Person inspecting the underside of a semi truck and trailer

CDL Driver Test Prep

$2000 plus fees

This course is recommended for students who have some experience driving Class A or B vehicles, or who have previously been licensed but may have allowed their CDL to lapse. We offer a comprehensive three- to five-day training course designed to familiarize students with the standards associated with Iowa DOT Modernization CDL Testing. For students who need to pass this examination and may already have secured employment, this option will allow them to undertake a more detailed training process with their employers. Our classes and testing will be conducted in a truck equipped with a manual transmission, so some experience with manual transmission shifting is preferred.

Sample Schedule

Schedule will vary based on students' needs and testing availability.

  • Day 1 (Monday): 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Day 2 (Tuesday):7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Day 3 (Wednesday): 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Day 4 (Thursday): TBD - Based on testing schedule.
  • Day 5 (Friday): TBD - Based on testing schedule.
  • Each training day will include a one-hour lunch break as well as two 15-minute breaks.

CDL Driver Test Prep Testing Policy: Students will be allowed one test, with two additional retests should they fail either of the first two attempts. Following a third failed exam, SWCC will require students to enroll, pay the tuition difference, and complete the adjusted program training requirements of our CDL Driver Training Program before being offered the opportunity to retake the test using SWCC equipment and examiners.

*PLEASE NOTE* - Industry and trucking insurance standards suggest drivers complete a minimum of 160 hours of training before being hired by most companies. Although this is not a federal or state regulation, we want prospective students to be aware of it before selecting this option.

Enrollment Requirements

  1. Be at least 18 years old. Must be 21 years old to drive out of state.
  2. Pass a DOT Physical to obtain your Medical Card. (Options are available locally at Creston Chiropractic ($100) and Greater Regional Health Occupational Medicine ($154). Please call ahead to schedule as some portions of the questionnaire require more time to process.)
  3. Study and test for your Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) at the DMV. We require completion of Air Brakes, Combination Vehicle, and General Knowledge.
  4. Provide current 5-year MVR report. These are available for purchase through the DMV. (Dated within two weeks of class start date.) Disqualifying factors must be considered for insurance purposes.
  5. Complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) through our third-party provider. (We will guide you through this process once we have received your Medical Card and copies of your CLP.
  6. Pass DOT Drug Screen. (Options are available locally at Greater Regional Health Occupational Medicine ($42). Please call ahead to schedule as some portions of this will take longer to process as well.)
  7. Register with the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. (We will assist you in this process.)

Once you have completed these steps, we will work with you and your schedule to assign you to the first available course we have an opening for. Please be mindful that the program is new and has a current waitlist, so following our guidance through this timeline will be most helpful in making sure things go in as streamlined a manner as possible.