Hazardous Materials Endorsement Online ELDT Theory Course
Required theory training for transporting hazardous materials safely and legally.
This course includes:
- FMCSA Compliant Curriculum
- TPR Submission Included
- Certificate of Completion
- Mobile-Friendly Access
- English Only
- Lifetime Access
TPR submitted to FMCSA in minutes after completion
About This Course
Required theory training for transporting hazardous materials safely and legally.
What this course covers
The course follows the hazardous materials endorsement theory curriculum in Appendix E to 49 CFR Part 380. Appendix E is theory only: it has no behind-the-wheel section, so this online course is the whole ELDT requirement for the H endorsement. Its 13 units are the knowledge a driver needs before hazardous materials are on board.
- Basic introductory HM requirements: the safety rules that apply with hazmat on board, shipping papers, marking, labeling, placarding and emergency response information.
- Operational HM requirements and reporting HM crashes and releases.
- Tunnels and railroad-highway grade crossing requirements, and routes and route planning.
- Loading and unloading HM, HM on passenger vehicles, and bulk packages such as cargo tanks and portable tanks.
- Operating emergency equipment, emergency response procedures, fueling with hazmat on board and tire checks.
- Hazardous materials safety permits (HMSP).
There is no federal minimum number of hours. You complete all 13 units and pass each module quiz at 80% or higher; retakes are allowed. Because the course is theory only, the one-year rule that links theory and behind-the-wheel for other ELDT courses does not apply to hazmat.
Who needs it and who is exempt
Under 49 CFR 380.603, anyone obtaining the hazmat (H) endorsement for the first time on or after February 7, 2022 must complete Appendix E theory with a registered provider before taking the state hazmat knowledge test. A Class B fuel-truck driver and a Class A tanker driver complete the same course, however long they have held the CDL. The tanker (N) and doubles/triples (T) endorsements are not covered by ELDT.
You are exempt if you held the H endorsement before February 7, 2022, and renewing an endorsement you already hold never requires ELDT, although federal rules do require you to pass the hazmat knowledge test again at each CDL renewal. The Part 383 exceptions in 380.603(a), such as certain military drivers under 383.3(c), also apply. The hazmat endorsement guide covers the TSA Security Threat Assessment, the state test and renewal in detail.
Steps from CDL to the H endorsement
Hazmat is the one ELDT course with no in-person step. The order is the same in the 49 states that accept our course; your state agency and TSA set fees and appointments.
- 1Hold a CDL or a CLP; the registry record needs your license or permit number. New drivers get the CLP first using the CLP requirements guide.
- 2Complete this theory course online and pass each module quiz at 80% or higher. Try the free hazmat practice test first to see the question style.
- 3Your record is sent to the Training Provider Registry automatically, usually within minutes. Confirm it with how to check your ELDT record.
- 4Apply for the TSA Security Threat Assessment and pass the state hazmat knowledge test; the hazmat endorsement guide lists the TSA fee and the states that run their own enrollment.
- 5The state adds H to your CDL once the registry record, TSA assessment and knowledge test are complete; no behind-the-wheel training or skills test is needed.
The tanker (N) endorsement has no ELDT requirement; H and N together appear on the license as X.
What is included
The course costs $20 and includes all 13 units, the quizzes, your certificate of completion and the registry submission. The TSA assessment and state test fees are paid to those agencies, not to us.
After your last quiz we send the record to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry automatically, usually within minutes, once your permit or CDL number is in your profile.
Is This Course Right for You?
Required for transporting hazardous materials
Tanker drivers
Fuel and chemical transport
Freight drivers
Mixed load haulers
Not sure if this is the right course? Check our FAQ or contact us
What Happens After You Complete the Course
Your path from enrollment to certification is straightforward and fully compliant with federal requirements.
FMCSA Compliant
This course meets all Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
TPR Submission
Upon successful completion, your training record is submitted to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry (TPR) automatically, usually within minutes, once your permit or CDL number is in your profile.
