Endorsements to your CDL allow you to operate certain types of CMVs, haul HAZMAT, or carry passengers. Restrictions limit the types of CMVs you can drive and what you can carry.
Before you get started
The information on this page can also be found in the Washington State Commercial Driver Guide (Section 1, pages 5-10).
Learn what training you need to get a hazardous materials endorsement (hazmat).
Effective January 2017 Commercial Learner Permits (CLPs) will contain the following:
CLP Endorsements
| Endorsement | Description |
|---|---|
| P | Passenger endorsement Required for drivers of passenger vehicles designed to carry 16 or more people (including the driver). |
| S | School bus endorsement Required for drivers who operate any size of school bus. A school bus is a vehicle regularly used to transport children to and from school or in conjunction with school activities, which meets the school bus specifications established by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. |
| N | Tank vehicle endorsement Required for any CMV designed to transport liquid or gaseous materials within a tank or tanks having an individual rated capacity of more than 119 gallons and an aggregate rated capacity of 1,000 gallons or more, that is either permanently or temporarily attached to the vehicle or the chassis. |
CLP Restrictions
| Restriction | Description |
|---|---|
| P | No passengers in CMV bus |
| X | No cargo in the CMV tank vehicle |
| L | No air brake-equipped CMV |
| V | Medical variance |
| M | No Class A passenger vehicle |
| N | No Class A and B passenger vehicle |
| K | Intrastate only |
New CDL issuances effective January 2017
Endorsements
| Endorsement | Description |
|---|---|
| P | Passenger endorsement Required for drivers of passenger vehicles designed to carry 16 or more people (including the driver). Note: New M & N restrictions have replaced P1 and P2 on the previous P endorsement. |
| S | School bus endorsement Required for drivers who drive any size of school bus. A school bus is a vehicle regularly used to transport children to and from school or in conjunction with school activities, which meets the school bus specifications established by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. |
| T | Double and triple trailers endorsement Required for drivers pulling sets of double or triple trailers. |
| N | Tank vehicle endorsement Required for any CMV designed to transport liquid or gaseous materials within a tank or tanks having an individual rated capacity of more than 119 gallons and an aggregate rated capacity of 1,000 gallons or more, that is either permanently or temporarily attached to the vehicle or the chassis. |
| H | Hazardous materials endorsement Required for drivers of any size vehicle used to transport material that requires hazardous material placards or any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR 73. |
| X | Combination of tank vehicle endorsement and hazardous materials endorsement |
Restrictions
| Restriction | Description |
|---|---|
| L | No air brake-equipped CMV Skills test taken in a vehicle not equipped with air brakes or air brake knowledge test not taken. |
| Z | No full air brake equipped CMV Skills test taken in a vehicle equipped with air over hydraulic brakes. |
| E | No manual transmission equipped CMV Skills test taken in a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission. |
| O | No tractor-trailer CMV Skills test taken in a combination vehicle for a Group A CDL with the power unit and towed unit connected with a pintle hook or other non-fifth wheel connection. |
| M | No Class A passenger vehicle Skills test taken in a Class B bus. |
| N | No Class A and B passenger vehicle Skills test taken in a Class C bus. |
| K | Intrastate only Driver self-certified as Non-excepted Intrastate or is under 21 years old. |
| V | Medical variance Applicant has either a federal or state medical waiver. |
CDL issuances prior to January 2017
Endorsements
| Endorsement | Description |
|---|---|
| P1 | Class B passenger vehicle Required for drivers of vehicles weighing 26,001 lbs. or more designed to carry 16 or more people (including the driver). |
| P2 | Class C passenger vehicle Required for drivers of vehicles weighing 26,000 lbs. or less, designed to carry 16 or more people (including the driver). |
| S | School bus endorsement Required for drivers who drive any size of school bus. A school bus is a vehicle regularly used to transport children to and from school or in conjunction with school activities, which meets the school bus specifications established by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. |
| T | Double and triple trailers endorsement Required for drivers pulling sets of double or triple trailers |
| N | Tank vehicle endorsement Required for any CMV designed to transport liquid or gaseous materials within a tank or tanks having an individual rated capacity of more than 119 gallons and an aggregate rated capacity of 1,000 gallons or more, that is either permanently or temporarily attached to the vehicle or the chassis. |
| H | Hazardous materials endorsement Required for drivers of any size vehicle used to transport material that requires hazardous material placards or any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR 73. |
| X | Combination of tank vehicle endorsement and hazardous materials endorsement |
Restrictions
| Restriction | Description |
|---|---|
| K | Air brakes restriction Drivers of CMVs with air brakes must pass the required tests for air brakes. Drivers who don't pass these tests are restricted on their CDL to non-air brake vehicles. |
| U | CDL intrastate only restriction Drivers of CDL vehicles who are restricted to driving only within Washington, either because of medical self-certification or the driver is under the age of 21. |
| V | CDL medical variance (waiver) |
