Hazardous materials are products that pose a risk to health, safety and property during transportation. Any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under 42 CFR Part 73 is considered a hazardous material. This include explosives, various types of compressed gases, solids, flammable and combustible liquid, select agents and toxins, and other materials.
You may see it as "HazMat" on road signs or "HM" in government regulations.
Because of the risks involved and the potential consequences these risks impose, the handling and transporting of hazardous materials is very heavily regulated by all levels of government and requires special licensure.
A hazardous materials endorsement (also called a “HazMat,” “HME” or “H” endorsement) is a designation that can be added to a commercial driver license (CDL) to show specialized safety training.
Regulations require that if a vehicle is transporting certain types or quantities of hazardous materials that display diamond-shaped, square-on-point placards, the driver is required to have a CDL with the hazmat endorsement.
Drivers adding the Hazardous Materials Endorsement (H) to their CDL for the first time are required to successfully complete
Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) prior to being eligible for knowledge testing.
CDL drivers must complete the following steps to receive a HazMat endorsement indicating they understand the requirements to safely transport hazardous materials:
At a DMV Customer Service Center
- Complete an application
- Wisconsin Driver License (DL) application MV3001
- Driver License Hazardous Materials Endorsement Application form MV3735
- Provide proof of citizenship or immigration status
Bring one of the following with you to a DMV Customer Service Center.
If you are a U. S. citizen:
- U.S. Passport
- Certificate of birth that bears an official seal and was issued by a state, county, municipal authority, or outlying possession of the United States
- Certificate of Birth Abroad issued by the U.S. Department of State (form FS-545 or DS1350)
- Certificate of Naturalization (form N-550 or N570)
- Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (form N560 or N561)
If you are a Lawful permanent resident:
- Permanent Resident Card, Alien Registration Receipt Card (form I-551)
- Temporary I-551 stamp in foreign passport
- Temporary I-551 stamp on form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, with photograph of the bearer
- Reentry Permit (form I-327)
- Pass the "H" knowledge test
- Study the Hazardous Materials portion of the Wisconsin Commercial Driver's Manual
- Knowledge tests are conducted on a walk-in basis at Wisconsin DMVs. No appointment is necessary.
- Pay the fee(s)
- Pay the appropriate driver licensing fees
- Payment options
- Cash, check/money order, credit/debit (convenience fee applies)
At a Fieldprint location
- Complete fingerprinting for a background check
Within 7 days of passing the “H” knowledge test, a driver must be fingerprinted at a Wisconsin-based Fieldprint location.
- HazMat fingerprint appointment information:
- Go to
Fieldprint's Wisconsin website to create an account
- After you create an account, you will be asked to enter a code. Use FPWIDMVHazmat, the code for Hazmat fingerprinting in Wisconsin. This code tells Fieldprint what type of fingerprinting is needed.
- Select appointment time and location.
- A fee is associated with the fingerprinting. Visit the
Fieldprint website for more information.
- Fieldprint will confirm your appointment time.
- Fieldprint is only a collection point and will not review background or customer information. All collected personal data is protected and secure.
- Fieldprint will submit your fingerprints to the FBI and Wisconsin DOJ for processing and the results will be reviewed by Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
- Individuals identified as posing a security threat may have the HME denied by TSA. The background check looks for
disqualifying crimes as well as
mental capacity that identify those most likely to endanger the nation's transportation network. The list is comparable to background reviews applied to millions of airport and airline employees.
- If TSA determines that a driver poses a security threat, they will notify the driver and will provide information to the driver on the appeal and waiver process. Additionally, TSA will notify DMV. This process could take up to 90 days.
- If it is determined a driver does not pose a security threat, DMV central office will mail a new CDL with an HME endorsement to the driver.
Federal information