Commercial learner's permit — Qualifications, authorized use, endorsements, restrictions, fee distribution.

RCW 46.25.052
in effect
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(1) The department may issue a CLP to an applicant who is at least 18 years of age and holds a valid Washington state driver's license and who has: (a) Submitted an application on a form or in a format provided by the department; (b) Passed the general knowledge examination required for issuance of a CDL under RCW 46.25.060 for the commercial motor vehicle classification in which the applicant operates or expects to operate; (c) Paid the appropriate examination fee or fees and an application fee of $10 until June 30, 2016, and $40 beginning July 1, 2016; and (d) Not been prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle based on the department's query of the drug and alcohol clearinghouse as provided in 49 C.F.R. Sec. 383.73. (2) A CLP must be marked "commercial learner's permit" or "CLP," and must be, to the maximum extent practicable, tamperproof. Other than a photograph of the applicant, it must include, but not be limited to, the information required on a CDL under RCW 46.25.080 (1). (3) The holder of a CLP may drive a commercial motor vehicle on a highway only when in possession of a valid driver's license and accompanied by the holder of a valid CDL who has the proper CDL classification and endorsement or endorsements necessary to operate the commercial motor vehicle. The CDL holder must at all times be physically present in the front seat of the vehicle next to the CLP holder or, in the case of a passenger vehicle, directly behind or in the first row behind the driver and must have the CLP holder under observation and direct supervision. (4) A CLP may be classified in the same manner as a CDL under RCW 46.25.080 (2)(a). (5) CLPs may be issued with only P, S, or N endorsements as described in RCW 46.25.080 (2)(b). (a) The holder of a CLP with a P endorsement must have taken and passed the P endorsement knowledge examination. The holder of a CLP with a P endorsement is prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle carrying passengers other than authorized employees or representatives of the department and the federal motor carrier safety administration, examiners, other trainees, and the CDL holder accompanying the CLP holder as required under subsection (2) of this section. The P endorsement must be class specific. (b) The holder of a CLP with an S endorsement must have taken and passed the S endorsement knowledge examination. The holder of a CLP with an S endorsement is prohibited from operating a school bus with passengers other than authorized employees or representatives of the department and the federal motor carrier safety administration, examiners, other trainees, and the CDL holder accompanying the CLP holder as required under subsection (2) of this section. (c) The holder of a CLP with an N endorsement must have taken and passed the N endorsement knowledge examination. The holder of a CLP with an N endorsement may only operate an empty tank vehicle and is prohibited from operating any tank vehicle that previously contained hazardous materials and has not been purged of any residue. (6) A CLP may be issued with appropriate restrictions as described in RCW 46.25.080 (2)(c). In addition, a CLP may be issued with the following restrictions: (a) "P" restricts the driver from operating a bus with passengers; (b) "X" restricts the driver from operating a tank vehicle that contains cargo; and (c) Any restriction as established by rule of the department. (7) The holder of a CLP is not authorized to operate a commercial motor vehicle transporting hazardous materials. (8) A CLP may not be issued for a period to exceed 180 days. The department may renew the CLP for one additional 180-day period without requiring the CLP holder to retake the general and endorsement knowledge examinations. (9) The department must transmit the fees collected for CLPs to the state treasurer for deposit in the highway safety fund unless prior to July 1, 2023, the actions described in (a) or (b) of this subsection occur, in which case the portion of the revenue that is the result of the fee increased in section 206, chapter 44, Laws of 2015 3rd sp. sess. must be distributed to the connecting Washington account created under RCW 46.68.395 . (a) Any state agency files a notice of rule making under chapter 34.05 RCW, absent explicit legislative authorization enacted subsequent to July 1, 2015, for a rule regarding a fuel standard based upon or defined by the carbon intensity of fuel, including a low carbon fuel standard or clean fuel standard. (b) Any state agency otherwise enacts, adopts, orders, or in any way implements a fuel standard based upon or defined by the carbon intensity of fuel, including a low carbon fuel standard or clean fuel standard, without explicit legislative authorization enacted subsequent to July 1, 2015. (c) Nothing in this subsection acknowledges, establishes, or creates legal authority for the department of ecology or any other state agency to enact, adopt, order, or in any way implement a fuel standard based upon or defined by the carbon intensity of fuel, including a low carbon