North Carolina

School bus in-service

REQUIRED 1 hours per year (minimum to qualify for written-test exemption at recertification)

Citation: 19A N.C. Admin. Code 03G .0207

Administered by NCDMV's School Bus and Traffic Safety Section (training delivered with NCDPI/local school systems). Rule text: every driver must be re-certified when the CDL expires, passing four written tests (general knowledge, passenger transport, school bus, air brakes), a pre-trip inspection observation, a driving observation, and an eye screening; the written tests are waived if the driver has no more than 3 driving-record points and 'at least one hour of in-service training for each year since his last certification.' A CDL with P and S endorsements held by a certified school bus driver expires every 3 years (G.S. 20-7(f)), so recertification runs on a 3-year cycle. Many LEAs provide substantially more annual in-service (e.g., 8 hours) as local practice, but the 1 hr/yr figure is the statewide regulatory minimum.

Official source ›

CDL & endorsements

CDL renewal cycle: every 5 years.

No general CDL continuing-education requirement beyond renewal. Standard NC CDL expires in the 5th year after issuance; a CDL with school bus (S) endorsement held by a certified school bus driver expires in the 3rd year (G.S. 20-7(f)).

Hazmat: Standard federal TSA Security Threat Assessment (fingerprint-based, 5-year cycle) applies for the H endorsement; no state-specific shorter cycle found.

• School bus driver certificate (G.S. 20-218) required in addition to CDL; issued and renewed by NCDMV School Bus and Traffic Safety Section
• Activity bus drivers are covered by the school bus driver certificate program