Arkansas

School bus in-service

REQUIRED 3 hours annual

Citation: Code of Ark. Rules, 6 CAR § 334-104 (DESE Rules Governing Maintenance and Operations of Arkansas Public School Buses)

The Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation (DPSAFT, under the Department of Education) certifies school bus drivers for one-year periods. Newly hired drivers get a minimum 24 hours of district-provided pre-service training before driving; every driver must then receive 3 hours of DPSAFT-provided in-service training annually, and certification is renewed upon completion of the annual in-service (plus physical examination and background check requirements).

Official source ›

CDL & endorsements

CDL renewal cycle: every 5 years.

No general CDL continuing education; Arkansas CDLs are issued by DFA Driver Services and are valid for 5 years (extended from 4 years, Ark. Code Ann. § 27-23-111).

Hazmat: Standard federal TSA security threat assessment cycle (5 years) applies; no Arkansas-specific add-on requirement was identified in this research.

• School bus driver physical examination requirements under the same DESE bus rules
• 24-hour pre-service training for newly hired school bus drivers, per bus type to be driven