School Bus Endorsement Help Center

A CDL School Bus Endorsement (S endorsement) is a certification that allows CDL holders to operate a school bus. It's added to a commercial driver’s license after completing specialized training and testing.

Driving a school bus requires a School Bus endorsement, which mandates additional specialized training. This includes understanding the special needs of transporting children, adhering to strict safety protocols, managing student behavior, conducting emergency evacuation drills, and compliance with specific state and federal regulations related to school transportation.

The CDL School Bus Endorsement and the CDL Passenger Endorsement have distinct differences:

Vehicles Covered: The CDL School Bus Endorsement (S) is specifically for drivers transporting pre-primary, primary, or secondary school students in a school bus15.The CDL Passenger Endorsement (P) refers to all other passenger vehicles carrying 16 or more people, including city buses, tour buses, and other passenger vehicles except school buses.

Licensing Requirement: The School Bus Endorsement (S) is required for drivers operating a school bus, while the Passenger Endorsement (P) is needed for driving other large passenger vehicles.

Testing and Training: To obtain the School Bus Endorsement, a specific written test based on school bus laws and a road (skills) test on a school bus are required5.The Passenger Endorsement covers all other passenger vehicles and requires a separate written test.

In summary, the School Bus Endorsement is tailored for drivers transporting students in a school bus, while the Passenger Endorsement applies to drivers of other large passenger vehicles. Each has its own specific testing and licensing requirements.

Any driver in the United States who wants to operate a school bus transporting students is required to have this endorsement. This applies to all states across the country.

The course covers effective communication techniques, conflict resolution strategies, understanding the developmental stages of children and teenagers, and creating a safe and respectful environment on the bus.

School bus drivers must be familiar with state and federal laws regarding student transportation, including child safety restraints, bus stopping and signaling requirements, and regulations concerning special needs students. They also need to understand their responsibilities in reporting incidents and maintaining discipline.

There is no time requirement for the course. Some individuals are able to finish the course in a couple of hours while others are able to finish the course in a few days. It is dependent on the amount of time you have to dedicate to the course to complete it. 

You need to pass the 20 question test at the end of the course with an 80% or better in order to successfully complete the course. You will have unlimited attempts at the post test. You are provided a lot of practice questions throughout each section to help prepare you for the post test.