Registry entry

California Commercial Driver License (CDL) Application

Apply for a California Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) as the first step toward a Class A, B, or C Commercial Driver's License (CDL) through the California Department of Motor Vehicles. This document models the CDL/CLP application (Form DL 44C / eDL 44C): applicant identity, the existing noncommercial licence prerequisite, the class and endorsements requested, the federal self-certification of commerce type, prior-licence history, and medical certification. It does not model the later in-person skills test or CDL issuance, and it does not submit the application; the live dmv.ca.gov source is always authoritative (see verification).

Registry entry

us/ca/dmv/commercial-drivers-license-application

Jurisdiction
United States · California (subnational)
Version
1.1.0
Verification
draft
Authority
California Department of Motor Vehicles

GovSchema spec v0.3

Authoritative source DL 44C / eDL 44C

Machine access

Schema document
registry/us/ca/dmv/commercial-drivers-license-application/1.1.0/schema.jsonapplication/schema+json
Registry catalog
registry/index.jsonone record per schema id

Field reference

19 fields across 4 steps, read from the published schema.json — names, types, requiredness, and validation as the document states them. The live government form remains the authoritative source.

Identify yourself and your current licence

  • lastName string required

    Personal identifier; handle as sensitive data. True full legal name as it appears on your identity document.

    length: 1–100
  • firstName string required

    Personal identifier; handle as sensitive data.

    length: 1–100
  • middleName string optional

    Personal identifier; handle as sensitive data.

    length: 0–100
  • dateOfBirth date required

    Personal identifier; handle as sensitive data. Full date, YYYY-MM-DD. Applicant must be at least 18 to drive intrastate commerce; at least 21 is required to drive interstate commerce, transport hazardous materials, or hold the hazardous materials or tank vehicle endorsements.

    classification: sensitive-pii
  • socialSecurityNumber string required

    Personal identifier; handle as sensitive data. 9 digits, no dashes. An original Social Security card is required to confirm this for a first CDL application.

    patternclassification: sensitive-pii
  • californiaDriverLicenseNumber string required

    Personal identifier; handle as sensitive data. You must already hold a valid California noncommercial Class C driver's license (a temporary/interim licence is acceptable) before a CLP can be issued. One letter followed by 7 digits, e.g. D1234567.

    pattern

Residence address

  • residenceAddressLine1 string required

    Personal identifier; handle as sensitive data. Must match a residency document if you have never held a California DL or ID.

    length: 1–120
  • residenceAddressLine2 string optional

    Personal identifier; handle as sensitive data.

    length: 0–120
  • residenceAddressCity string required

    Personal identifier; handle as sensitive data.

    length: 1–80
  • residenceAddressPostalCode string required

    Personal identifier; handle as sensitive data. 5-digit or ZIP+4 format, e.g. 90210 or 90210-1234. The state is California (US-CA).

    pattern

Class, endorsements, and commerce type

  • cdlClassRequested enum required

    class_a = any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001+ lbs where the towed unit exceeds 10,000 lbs; class_b = any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating over 26,000 lbs (or towing a unit of 10,000 lbs or less); class_c = a smaller vehicle that nonetheless requires a CDL because it is designed to transport 16+ people (including the driver) or placarded hazardous materials.

    enum: class_a | class_b | class_c
  • endorsementHazardousMaterials boolean required

    Requires a TSA security threat assessment in addition to the knowledge test. If both this and endorsementTankVehicle are true, California issues the combined X endorsement instead of separate H and N endorsements (49 CFR 383.153).

  • endorsementTankVehicle boolean required

    Knowledge test required. See endorsementHazardousMaterials for the combined-X rule when both are requested.

  • endorsementPassenger boolean required

    Knowledge and skills tests required. Needed to transport 16 or more people including the driver.

  • endorsementSchoolBus boolean required

    Knowledge and skills tests required; requires the passenger endorsement as well.

  • endorsementDoubleTriple boolean required

    Knowledge test required. Needed to pull two or three trailers at once (Class A only).

  • selfCertifiedCommerceType enum required

    Federal self-certification categories (49 CFR 383.71): non_excepted_interstate = interstate commerce, subject to full federal driver qualification and medical certificate rules; excepted_interstate = interstate commerce, exempt from the federal medical certificate rule; non_excepted_intrastate = California only, still requires a medical examiner's certificate; excepted_intrastate = California only, exempt from the medical certificate rule. If any interstate operation is possible, DMV guidance recommends certifying interstate rather than intrastate. non_excepted_intrastate carries a DMV-applied Intrastate Only (K) restriction.

    enum: non_excepted_interstate | excepted_interstate | non_excepted_intrastate | excepted_intrastate

Licence history and medical certification

  • licensedInOtherJurisdictionLast10Years boolean required

    If true, a completed 10 Year History Record Check (Form DL 939) covering that period must also be provided.

  • medicalExaminerCertificateExpirationDate date required

    Full date, YYYY-MM-DD. Required for both non_excepted_interstate and non_excepted_intrastate self-certification; not required for the two excepted categories (leave at the source form's 'not applicable' option in that case). Issued from a Medical Examination Report (MCSA-5875) and Medical Examiner's Certificate (MCSA-5876) completed within 2 years by an examiner on the FMCSA National Registry.

Version history

Independent and non-affiliated

GovSchema is an independent, open-source project. This reference is not produced, reviewed, or endorsed by California Department of Motor Vehicles or any government. The authoritative source is always the live government form and its official instructions.