School Bus Driver / Texas
2026 data Texas board official source

Texas School Bus Driver License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

What the state board actually requires: fees, renewal cycle, and requirements from official records.

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What the Texas data shows for School Bus Drivers

To practice as a school bus driver in Texas, the state licensing board requires 82 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 Texas's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "School Bus Driver Training".

The initial price tag is $89, and renewal costs $62 every 4 years. There's no continuing-education mandate tied to this profession in Texas, which keeps the long-run cost of staying licensed lighter than in CE-heavy states.

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

Licensing Ease Score

A-
Licensing Ease Score
80/100
School Bus Driver · Texas

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
82 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C+
$89
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden A+
$16/yr
$62 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 Texas

Education / Training Hours
School Bus Driver Training
82 hours
Exam Requirement
CDL with School Bus and Passenger Endorsements
Required
Initial License Fee
$89
Renewal Fee
$62
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 Texas licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Texas licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for School Bus Driver in Texas? ▼
Texas's requirements cover 82 hours of education or training, the CDL with School Bus and Passenger Endorsements exam, and an initial fee of $89. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a School Bus Driver in Texas? ▼
Texas licenses school bus drivers who complete its requirements (82 education hours) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Texas licensing board.
Can I transfer my School Bus Driver license to Texas 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 Texas licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Texas require a background check for School Bus Driver licensing? ▼
Yes, Texas requires a criminal background check as part of the school bus driver licensing process. Disqualifying offenses and review criteria are determined by the state licensing board.

Related Guides

What to do with this school bus driver license

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

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

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