ELDT Requirements by License: Class A, B, P, S, and H

Published by the TruckDriversPRO team

Quick answer: Class A and Class B CDL applicants need theory plus behind-the-wheel (BTW) training on both the driving range and public roads. Passenger (P) and school bus (S) endorsement applicants need theory plus BTW on the range or on public roads. The hazmat (H) endorsement needs theory only. All of it has to be completed with a provider on the Training Provider Registry before the skills test, or before the knowledge test for H. Theory and BTW can be done in any order, and the two can come from different providers.

Once a school knows a student needs ELDT, the next questions are practical. What does this particular license require? What has to happen first? Can the training be split? FMCSA answers most of these in its registry FAQ, and a few of the answers aren’t what you’d guess.

TruckDriversPRO keeps student progress and completion tracking, behind-the-wheel scheduling, and TPR submission in one place for traveling trainers, CDL schools, and fleets.

What Each License Needs

License or endorsement	Theory	Behind the wheel	Training is verified before
Class A CDL (new or upgrade)	Yes	Yes, range and public road	CDL skills test
Class B CDL	Yes	Yes, range and public road	CDL skills test
Passenger (P) endorsement	Yes	Yes, range or public road	P skills test
School bus (S) endorsement	Yes	Yes, range or public road	S skills test
Hazardous materials (H) endorsement	Yes	No	H knowledge test

The state can’t administer the test until it has verified that the training was completed. BTW training also has to happen in a representative vehicle for the class or endorsement being sought. That’s an area where schools have been caught out: using vehicles that didn’t match the training they offered was among the findings reported from FMCSA’s on-site investigations.

The Order Is Flexible

There’s no required order for theory, BTW range, and BTW public road training. Theory doesn’t have to be finished before the student gets a commercial learner’s permit, either. The one fixed point is that BTW training has to be complete before the skills test.

For a school juggling instructor and truck availability, that flexibility is useful. It also means a student’s record can have pieces finished in an order you wouldn’t expect, so tracking which parts are done matters more than tracking a sequence.

Theory and Driving Can Come From Different Providers

Theory and BTW training may be delivered by separate providers. Both have to be listed on the registry, and each one submits its own certification information to FMCSA. If your school offers only one half, your certifications cover only that half.

Class A Training Covers Class B

A student who completes the training required for a Class A CDL is eligible to take the Class B skills test as well as the Class A test. That’s handy when a student changes their mind about which license to go for. FMCSA describes it in that one direction, Class A covering Class B.

Simulators Count for Theory Only

Driving simulators can be used in theory training. They can’t be used to conduct BTW training, and a trainee can’t use one to demonstrate BTW proficiency.

States Can Add to All of This

The federal rules are the minimum. FMCSA’s FAQ says they generally don’t replace state requirements that go beyond them. A state can set tougher requirements for training providers and instructors, with an exception for online theory instructors, and it can require a provider to cover additional topics.

Out-of-state students add a wrinkle. A student who trains and passes the skills test in one state has those results accepted by their home state, which can’t make them retake the test (49 CFR §383.79(a)). The home state can still set its own conditions for issuing the license. FMCSA’s examples include a minimum number of BTW hours and, for the school bus endorsement, things like a CPR or first aid course, BTW hours in a school bus, or extra classroom hours.

Keeping Records That Match

Because the requirements differ by license, it helps to note what each student is training for and which parts are done. When training is split, record which provider delivered which part. For students from out of state, check their home state’s conditions at enrollment instead of at the end.

A Note on the Source

FMCSA says its FAQ answers are meant to clarify existing requirements and don’t carry the force of law. For anything that affects a compliance decision, check the regulation text in 49 CFR Part 380 as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does theory have to be completed before behind-the-wheel training? No. There’s no mandatory order for theory, BTW range, and BTW public road training, and theory doesn’t have to be done before the learner’s permit. BTW training does have to be complete before the skills test.

Can theory and driving be done with different providers? Yes. Both providers have to be listed on the Training Provider Registry, and each submits its own certification information.

Does the hazmat endorsement require behind-the-wheel training? No. The H endorsement requires theory training only, completed before the H knowledge test.

Do the passenger and school bus endorsements need both range and public road training? No. FMCSA’s table lists theory plus BTW training on the range or on public roads for each of them, where Class A and Class B list both.

Can a driving simulator count toward ELDT? Only for theory training. A simulator can’t be used to conduct BTW training or to demonstrate BTW proficiency.

If I train and test in one state, does my home state have to accept it? It has to accept the skills test results and can’t make you retake the test. It can still require you to meet its own conditions, such as a minimum number of BTW hours, before it issues your license.

ELDT Requirements by License: What Class A, B, P, S, and H Need