School Bus Driver / District of Columbia
2026 data District of Columbia board official source

District of Columbia School Bus Driver License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

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What the District of Columbia data shows for School Bus Drivers

To practice as a school bus driver in District of Columbia, the state licensing board requires 86 documented education or training hours, a passing score on CDL with School Bus and Passenger Endorsements. A criminal history background check is also part of the application. Applicants must be at least 21 years old. The regulation sits under District of Columbia's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "School Bus Driver Training".

Budget $94 to get started, plus $66 at each renewal on a 4-year cycle. Continuing education is not a listed requirement for this profession in District of Columbia, so the annualized maintenance burden is lower than in states that mandate ongoing hours.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: Federal CDL recognized nationwide.

Licensing Ease Score

B+
Licensing Ease Score
79/100
School Bus Driver · District of Columbia

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training B
86 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C
$94
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden A+
$17/yr
$66 every 4 years
Continuing Education A+
None required
No continuing-education mandate
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in District of Columbia

Education / Training Hours
School Bus Driver Training
86 hours
Exam Requirement
CDL with School Bus and Passenger Endorsements
Required
Initial License Fee
$94
Renewal Fee
$66
Renewal Cycle
Every 4 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
21 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for School Bus Driver All District of Columbia licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with District of Columbia licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for School Bus Driver in District of Columbia? ▼
District of Columbia's requirements cover 86 hours of education or training, the CDL with School Bus and Passenger Endorsements exam, and an initial fee of $94. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a School Bus Driver in District of Columbia? ▼
District of Columbia licenses school bus drivers who complete its requirements (86 education hours) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the District of Columbia licensing board.
Can I transfer my School Bus Driver license to District of Columbia from another state? ▼
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for school bus drivers: Federal CDL recognized nationwide. Many occupations are additionally covered by interstate licensing compacts that ease cross-state moves. Check with the District of Columbia licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does District of Columbia require a background check for School Bus Driver licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the school bus driver licensing process in District of Columbia. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.

Related Guides

What to do with this school bus driver license

School Bus Driver in District of Columbia, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a school bus driver-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the District of Columbia licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.