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HOW TO GET A SCHOOL BUS DRIVING PERMIT AND LICENSE IN MA:

Thank you for wanting to become a School Bus Driver!  You’ll need a Class B permit with passenger and school bus endorsements to drive a school bus with over 14 passengers. To operate a restricted school bus (a yellow school bus with a maximum seating capacity of fourteen passengers), you need a Class C license and a restricted school bus driver certificate.  Now you need to get your permit.

This is a step-by-step process that will help you along the way.  After you read these instructions, if you have any questions, you may call your future employer or you can send an email to schoolbusmass@outlook.com.

In summary, to qualify you must:

  • Have three continuous years of driving.
  • Pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check.
  • Pass a Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check.
  • Pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical exam.
  • Have a clean driving record.
  • Pass the required RMV written exams.
  • Complete the required training.
  • Pass a road test.

Step 1:  Please click this link to open to the Massachusetts CDL manual.  You will need to study sections 1 through 4 (and 5 if your company wants you to have the air brake endorsement) and 10 through 13. 

Step 2:  You have studied hard and are ready to take the written exam.

You are required to make a reservation online.

a. Please click here to begin scheduling your appointment online.

b.  Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “LICENSING ID/APPOINTMENT”.

c.  Choose “APPLY FOR A LEARNER’S PERMIT”.

d. Click on a LOCATION CONVENIENT FOR YOU.

e.  Click on a TIME CONVENIENT FOR YOU.

f.  COMPLETE THE FORM WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION BY TYPING YOUR ANSWERS IN THE BOXES.

g.  If you want to receive text message alerts, please CLICK ON THE BOX “I would like to receive SMS text alerts. Standard text and messaging rates apply.”

h. Click on the box beside  “I am not a robot”

i. Click “NEXT” at the bottom right of the page.

j.  Look over your information; and, if it is correct, please click on “SUBMIT” at the bottom right of the page.

k.  IMMEDIATELY Check the email at the email address you added to the form.  Look for the email from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. Open that email and click on “Verify your email address”.  IF YOU MISS THIS STEP, click here to begin scheduling your appointment online over again.

If you are more than 15 minutes late for your appointment, you will need to reschedule your appointment.

  • The fee for the general knowledge test is $30.
  • You will need to take the CDL permit general knowlege test as well as the School Bus and Passenger Endorsement tests.  You will also need the Air Brakes Endorsement Test, if your employer requires it.
  • Each endorsement test is an extra $10, if taken at the same time as the general knowledge test. If taken separately, each endorsement test is $30.

If you pass these exams, you will get a CLP with the “P” and “S” endorsements as well as air brakes, if you chose that.

Step 3:  You are ready to get your DOT Physcial.  Please click here to obtain the Medical form that your doctor needs to complete.  Contact your future employer to find out which doctor they recommend or go to your regular doctor, nurse practioner, or physicians ‘assistant.

Step 4: Visit the bus company you will work for and arrange with them to receive 60 hours of pre-service training (32 hours behind the wheel and 28 hours classroom) from a certified school bus instructor.

Step 5: After completing the training and the physical, click here to complete the online: Application for a School Bus Certificate. Future employers may choose to take care of submitting the application.

If you are over 70, the fee for the road test is $10 and the fee for the school bus driver certificate is $20.

Upon receiving your application, the RMV will run a background check to ensure that you do not have a criminal record and are not a sex offender. We will also look at your driving record and will check the results of your DOT physical. These background checks will take approximately two weeks.

If approved, an inspector will contact your bus company and set up an appointment for your road test.

Step 6:  Take the road test. If you pass, you will be given a temporary school bus driver certificate, which is valid for 60 days.  You may start driving for your employer immediately according to your certificate qualifications.

Step 7: Visit any full-service RMV Service Center with your permit and with your temporary school bus driver certificate as soon as possible to have your permanent CDL license issued.

  • The fee for the road test is $30 per road test.  (If you fail, you will pay another $30 to retake.)
  • The fee to upgrade your permit to a license is $20

You will receive your permanent school bus driver certificate in the mail within 60 days of passing the road test.  If you do not receive it, please contact send and email to  RMVCDL@dot.state.ma.us

You may find more information by contacting your future employer or at: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-school-bus-learners-permit