; they include a $1 administrative fee.[2]
DOT medical exam
Most commercial driving requires a DOT medical card, which means a DOT physical.[6] The exam must be done by a medical examiner listed on FMCSA's National Registry.[7] Prices vary by clinic, so call ahead.
How long it takes
- No federal minimum hours. Federal rules don't require a set number of classroom or behind-the-wheel hours. You finish when you pass the theory test with at least 80% and your instructor signs off that you can do each required driving skill.[3][8]
- 14-day permit wait. In Texas you must hold your CLP for 14 days before taking the skills test, and the CLP is valid for 180 days.[4]
- One-year window. You must finish the theory and behind-the-wheel parts of federal training within one year of starting the first part.[9]
- Certification. Your school must report your completed training to FMCSA by midnight of the second business day after you finish.[10]
For a sense of program length, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says private truck-driving schools and community college programs last 3 to 6 months. After being hired, new drivers usually get several weeks of on-the-job training with a mentor driver.[11] Many schools run shorter programs, so ask each school for its schedule.
The steps, in order
- Get a DOT physical from a National Registry examiner.[7]
- Get your CLP at Texas DPS by passing the knowledge tests. Since June 1, 2026, DPS gives CDL knowledge tests only in English.[4]
- Complete entry-level driver training with a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry.[6]
- Take the skills test after holding your CLP at least 14 days: vehicle inspection, basic controls and a road test.[6][4]
- Get your CDL. Texas DPS issues CDLs starting at age 18,[2] but federal rules require you to be at least 21 to drive a commercial vehicle across state lines.[12]
Find training by area: Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Midland-Odessa, Killeen-Temple, or all areas.
Sources
- FMCSA Training Provider Registry, Selecting a Provider. https://tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov/Drivers/SelectingAProvider (accessed 2026-11-02)
- Texas DPS, Driver License Fees (Commercial Driver License fees). https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/driver-license-fees (accessed 2026-11-02)
- FMCSA Training Provider Registry, FAQ: Training requirements. https://tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov/FAQ/Topics/training-requirements (accessed 2026-11-02)
- Texas DPS, How do I apply for a Commercial Driver License?. https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/how-do-i-apply-commercial-driver-license (accessed 2026-11-02)
- Texas Workforce Commission, Eligible Training Providers. https://www.twc.texas.gov/agency/workforce-development-boards/eligible-training-providers (accessed 2026-11-02)
- FMCSA, How do I get a Commercial Driver's License?. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license/how-do-i-get-commercial-drivers-license (accessed 2026-11-02)
- FMCSA, Medical (CDL). https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license/medical (accessed 2026-11-02)
- 49 CFR 380.715, Assessments (eCFR). https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-380/subpart-G/section-380.715 (accessed 2026-11-02)
- 49 CFR Part 380 Subpart F, ELDT requirements (eCFR). https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-380/subpart-F (accessed 2026-11-02)
- 49 CFR 380.717, Training certification (Cornell LII). https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/380.717 (accessed 2026-11-02)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers.htm (accessed 2026-11-02)
- FMCSA, What is the age requirement for operating a CMV in interstate commerce?. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/faq/what-age-requirement-operating-cmv-interstate-commerce (accessed 2026-11-02)