Driver training rules in North Dakota

✓ Checked against official sources · 2026-10-18

Driver training rules in North Dakota for teen and adult driver's education, CDL schools, carriers that train their own drivers and school bus drivers, each with a link to the official source. Federal ELDT rules (49 CFR Part 380) apply in every state on top of these.

Driver education (teens)	Required for the restricted class D license (minors 15+): approved course with classroom and behind-the-wheel, or approved commercial school; class D school minimum 30 classroom + 6 BTW hours.source 1 · source 2
Supervised practice (teens)	Permit held 6 months (12 months if under 16) before a class D license under 18. Restricted license also needs 50 supervised hours in various conditions incl. night driving.source 1
New adult drivers	No course required. Statute ties driver ed only to the under-16 restricted license and the permit holding period only to applicants under 18.source 1
Who licenses driving schools	ND Department of Transportation (director, Driver License Division) licenses commercial driver training schools and instructors.source 3 · source 4
CDL training: state rules beyond federal ELDT	Licensed class A, B or C driving schools must give at least 120 hours combined classroom and behind-the-wheel (observation not counted).source 2
CDL schools: state license	Yes. A commercial driver training school needs an NDDOT director license (NDCC 39-25-03, NDAC 37-13).source 3
CDL schools: state hours or curriculum	Yes. Licensed Class A, B or C schools: at least 120 hours combined classroom and behind-the-wheel, observation not counted.source 2
CDL schools: instructor rules	Yes. NDDOT instructor license: FBI fingerprint criminal history check, and Class A/B/C instructor training of 40 classroom + 80 behind-the-wheel hours.source 3 · source 5
Carriers training their own drivers: license	Exempt when the employer trains solely its own employees without charge (NDCC 39-25-07).source 3
Carriers: hours or curriculum	No. The 120-hour minimum applies to licensed driving schools; chapter 39-25 does not apply to free employee-only programs. Federal ELDT only.source 3 · source 2
Carriers: instructor rules	No. The chapter-wide exclusion covers the instructor license too, for free employer programs for its own employees; federal 380.605 applies.source 3
New school bus drivers	No state pre-service hour count found. DPI requires the DD-4 defensive driving workshop within the first year of employment (2020 DPI School Bus Driver Guide).source 6
School bus refresher	Annual 3-hour training workshop run by the district or county, and the DD-4 defensive driving workshop every 5 years (2020 DPI guide). The district files its workshop plan with DPI by Aug. 15 (SFN 52088).source 6 · source 7

Driving manuals and handbooks

Official publications from North Dakota, checked 2026-10-19. Read them here or download them; the state's own copy is always linked.

Driving jobs in North Dakota

Rules change. Always confirm with the state agency before you rely on a rule. Something out of date? Email terry@eldt.courses.

Federal rules in every state

CDL entry-level driver training must come from a provider listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry, for a first Class A or B CDL, an upgrade to Class A or B, or a first P, S or H endorsement (49 CFR 380.609). See ELDT record keeping under 49 CFR 380.

Sources

1. https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t39c06.pdf
2. https://ndlegis.gov/api/acdata/pdf/37-13-05.pdf
3. https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t39c25.pdf
4. https://dot.nd.gov/forms/sfn13961.pdf
5. https://ndlegis.gov/api/acdata/pdf/37-13-04.pdf
6. https://www.nd.gov/dpi/sites/www/files/documents/SAO/Transportation/DPISchoolBusDriverGuide2020.pdf
7. https://www.nd.gov/dpi/sites/www/files/documents/SFN%20Forms/SFN52088.pdf

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