1.2 Getting the HazMat Endorsement

How to Earn the HazMat Endorsement

Quick Answer: Getting the H endorsement is a three-part process on top of holding a CDL: (1) complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) HazMat theory from a registered provider, (2) pass the TSA Security Threat Assessment background check — fingerprinting, criminal history, and an immigration/citizenship requirement, and (3) pass the 30-question state DMV knowledge test. The endorsement is then added to your CDL when you pay the state fee.

The HazMat endorsement is unique among CDL endorsements because passing the written test is not enough. Federal law layers a security clearance and a training requirement on top of the exam. Understanding the sequence prevents wasted time and money.

Step 1: Hold a Valid CDL

You must already have, or be obtaining, a Commercial Driver's License. The HazMat endorsement is an add-on; it cannot exist on its own. Many drivers add H after they have driven for a while and want access to HazMat freight.

Step 2: Complete ELDT HazMat Theory Training

Since June 2022, the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rule requires that anyone obtaining a HazMat endorsement for the first time — or restoring it after it has lapsed — complete FMCSA-approved HazMat theory training before taking the knowledge test.

Key facts about ELDT for HazMat:

• The training must come from a provider listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry (TPR).
• HazMat ELDT is theory only — there is no behind-the-wheel component for the H endorsement.
• The provider electronically submits your training completion to FMCSA; the DMV verifies it before letting you sit for the test.
• If you do not complete ELDT, the DMV cannot administer the HazMat knowledge test, even if you are otherwise eligible.

Step 3: Apply for the TSA Security Threat Assessment

Federal law requires every HazMat applicant to pass a TSA Security Threat Assessment (STA), also called the HazMat background check. The assessment includes:

• Fingerprinting and a fingerprint-based criminal history records check.
• An immigration status check — you must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident (or otherwise authorized) to qualify.
• A check against terrorism and intelligence-related watch lists.
• A mental-capacity review tied to certain court findings.

Certain felony convictions — such as terrorism, espionage, treason, certain explosives or firearms crimes, and some violent felonies — are disqualifying, either permanently or for a defined period. The STA fee is $86.50, and processing typically takes 30–60 days, so apply early. Because the assessment must be redone at each 5-year renewal, the security clearance is an ongoing obligation, not a one-time hurdle.

Step 4: Pass the State Knowledge Test

Once ELDT is complete and your TSA assessment is underway or cleared (state rules vary on timing), you take the 30-question HazMat knowledge test at the DMV. You must score 80% — 24 of 30 — to pass. If you fail, you may retake it according to your state's retake policy.

Step 5: Pay the Fee and Receive the Endorsement

After you pass the test and the TSA clears you, the state adds the H (or X, if you also hold the Tank endorsement) to your CDL. You pay a state endorsement/license fee, which varies by state.

The Process in Order

1. Hold a valid CDL — the endorsement is an add-on, not a standalone license.
2. Complete ELDT HazMat theory training from a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry.
3. Apply for the TSA Security Threat Assessment — fingerprinting, background check, and immigration/citizenship verification; pay the $86.50 fee.
4. Pass the 30-question DMV knowledge test with an 80% score.
5. Pay the state fee and receive the H or X endorsement on your CDL.
6. Renew every 5 years, repeating the TSA Security Threat Assessment each cycle.

Missing any single step blocks the endorsement — you cannot test without ELDT, and you cannot receive the endorsement without a cleared TSA assessment.