Q&A for How to Get a School Bus Driver's License

Yes, but it is usually very basic. All school buses in the United States and Canada are required to have first aid kits, body fluid cleanup kits, and an emergency radio.

You can speak to a principal and ask him or her to report the driver. If you have the bus number, you can also contact the school district.

It varies from state to state, but you can check with your local DMV to find out your state's requirements.

No, you only have to retake the failed tests parts. Depending on your state, you can retake the test so many times before having to wait a year to retake all parts.

In some states, to add an endorsement you need to take both the written and skills tests, even if you have a CDL.

Any number of things like not passing a test or background check, a criminal record, etc. You can check your state's requirements online.

At that point, it would depend on the passenger max. of the vehicle you would be driving. If you're driving a vehicle over the maximum number of passengers, you will need those endorsements. Check with your local DMV to find out about obtaining them.

Yes, if you pass the physical performance portion as outlined by State Education Dept.

Your class A covers classes A,B and C, so you can drive class B commercial vehicles as well, but may need endorsements, depending on what they haul. Endorsements are earned through written knowledge tests.

In just about all states, the answer is no if it is within the last 10 years.

You will have to check with your local school department.

Most school districts require you to have a clean record.

Yes, because you need to have a valid certificate for the state. Every year the states have new training.

Nope. You can only have 1 CDL in the U.S. and you have to give lots of info to the government so they can make sure you don't have more than one.

Certain conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or arthritis will render you ineligible to become a commercial driver.

You need to just get the endorsements for P and S. You may want to check with your local DMV office first as results may vary based on the state that you are in.

You must take and pass a knowledge test called "Combination Vehicles", and take the Class A road test in a tractor-trailer.

There is no maximum age to be a school bus driver. However, you must be healthy enough to pass the DOT physical.

No. You only need a CDL if at least 16 people (including the drive) are riding the vehicle.

Yes, because a CDL is much harder to obtain a chauffeur's license. You'll need a Class A or Class B with Passenger and School Bus endorsements. You can get the Class C, but I personally think as an employer that it's garbage and you should skip that because you'll be easily stomped out by applicants with Class A or B licenses. Get Class B if you want to be competitive and actually get hired.

To get a CDL, you have to be at least 18 years old. However, you will not be hired as a school bus driver until you're at least 21 years old (in some school districts, the minimum age may be higher i.e. 22, 23, 24, or even as high as 25). The reason behind the 21-or-older requirement is due to insurance companies. They do not want employers hiring commercial drivers under the age of 21 or the employers will be overcharged via insurance rates or they will absolutely deny to insure you if you're under 21.

Unfortunately, yes. The only difference between a P and S endorsement is on the skills test everything is literally the same except on the road test, for S endorsement, you'll be asked to simulate picking up or dropping off the kids.

With a Class C, your chances of getting hired are very low if you're competing against applicants who can drive large buses (those with a Class A and B license). I suggest you upgrade to Class B because even school districts prefer Class B holders over Class C to drive small school buses.

You must be at least 21 years old for insurance purposes (they refuse to insure commercial drivers under 21). In some school districts, the minimum age may be higher than 21 though, so check with yours.

Miss what? The driver's test is divided into 3 parts: Inspecting the bus, parking the bus, and driving the bus (you must pass each part to advance to the next one or you'll fail the test and be asked to try again at another time. The order I given is how it's actually done from left to right).

Small school buses, yes. However, from my perspective, employers strongly prefer those who have a Class A or Class B license because they can legally drive large and heavy buses, even for small buses! So I recommend ditching Class C and getting Class B if you want to actually get hired.