How to become a bus driver

1. 1Meet the basic requirements

   Time: Before you applySources 1, 4

   You need a regular driver's license, a clean driving record, and usually a high school diploma or equivalent. Federal rules require drivers who cross state lines to be at least 21 and able to read and speak English well enough to talk with the public and read road signs. Many states allow 18-year-olds to drive within the state. Most employers also run a background check before hiring.

2. 2Pass the DOT medical exam

   Time: One appointmentCost: Varies by providerSources 5, 1

   Commercial drivers must be examined by a medical examiner and certified as physically qualified, including vision and hearing standards. You must be re-examined and recertified at least every 24 months, and BLS notes the federal exam covers physical, hearing and vision standards. Your state uses this certificate when it issues your learner's permit and CDL.

3. 3Get a commercial learner's permit (CLP)

   Time: 1 day for tests; then at least 14 daysCost: State feesSources 3, 6, 7

   At your state's licensing agency, pass the CDL general knowledge test plus the passenger endorsement knowledge test, and the school bus test if you want an S endorsement. The P knowledge test covers loading passengers, emergency exits, unruly riders and railroad crossings. You must be 18 or older for a CLP, and a CDL holder must supervise you while you practice. You cannot take the skills test until 14 days after the CLP is issued.

4. 4Complete entry-level driver training

   Time: A few weeksCost: Often employer-paidSources 2, 13, 14, 1

   Since February 7, 2022, anyone getting a first Class A or B CDL, or a first P or S endorsement, must complete entry-level driver training from a provider listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry. Many transit agencies and school districts are registered providers and train new hires; community colleges and private schools also offer it. Training covers theory plus behind-the-wheel practice on a range and public roads; FMCSA sets no minimum hours, but every curriculum topic must be covered.

5. 5Pass the CDL skills test

   Time: 1 dayCost: State feesSources 6, 7, 8

   The skills test has a pre-trip vehicle inspection, basic control maneuvers and an on-road drive, taken in a bus that matches the class you will drive. Buses with a gross weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more need Class B. For a P endorsement you test in a passenger vehicle; for S you test in a school bus of the same class. Pass and the state issues your CDL with the endorsements.

6. 6Finish employer training and start driving

   Time: Several weeksCost: Paid training at most agenciesSources 1, 10

   Before you drive alone, employers add classroom lessons on their rules, fares and routes, then supervised runs with an experienced operator. You will take a pre-employment drug test and enter random drug and alcohol testing. New transit operators often start on part-time or extra-board shifts, covering open runs, until seniority gets them a regular route.

Programs, tuition and graduates’ earnings

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15). Scorecard groups programs by 4-digit field, so a row can include related programs. Tuition is the median published undergraduate tuition and fees of the colleges offering the program (shown only for undergraduate credentials); debt is the median of programs’ median federal loan debt at completion; earnings are the national median for the field and credential four years after completion.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

Defensive driving

A loaded bus needs a long distance to stop, and drivers must anticipate cars cutting in, cyclists and pedestrians stepping off curbs.

Staying calm with the public

Fare disputes, intoxicated riders and arguments between passengers are part of the job, and calm handling keeps them from escalating.

Time management

Transit drivers are measured on keeping to the timetable while still boarding every rider safely.

Attention to detail

Pre-trip inspections and railroad crossing procedures are required by law, and missing a step can cause a crash or an out-of-service order.

Patience with children

School bus drivers must keep order among dozens of students while their eyes stay on the road.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: active listening, critical thinking, speaking, monitoring, reading comprehension.

Training cost

$0–$4.5K

Before financial aid

Time

1-3 months

Typical path

Median pay

$59,050

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

Under 1 year

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

Low: $0 when a transit agency, school district or bus company trains you as a new hire, which BLS notes is common. High: one year at the College Scorecard median public in-state tuition for ground transportation certificate programs, $4,533; most CDL courses are shorter. Not included: state permit, test and license fees, and the DOT medical exam, which vary by state and provider.

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

• Truck driver$58,640 median

  Bus drivers already hold a CDL; moving to tractor-trailers requires upgrading to Class A, which means more entry-level training and a new skills test.

• Railroad conductor$78,000 median

  Railroads train new conductors on the job, and a conductor must be certified by the railroad under federal rules. A bus driver's safety record and experience keeping to a schedule carry over well when applying.

• Dispatcher, supervisor or trainer$105,770 median

  Senior drivers can move into road supervisor, dispatcher or instructor roles, and later into transit operations management.