Institute for Justice

LTW Occupation

School Bus Driver

License to Work: A National Study of Burdens from Occupational Licensing

Highlights

License required in 51 states
25th most burdensome licensing requirements
6th most heavily regulated occupation

(Last updated April 24, 2012)

Definition

School bus drivers transport students or special clients, such as the elderly or persons with disabilities. Drivers ensure adherence to safety rules and may assist passengers in boarding or exiting.

Summary

All 50 states and the District of Columbia require a license for school bus drivers. Every state requires at least six exams; Rhode Island
requires seven, and West Virginia and Arizona require eight. Every state imposes fees ranging from nine dollars (Montana) to $239 (Oregon) and minimum age requirements of 18 or 21. West Virginia also requires that applicants complete the 12th grade. Twenty states require that applicants have previous driving experience in the form of possessing a driver's license for anywhere from six months (North Carolina) to five years (Florida and Montana). Of those 20 states, 15 also require a short course or other form of training. Twenty-two states require only a short course or behind-the-wheel training ranging from one to 10 days. Eight states and D.C. have no experience or training requirement. These requirements rank as the 25th most burdensome among occupations studied. Because school bus drivers are licensed everywhere, the occupation ranks as the sixth most widely and onerously licensed.

(Last updated May 1, 2012)

State Licensing Requirements

Burden Rank	State	Fees	Education/Experience (Days)	Exams	Minimum Grade	Minimum Age
1	Florida	62	1,830	6	0	18
2	Montana	9	1,825	6	0	18
3	West Virginia	146	1,105	8	12	21
4	Rhode Island	114	1,097	7	0	21
5	Alaska	229	1,097	6	0	21
6	New Jersey	171	1,095	6	0	21
7	Massachusetts	175	1,099	6	0	18
8	Ohio	205	735	6	0	18
9	Georgia	80	734	6	0	18
10	New Hampshire	80	732	6	0	18
11	Arizona	70	370	8	0	18
12	Washington	170	365	6	0	21
13	Hawaii	135	365	6	0	21
14	Oregon	239	367	6	0	18
15	Utah	114	365	6	0	21
16	Maine	76	365	6	0	21
17	Kansas	49	367	6	0	21
18	Idaho	148	367	6	0	18
19	Delaware	40	368	6	0	18
20	North Carolina	150	184	6	0	18
21	Nevada	178	9	6	0	21
22	Indiana	146	9	6	0	21
23	Washington, D.C.	156	0	6	0	21
24	Colorado	149	0	6	0	21
25	Louisiana	126	9	6	0	21
26	Kentucky	110	4	6	0	21
27	Connecticut	96	2	6	0	21
28	Maryland	90	2	6	0	21
29	Alabama	69	2	6	0	21
30	California	59	4	6	0	21
31	Tennessee	59	0	6	0	21
32	New York	50	1	6	0	21
33	North Dakota	41	0	6	0	21
34	Illinois	36	0	6	0	21
35	Vermont	132	0	6	0	18
36	Wisconsin	129	0	6	0	18
37	South Dakota	125	1	6	0	18
38	Wyoming	85	0	6	0	18
39	Texas	76	3	6	0	18
40	Michigan	70	3	6	0	18
41	Mississippi	74	1	6	0	18
42	Arkansas	62	4	6	0	18
43	Virginia	35	10	6	0	18
44	Oklahoma	47	4	6	0	18
45	Pennsylvania	42	3	6	0	18
46	South Carolina	34	5	6	0	18
47	Iowa	41	2	6	0	18
48	New Mexico	33	5	6	0	18
49	Nebraska	34	2	6	0	18
50	Minnesota	37	0	6	0	18
51	Missouri	30	1	6	0	18

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