HazMat Endorsement Renewal
The hazmat endorsement is the only one with an expiry date. Every 5 years you go through most of the original process again — and unlike the first time, almost nobody warns you it is coming.
What renewal actually involves
- The written knowledge test, again. Most states treat renewal as a fresh application and make you retake it. A few waive it for continuous holders with a clean record, but that is the exception — assume you are testing.
- A new TSA security threat assessment. Fingerprints and a federal background check, every cycle. Currently $85.25, or $41.00 if you hold a valid TWIC.
- State licensing paperwork and fees, which vary.
Start the background check early
The knowledge test is the part you control; the background check is not. Processing takes weeks and the endorsement lapses on its date whether or not TSA has finished. A lapsed hazmat endorsement means you cannot legally haul placarded loads, so start well before expiry rather than in the final month.
TWIC is not the same thing
Fingerprints and a federal background check. A TWIC does not grant the assessment and the assessment does not grant a TWIC — they are separate credentials that share a discount.
Practise the test
The renewal test is the same 30-question hazmat exam at 80% — the same material you passed the first time, which is exactly why people underestimate it after five years of not thinking about placard tables.
Take the free HazMat practice test
More CDL guides
See every CDL knowledge test and guide →
Frequently asked questions
How often do I need to renew my hazmat endorsement?
Every 5 years. Both the knowledge test and the TSA security threat assessment are part of each renewal cycle in most states.
Do I have to retake the hazmat written test to renew?
In most states, yes. Renewal is treated as a new application. A small number of states waive it for drivers who have held the endorsement continuously with a clean record.
How much does the TSA hazmat background check cost?
$85.25, reduced to $41.00 if you already hold a valid TWIC. It is charged every renewal cycle, not once.
Do I need ELDT again when I renew?
No. Entry-level driver training applies to a first-time hazmat endorsement, not to renewals.