Certificate of Completion
Receive a certificate verifying your successful completion of the course. Your record will be available for DMV verification.
Fast Processing
Once you finish every lesson and quiz, we send your theory record to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry automatically, usually within minutes.
Important: Certificate Requirements
- •You must complete all course modules and pass all required quizzes to earn your certificate.
- •Each quiz has a minimum passing score. Failed quizzes can be retaken after review.
- •This course covers the ELDT theory requirement. Behind-the-wheel training is a separate, in-person step for every license and endorsement except hazmat.
- •After TPR submission, complete behind-the-wheel training with a registered provider (not needed for hazmat), then schedule your state skills test (for hazmat, the knowledge test). Our CDL school finder lists registered behind-the-wheel providers near you.
ELDT theory by state
The ELDT curriculum is federal, so this course is the same in the 49 states that accept it. What differs is the licensing side: the agency that issues your permit, its fees and how the skills test is scheduled. Each state page lists those details for that state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about this course
Yes. Appendix E to 49 CFR Part 380 contains theory units only, with no behind-the-wheel section, so this online course is the entire ELDT requirement for the H endorsement. You still need the TSA Security Threat Assessment and the state hazmat knowledge test.
No. ELDT theory and the state knowledge test are separate requirements. The course covers the Appendix E curriculum, which overlaps heavily with the test topics in 49 CFR 383.121, so it doubles as test preparation, and our free hazmat practice test lets you check yourself.
No. The H endorsement is added to whichever CDL class you hold, Class A or Class B, and the course is the same for both. You need a CDL or CLP number in your profile so the record can be reported.
No. ELDT applies only to obtaining the H endorsement for the first time. At renewal, federal rules require a current TSA assessment and passing the hazmat knowledge test again, but not new training.
No. That rule links the theory and behind-the-wheel halves of a course, and hazmat has no behind-the-wheel half. Your hazmat theory record stays in the registry; check your state for how long it will accept the record before you complete the TSA assessment and knowledge test.
No. The TSA Security Threat Assessment fee is paid to TSA (or to your state, in the states that run their own enrollment) and the knowledge test fee to your state licensing agency. The course price covers the training, the certificate and the registry submission only.
After enrollment, you'll have instant access to all course materials through your student dashboard. You can learn on any device - computer, tablet, or phone.
You do not need a CDL number to create an account or buy a course. Before you start the lessons you will need your Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) number, because FMCSA requires a state-issued license or permit number to record your training in the Training Provider Registry. ELDT is required before your CDL skills test, not before the permit test, so the usual order is: pass the CDL knowledge tests at your state licensing agency to get your CLP, then enter the permit number here and start training. If you already hold a CDL and are upgrading or adding an endorsement, enter your current CDL number instead.
Yes! You can start, stop, and resume your training anytime. Your progress is automatically saved, so you can learn at your own pace around your schedule.
You have lifetime access to the course. Most students complete it within 1-2 weeks, but you can take as long as you need.
Our courses work on any device with a web browser - desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Your progress syncs across all devices.
When you pass all quizzes, your theory record is submitted to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry (TPR) automatically, usually within minutes, once your permit or CDL number is in your profile. You'll receive a certificate of completion. Next comes behind-the-wheel training with a registered provider (not needed for hazmat), then your state skills test (for hazmat, the knowledge test). Our CDL school finder at lowestcosteldt.com/cdl-schools lists registered behind-the-wheel providers near you.
No. All sales are final and course purchases are non-refundable, including if you picked the wrong course, changed your mind, or did not finish. The only exceptions are a duplicate charge for the same course, or a verified technical problem on our side that keeps you from accessing the course. If you bought the wrong course and have not started it, contact support within 48 hours and we may transfer your enrollment to another course. See our Refund Policy for details.
Still have questions? Contact our support team
Ready to Start Your Training?
Online ELDT theory from a registered provider, accepted in 49 states. Start today; your theory record goes to the FMCSA registry automatically, usually within minutes.
All sales are final. Review the course details before you enroll.