Ky. Rev. Stat. § 281A.120 (2026)

(1) A commercial learner's permit may be issued to an individual twenty-one (21) years and older who: (a) Has complied with the criminal history background check required by KRS 281A.300; (b) Holds a valid Kentucky Class D operator's license; (c) Is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, or can provide to the cabinet documentation issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in the United States Department of Homeland Security, authorizing the person to be in the United States and to be employed while in the United States; and (d) Has passed the vision and knowledge tests required for a commercial driver's license of the class vehicle to be driven. Commercial learner's permits shall be class specific. (2) A commercial learner's permit may be issued to a resident eighteen (18) years of age who: (a) Has complied with the criminal history background check required by KRS 281A.300; (b) Holds a valid Kentucky Class D operator's license; (c) Is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, or can provide to the cabinet documentation issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in the United States Department of Homeland Security, authorizing the person to be in the United States and to be employed while in the United States; and (d) Has passed the vision and knowledge tests required for a commercial driver's license of the class vehicle to be driven. A commercial learner's permit issued under this subsection shall be valid only for the operation of a commercial motor vehicle in intrastate commerce that is not a school bus or a vehicle hauling hazardous material. The CLP shall be class specific and shall contain a "K" restriction noting that the commercial driver is limited to Kentucky intrastate commerce. (3) A commercial learner's permit shall not be issued to a resident for a period to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days. Only one (1) renewal or reissuance may be granted within a two (2) year period for the same class of vehicle. The holder of a commercial learner's permit may, unless otherwise disqualified, drive a commercial motor vehicle on the highways of Kentucky only when accompanied by the holder of a commercial driver's license valid for the type of vehicle driven and who occupies a seat beside the permit holder for the purpose of giving instruction in driving the commercial motor vehicle. (4) A commercial learner's permit shall contain the same elements and meet the same requirements as those for commercial driver's licenses set forth in KRS 281A.170. Effective: July 15, 2024 History: Amended 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 123, sec. 2, effective July 15, 2024. -- Amended 2023 Ky. Acts ch. 121, sec. 2, effective June 29, 2023. -- Amended 2017 Ky. Acts ch. 100, sec. 33, effective January 1, 2019. -- Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 204, sec. 4, effective April 5, 2002. -- Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 481, sec. 3, effective July 15, 1994. -- Created 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 455, sec. 12, effective July 1, 1991.