fuel standard or clean fuel standard. (1) The department may issue a CLP to an applicant who is at least 18 years of age and holds a valid Washington state driver's license and who has: (a) Submitted an application on a form or in a format provided by the department; (b) Passed the general knowledge examination required for issuance of a CDL under RCW 46.25.060 for the commercial motor vehicle classification in which the applicant operates or expects to operate; (c) Paid the appropriate examination fee or fees and an application fee of $10 until June 30, 2016, and $40 beginning July 1, 2016; and (d) Not been prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle based on the department's query of the drug and alcohol clearinghouse as provided in 49 C.F.R. Sec. 383.73. (2) A CLP must be marked "commercial learner's permit" or "CLP," and must be, to the maximum extent practicable, tamperproof. Other than a photograph of the applicant, it must include, but not be limited to, the information required on a CDL under RCW 46.25.080 (1). (3) The holder of a CLP may drive a commercial motor vehicle on a highway only when in possession of a valid driver's license and accompanied by the holder of a valid CDL who has the proper CDL classification and endorsement or endorsements necessary to operate the commercial motor vehicle. The CDL holder must at all times be physically present in the front seat of the vehicle next to the CLP holder or, in the case of a passenger vehicle, directly behind or in the first row behind the driver and must have the CLP holder under observation and direct supervision. (4) A CLP may be classified in the same manner as a CDL under RCW 46.25.080 (2)(a). (5) CLPs may be issued with only P, S, or N endorsements as described in RCW 46.25.080 (2)(b). (a) The holder of a CLP with a P endorsement must have taken and passed the P endorsement knowledge examination. The holder of a CLP with a P endorsement is prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle carrying passengers other than authorized employees or representatives of the department and the federal motor carrier safety administration, examiners, other trainees, and the CDL holder accompanying the CLP holder as required under subsection (2) of this section. The P endorsement must be class specific. (b) The holder of a CLP with an S endorsement must have taken and passed the S endorsement knowledge examination. The holder of a CLP with an S endorsement is prohibited from operating a school bus with passengers other than authorized employees or representatives of the department and the federal motor carrier safety administration, examiners, other trainees, and the CDL holder accompanying the CLP holder as required under subsection (2) of this section. (c) The holder of a CLP with an N endorsement must have taken and passed the N endorsement knowledge examination. The holder of a CLP with an N endorsement may only operate an empty tank vehicle and is prohibited from operating any tank vehicle that previously contained hazardous materials and has not been purged of any residue. (6) A CLP may be issued with appropriate restrictions as described in RCW 46.25.080 (2)(c). In addition, a CLP may be issued with the following restrictions: (a) "P" restricts the driver from operating a bus with passengers; (b) "X" restricts the driver from operating a tank vehicle that contains cargo; and (c) Any restriction as established by rule of the department. (7) The holder of a CLP is not authorized to operate a commercial motor vehicle transporting hazardous materials. (8) A CLP may not be issued for a period to exceed 180 days. The department may renew the CLP for one additional 180-day period without requiring the CLP holder to retake the general and endorsement knowledge examinations. (9) The department must transmit the fees collected for CLPs to the state treasurer for deposit in the highway safety fund unless prior to July 1, 2023, the actions described in (a) or (b) of this subsection occur, in which case the portion of the revenue that is the result of the fee increased in section 206, chapter 44, Laws of 2015 3rd sp. sess. must be distributed to the connecting Washington account created under RCW 46.68.395 . (a) Any state agency files a notice of rule making under chapter 34.05 RCW, absent explicit legislative authorization enacted subsequent to July 1, 2015, for a rule regarding a fuel standard based upon or defined by the carbon intensity of fuel, including a low carbon fuel standard or clean fuel standard. (b) Any state agency otherwise enacts, adopts, orders, or in any way implements a fuel standard based upon or defined by the carbon intensity of fuel, including a low carbon fuel standard or clean fuel standard, without explicit legislative authorization enacted subsequent to July 1, 2015. (c) Nothing in this subsection acknowledges, establishes, or creates legal authority for the department of ecology or any other state agency to enact, adopt, order, or in any way implement a fuel standard based upon or defined by the carbon intensity of fuel, including a low carbon fuel standard or clean fuel standard.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.25&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026