School Bus Driver / North Dakota
2026 data North Dakota board official source

North Dakota 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.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Transports students to and from school safely.

What the North Dakota data shows for School Bus Drivers

Becoming a licensed school bus driver in North Dakota means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 49 training hours, a passing score on CDL with School Bus and Passenger Endorsements, plus a background history check once the applicant turns 21. North Dakota regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "School Bus Driver Training".

Upfront cost is $34, with renewal running $29 on a 4-year cycle. Continuing education is not a listed requirement for this profession in North Dakota, so the annualized maintenance burden is lower than in states that mandate ongoing hours.

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

Licensing Ease Score

A
Licensing Ease Score
87/100
School Bus Driver · North Dakota

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
49 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee A+
$34
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden A+
$7/yr
$29 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 North Dakota

Education / Training Hours
School Bus Driver Training
49 hours
Exam Requirement
CDL with School Bus and Passenger Endorsements
Required
Initial License Fee
$34
Renewal Fee
$29
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 North Dakota licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with North Dakota licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for School Bus Driver in North Dakota? ▼
North Dakota's requirements cover 49 hours of education or training, the CDL with School Bus and Passenger Endorsements exam, and an initial fee of $34. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a School Bus Driver in North Dakota? ▼
Certification as a school bus driver in North Dakota means clearing the state's checklist: 49 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The North Dakota licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my School Bus Driver license to North Dakota from another state? ▼
Reciprocity for school bus drivers nationally works like this: Federal CDL recognized nationwide. Beyond that baseline, interstate compacts exist for many professions and may smooth a transfer into North Dakota. Verify the specifics with the North Dakota licensing board.
Does North Dakota require a background check for School Bus Driver licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the school bus driver licensing process in North Dakota. 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 North Dakota, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a school bus driver-wide, 50-state comparison.

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

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