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CDL Skills Test Waived — Check Your MOS, or Count Your Miles

South Carolina waives the CDL skills test for qualifying active-duty and recently separated servicemembers. There are two ways in: a RELEVANT MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY — 88M, 14T, 92F, 2T1 and 3531 among those named — OR 3,000 OR MORE MILES of commercial motor vehicle experience. The mileage route matters, because it reaches drivers whose specialty is not on any list but who did the driving anyway. A separate knowledge-test route exists as well. Certain renewal tests are also waived.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

South Carolina waives the CDL skills test for qualifying active-duty and recently separated servicemembers. There are two ways in: a RELEVANT MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY — 88M, 14T, 92F, 2T1 and 3531 among those named — OR 3,000 OR MORE MILES of commercial motor vehicle experience. The mileage route matters, because it reaches drivers whose specialty is not on any list but who did the driving anyway. A separate knowledge-test route exists as well. Certain renewal tests are also waived.

What it's worth: The CDL skills test waived, and certain renewal tests

  • TWO ROUTES IN: a relevant MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY — 88M, 14T, 92F, 2T1 and 3531 among those named — OR 3,000 OR MORE MILES of commercial motor vehicle experience.
  • THE MILEAGE ROUTE reaches drivers whose specialty is not on any list. Most states gate on the code alone.
  • A SEPARATE KNOWLEDGE-TEST ROUTE also exists.
  • CERTAIN RENEWAL TESTS are waived as well.
  • Open to qualifying active-duty and RECENTLY SEPARATED servicemembers.
  • Ordinary CDL fees and medical certification are not addressed by the waiver.

Who is entitled to it

  • You serve or served in the U.S. armed forces.
  • You drove heavy vehicles in service.
  • South Carolina commercial licensing.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

Deadline: Recently separated; ask SCDMV for the current limit
  1. 1Check your MOS against the named list first — 88M, 14T, 92F, 2T1 and 3531 among them.
  2. 2If your specialty is not listed, count your miles. Three thousand or more is an independent route in.
  3. 3Ask about the separate knowledge-test route at the same time.
  4. 4Ask which renewal tests are waived if you already hold a CDL.
  5. 5Get any commanding-officer certification before you separate.
Form
Military CDL waiver application, SCDMV
File with
South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
Documents you will need
dd214
No renewal
Once granted it does not need renewing.
Known gapSCDMV does not publish a precise window for "recently separated". Ask before assuming you are inside or outside it.

Sources

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.