School Bus Driver / Illinois
2026 data Illinois board official source

Illinois School Bus Driver License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Transports students to and from school safely.

What the Illinois data shows for School Bus Drivers

Becoming a licensed school bus driver in Illinois means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 114 training hours, a passing score on CDL with School Bus and Passenger Endorsements, plus a background history check once the applicant turns 21. Illinois regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "School Bus Driver Training".

Upfront cost is $139, with renewal running $94 on a 4-year cycle. Continuing education is not a listed requirement for this profession in Illinois, 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
73/100
School Bus Driver · Illinois

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
114 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$139
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden A-
$24/yr
$94 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 Illinois

Education / Training Hours
School Bus Driver Training
114 hours
Exam Requirement
CDL with School Bus and Passenger Endorsements
Required
Initial License Fee
$139
Renewal Fee
$94
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 Illinois licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Illinois licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for School Bus Driver in Illinois? ▼
In Illinois, the license path calls for 114 education/training hours, a passing score on CDL with School Bus and Passenger Endorsements, and a $139 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a School Bus Driver in Illinois? ▼
Certification as a school bus driver in Illinois means clearing the state's checklist: 114 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Illinois licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my School Bus Driver license to Illinois from another state? ▼
For school bus drivers, the reciprocity landscape looks like this: Federal CDL recognized nationwide. Many professions are also covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability between states. Contact the Illinois licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does Illinois require a background check for School Bus Driver licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for school bus driver licensing in Illinois. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.

Related Guides

What to do with this school bus driver license

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

  • See how Illinois's school bus driver requirements compare to every other state before relocating. School Bus Driver in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state school bus driver license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Illinois's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Illinois overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Illinois 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.