School Bus Driver / Montana
2026 data Montana board official source

Montana School Bus Driver License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Transports students to and from school safely.

What the Montana data shows for School Bus Drivers

Becoming a licensed school bus driver in Montana means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 101 training hours, a passing score on CDL with School Bus and Passenger Endorsements, plus a background history check once the applicant turns 21. Montana regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "School Bus Driver Training".

Upfront cost is $118, with renewal running $81 on a 4-year cycle. Montana doesn't require continuing education for this license, so upkeep costs stay confined to the renewal fee itself.

For school bus drivers, the reciprocity picture is: Federal CDL recognized nationwide.

Licensing Ease Score

B+
Licensing Ease Score
75/100
School Bus Driver · Montana

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
101 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee D
$118
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden A
$20/yr
$81 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 Montana

Education / Training Hours
School Bus Driver Training
101 hours
Exam Requirement
CDL with School Bus and Passenger Endorsements
Required
Initial License Fee
$118
Renewal Fee
$81
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 Montana licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Montana licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for School Bus Driver in Montana? ▼
Montana's requirements cover 101 hours of education or training, the CDL with School Bus and Passenger Endorsements exam, and an initial fee of $118. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a School Bus Driver in Montana? ▼
To become a licensed school bus driver in Montana, you must meet the state's requirements including 101 hours of education. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the Montana licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my School Bus Driver license to Montana 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 Montana licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Montana require a background check for School Bus Driver licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for school bus driver licensing in Montana. 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 Montana, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a school bus driver-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Montana'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 Montana's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Montana overview

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