School Bus Driver Requirements

The 1977 Indiana General Assembly enacted Public Law 123 mandating the training and certification of school bus drivers. In conjunction with the Indiana State School Bus Committee, the following policy statement is used by the Division of School Safety and Emergency Planning to implement the training and certification requirements of the statute.

Driver Licensing & Certification

Level 1 – District Hiring Process

Driving Record
- Driver Provided
  - Create an account with MyBMV.org and view your driving record
    - Do not order a printed copy; print what is on the following page
      - https://mybmv.bmv.in.gov/bmv/mybmv/default.aspx
- District Acquired
Background Check
Child Protection Index (CPI) Check
Initial Drug Test
- Clearinghouse Query
  - After January 1, 2023, the previous employer form is no longer required

Level 2

Request Certificate of Enrollment (blue card)
- Can be done any time before attending ELDT pre-service class!
Physical Performance Test
- Can be done any time before driving time; earlier is better

Level 3

DOT Physical
- State physical fitness certificate should be done at same time
CDL Permit (CLP) Knowledge tests
- General knowledge – Class B CDL
- Air brake – remove air brake restriction (recommended for all drivers)
- Passenger – P endorsement
- School Bus – S endorsement
CLP
- Have DOT physical with you when taking knowledge tests.

Level 4

Complete ELDT In-person ELDT Pre-Service Training
- IDOE enters class completion in DOE Online (yellow card certification process)
- IDOE enters ELDT theory completion in FMCSA website (CDL licensing)
- Three entries for each driver
  - Class B curriculum
  - Passenger curriculum
  - School Bus curriculum
- Notes
  - Driver can attend ELDT pre-service class at any time during Levels 1 – 3
  - If driver does not have blue card prior to attend ELDT pre-service class one will be created.
Complete Driving and Observation Hours
- 8 hours of driving, 4 hours of observation
- District enters hours in DOE Online (yellow card certification process)
- District enters total hours Behind – the – Wheel (BTW) completion in FMCSA website (CDL licensing)
  - Six entries for each driver
    - Range - Class B curriculum, Range - Passenger curriculum, Range – School Bus curriculum
    - Road - Class B curriculum, Road - Passenger curriculum, Road – School Bus curriculum)
- Notes
  - Driver must have CLP, blue card, and driver trainer with them when driving on the roadway.
  - Students cannot be on the bus during trainee driving time!

Level 5

Schedule Skills Test
- Notes
  - Theory and BTW must be entered by midnight of the second business of completion of each training.
  - We find that it takes 3 – 4 days before the training completions are viewable to the testing sites.

Level 6

Completion of Skills Test
- Testing site will load completion electronically
Acquire CDL
- Take stamped CLP to license branch
- You must wait at least 24 hours after passing skills test
- Print yellow card, if already not done

National Registry – Certified Medical Examiners

Google – NRCME FMCSA

School Bus Driver Certification

Maintaining Certification (yellow card)
- Annually
  - Complete Annual Safety Meeting
    - Online
    - Group View
  - Every Two Years
    - Renew Physicals
      - Done every two years maximum
        
        CDL Physical
        
        Maybe sooner, depending on medical issues
        
        Title 20 Physical Fitness Certificate
        
        Held locally
    - Renew Physical Performance Tests
      - Held locally
    - Every Four Years
      - Renew CDL License

School Bus Driver Certificates

Certificate of Enrollment
- Valid for 1 year
- Authority To Transport Passengers
- Must Be In Drivers Possession
- Driver Trainer IS A Passenger
Standard
- Expire December 31 Each Year
- Completion of Training Requirements
- Authority To Transport Passengers
- Must Be In Drivers Possession

State Physical Fitness Certificate

IC 20-27-8-4 School Bus Driver
- Physical Examination Certificate
  - Sec. 4.
    - An individual who is or intends to become a school bus driver must obtain a physical examination certificate stating that the individual possesses the physical characteristics required by section 1(a)(7) of this chapter. The certificate shall be made by an individual who is registered in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners after the certified medical examiner has conducted a physical examination of the school bus driver or prospective school bus driver. The school corporation shall determine how the certified medical examiner who is to conduct the physical examination is chosen and who must pay for the physical examination.

Comparison of Occupation & Licensing Medical Exam & Certificate

Occupation (school bus driver) medical
- Indiana General Assembly created in the 1920’s
- State required medical exam due to job
- Valid for 2 years
- Exam - Certified Medical Examiner
- Minimum 80% depth perception
- Field-of-view minimum of 150 degrees
- Driver must be free of communicable disease spread by airborne or droplet means
- IC 20-27-8-1 (7) A-E
- Not required to be in possession
Licensing (CDL) medical
- CDL came into existence in 1992
- Federally required license to drive a vehicle with a capacity > 15
- Valid for 2 years (could be less depending)
- Exam - Certified Medical Examiner
- No depth perception requirement
- Field-of-view minimum of 140 degrees
- No freedom from communicable disease requirement
- FMCSA regulation
- Not required to be in possession

Physical Performance Test Standards - Every Two Years

IC 20-27-3-4 Powers
- Bus Driver Performance Standards
- Certificate of Inspection
  - Sec. 4.
    - (a) The committee has the following powers:
    - (b) The committee shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to set performance standards and measurements for determining the physical ability necessary for an individual to be a school bus driver.
Rule 8.
- School Bus Driver Physical Performance Standards & Measurements
  - 575 IAC 1-8-1
    - Exiting the bus
      - Authority
        
        IC 20-27-3-4
      - Affected
        
        IC 20-27-9
        
        Sec. 1.
        
        (a) Driver shall demonstrate the ability to exit the bus from a seat belted position in the driver's seat and exiting from the rearmost emergency door.
        
        (b) The measurement is pass/fail.
  - 575 IAC 1-8-2
    - Quick reaction time between accelerator and service brake
      - Authority
        
        IC 20-27-3-4
      - Affected
        
        IC 20-27-9
        
        Sec. 2.
        
        (a) Driver shall demonstrate quick reaction time between accelerator and service brake.
        
        (b) In a seat belted position, driver shall with the right foot, alternately depress the accelerator and service brake ten (10) times in ten (10) seconds or less.
  - 575 IAC 1-8-3
    - Climbing and descending bus service door steps
      - Authority
        
        IC 20-27-3-4
      - Affected
        
        IC 20-27-9
        
        Sec. 3.
        
        (a) Driver shall demonstrate the ability to climb and descend the bus service door steps in a forward facing position two (2) times without stopping.
        
        (b) The measurement is pass/fail.
  - 575 IAC 1-8-4
    - Opening and closing bus service door
      - Authority
        
        IC 20-27-3-4
      - Affected
        
        IC 20-27-9
        
        Sec. 4.
        
        (a) Driver shall demonstrate the ability to open and close the bus service door two (2) times without stopping from a seat belted position.
        
        (b) The measurement is pass/fail.
  - 575 IAC 1-8-5
    - Operating hand controls or steering wheel
      - Authority
        
        IC 20-27-3-4
      - Affected
        
        IC 20-27-9
        
        Sec. 5.
        
        (a) Driver shall demonstrate the ability to operate one (1) hand control on each side of the steering wheel while the bus is in a safe forward motion.
        
        (b) The measurement is pass/fail.