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License Eligibility / Requirements
Before you can become a School Bus Driver you must be at least 18 years of age with at least six months driving experience as a licensed operator of a motor vehicle. To become a licensed operator of a motor vehicle in North Carolina
you will need to obtain a North Carolina Driver License.
In order to avoid inconveniences make sure you have all necessary documents before
making your visit to the Driver License Office.
In order to apply for the first time issuance of a North Carolina Learner Permit or
Driver License you will need to gather documents from the following categories:
1. Proof of Residency:
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You must be a resident of North Carolina. Proof of residency includes providing your name and current address. You will need one document from this category. For a list of documents that may be used to provide proof of residency visit the Driver's Handbook: Chapter 1 - Requirements.
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2. Proof of Age & Identity:
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Before you can become a School Bus Driver you must be at least 18 years of age with at least six months driving experience as a licensed operator of a motor vehicle. Proof of age & identity is required.
TWO forms of documentation listed below with at least one form providing your date of birth:
You may not use two documents from the same section. For instance, using a report card and school transcript would not qualify as two forms of identification because they both come from the "School Records" section.
The list of acceptable documents that may be used to provide proof of age & identity visit the Driver's Handbook: Chapter 1 - Requirements.
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3. Social Security Card:
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All clients making application for an original or renewal CDL must provide an original Social Security card. If you are not eligible for a Social Security card, you must provide documentation issued by the United States Government indicating legal presence.
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4. Proof of Liability Insurance:
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Proof of liability insurance includes providing insurance documents such as:
- DMV form DL-123;
- or an original liability insurance policy binder;
- or certificate of insurance.
The liability insurance documents must show your name, the effective date of policy, the expiration date of the policy, and the date the policy was issued.
If you do not provide proof of liability insurance, you may still apply for a license, but a restriction will be placed on your driver license. This restriction limits you to only driving "fleet vehicles" and costs $10.00 for a duplicate when you are ready to remove the restriction from your license. For further explanation of the liability insurance requirement, please visit the Drivers Handbook Chapter 1 -- Requirements.
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5. Proof of Clear Driving Record:
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All clients making application for an original or renewal CDL must provide proof they have a clear driving record for both personal and commercial vehicles.
- At the time of application, you must certify that your privilege to drive any motor vehicle is not suspended, revoked, or disqualified anywhere and you currently hold no more than one driver license.
- In some cases, DMV will require additional proof of identification or proof of a "clear driving record" prior to issuing a CDL.
Whenever you obtain your CDL, you must surrender any and all driver licenses you hold. Commercial drivers
are restricted to one driver license (a single CDL). As a commercial driver, if you have more than one driver license
you are in violation of federal law and could be fined a minimum of $250 for the first offense and $500 or more for each
subsequent offense. A court may also fine you up to $5,000 or put you in jail.
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6. Medical and Physical Requirements:
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If questions arise about a school bus driver's physical
condition, the DMV may require the driver before or
after school bus certification to submit a completed medical
report provided by the DMV Driver License Section.
Every school bus operator must be strong enough to drive
the bus with ease. To drive a school bus, you should be able-bodied
and free of physical handicaps. You should not suffer
from chronic diseases such as heart trouble, seizure disorders,
high or low blood pressure, fainting or dizzy spells,
diabetes, or any other physical or mental disability that
could reduce driver control, and you must never use narcotics,
drugs or abuse alcoholic beverages.
To safely operate a school bus, you must be in good
physical condition. When you are very fatigued or have an
illness that requires narcotic drugs or sedation, the school
principal should assign a substitute driver.
By North Carolina law, every school bus driver must
have a valid health certificate. The N.C. Department of
Transportation (NCDOT), Division of Motor Vehicles
(DMV), and the N.C. Department of Human Resources
have adopted joint regulations concerning physical requirements
for school bus drivers based on the federal requirements
of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC).
An activity bus driver operating out-of-state must hold
a current NCDOT Medical Card certifying that he or she
has passed a physical examination, as required by the ICC.
i. Vision:
- Visual Acuity: at least 20/40 for each eye and both eyes together, with or without corrective lenses.
- Field of Vision: at least 70 degrees in the horizontal median in each eye.
- Depth Perception: demonstrated ability to distinguish the relative distance of objects from the bus.
- Color Vision: demonstrated ability to distinguish colors that pertain to driving and traffic control.
ii. Hearing:
To operate a school bus, you must have good hearing to distinguish the warning sounds made by vehicle horns,
screeching tires, emergency sirens, railroad crossing signals and train whistles. The ability to hear a whispered voice at
five feet is considered adequate. If you use a hearing aid, you should always bring along a spare battery.
iii. Reaction Time:
Your reaction time is the time you need to recognize a driving hazard, remove your foot from the accelerator and engage the brake pedal. Most drivers require a reaction time of about 3-4 seconds. The instructor will judge your reaction time during behind-the-wheel training.
iv. Illness:
You must have no physical or mental illness that interferes with your ability to control and operate a motor vehicle. You must
have no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of
consciousness or any loss of ability to control a motor vehicle. To operate a commercial motor vehicle, you must have no mental
nervous, organic, or functional diseases or psychiatric disorder likely to interfere with your ability to drive a motor vehicle safely.
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7. Legal Requirements:
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To meet legal requirements to drive a school bus, you must:
- Pass the written examination administered at the conclusion of school bus driver training by the DMV School
Bus & Traffic Safety Section;
- Have a good driving record;
- Satisfactorily complete behind-the-wheel training,including the three skills tests, in school buses, under the
instruction of the DMV School Bus & Traffic Safety Section;
- Be at least 18 years of age with at least six months driving experience as a licensed operator of a motor vehicle;
- Have a school bus driver certificate and a valid Commercial Driver License (CDL);
- Have approval from the principal, transportation director, superintendent, and local board of education.
For the complete list of driver requirements visit the School Bus Driver's Handbook.
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Did You Know?
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