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CDL Skills Test Waived — and Even Exchange Takes the Written Tests Too

South Dakota waives the CDL skills test for a current or former member of the armed forces, including Reserve and National Guard, who holds a military licence to operate a military commercial vehicle. FORMER MEMBERS HAVE ONE YEAR AFTER SEPARATION OR RETIREMENT. Separately, EVEN EXCHANGE waives BOTH the knowledge and skills tests for qualifying specialties — Army 88M, 92F and 14T, Air Force 2T1, 2F0 and 3E2, USMC 3531, Navy EO — with commanding-officer verification. Check your specialty before booking anything.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

South Dakota waives the CDL skills test for a current or former member of the armed forces, including Reserve and National Guard, who holds a military licence to operate a military commercial vehicle. FORMER MEMBERS HAVE ONE YEAR AFTER SEPARATION OR RETIREMENT. Separately, EVEN EXCHANGE waives BOTH the knowledge and skills tests for qualifying specialties — Army 88M, 92F and 14T, Air Force 2T1, 2F0 and 3E2, USMC 3531, Navy EO — with commanding-officer verification. Check your specialty before booking anything.

What it's worth: The skills test waived; Even Exchange waives the knowledge tests too

  • SKILLS TEST WAIVED, with knowledge tests still required on that route.
  • EVEN EXCHANGE WAIVES BOTH knowledge and skills tests for qualifying specialties: ARMY 88M, 92F, 14T; AIR FORCE 2T1, 2F0, 3E2; USMC 3531; NAVY EO.
  • Commanding-officer verification is required for Even Exchange.
  • Open to CURRENT OR FORMER members including Reserve and National Guard.
  • FORMER MEMBERS HAVE ONE YEAR AFTER SEPARATION OR RETIREMENT.
  • South Dakota residency and a valid state driver licence are required.
  • Ordinary CDL fees and medical certification are not addressed.

Who is entitled to it

  • You serve or served in the U.S. armed forces.
  • You drove heavy vehicles in service.
  • South Dakota 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: Within one year of separation or retirement
  1. 1Check your specialty against the Even Exchange list first — 88M, 92F, 14T, 2T1, 2F0, 3E2, 3531 and Navy EO. If it is there, the written tests go too.
  2. 2Get the commanding-officer verification before you separate. It is much harder afterwards.
  3. 3Diary the one-year window from separation or retirement.
  4. 4If your specialty is not listed, apply on the skills waiver route — you still avoid the road test.
  5. 5Budget for the ordinary CDL fees and the DOT medical certification.
Form
Military skills test waiver, SD Driver Licensing
File with
SD Department of Public Safety, Driver Licensing
Documents you will need
dd214
No renewal
Once granted it does not need renewing.
Worth knowingTwo drivers with identical experience can land on different routes because of their specialty code. Check the list rather than reasoning from how much you drove.

Sources

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