School Bus Driver Career Assessment
Driving students safely to and from school
Welcome
School bus drivers carry children to school, home again, and to games and field trips. In North Dakota that often means long rural routes on gravel roads in hard weather.
You will explore what this job is really like and whether it fits you.
Heads up: this job is not on North Dakota’s official In-Demand Occupations list, even though districts across the state need drivers. That can matter for some kinds of training funding — but it matters less here than in most careers, because school districts and bus companies around North Dakota usually train you for the Class B CDL and pay for it themselves. Start by asking them.
This takes about 15 minutes.
What is a School Bus Driver?
A school bus driver drives a set route, picks up and drops off students, watches their behavior, and keeps the bus safe and clean. Most school buses need a Class B commercial driver license (CDL) with a School Bus (S) endorsement and a Passenger (P) endorsement.
The Reality: The hours are split. You drive early in the morning, then again in the afternoon, with a gap in the middle. Many drivers work part time. You also need a DOT medical card, and school districts check your driving record and your background.
Your Responsibilities:
- Inspect the bus before and after every run
- Drive a set route on time and safely
- Load and unload students at stops
- Watch and manage student behavior on the bus
- Use the stop arm and flashing lights correctly
- Drive activity and field trips
- Handle emergencies, including evacuations
- Report problems and keep the bus clean
Parents trust you with their children twice a day, every school day.
A Day in the Life
5:45 AM — Arrive at the bus barn. Start the bus and let it warm up.
6:00 AM — Do the pre-trip inspection: brakes, lights, stop arm, mirrors, tires.
6:30 AM — Start the rural route. Some driveways are two miles apart.
8:00 AM — Drop students at school. Sweep the bus. Fuel up.
8:30 AM — Off until afternoon. Some drivers work another job in this gap.
2:45 PM — Pre-trip again and start the afternoon route.
4:30 PM — Last student home. Post-trip inspection. Check every seat.
5:00 PM — Park, log any problems, and head home.
Short, focused shifts with a long break in the middle and real responsibility for kids.
Training in North Dakota
School districts usually train you, and many will pay for your CDL. This is one of the few jobs where an employer commonly pays for your license. Districts are short on drivers. Since February 7, 2022, first-time School Bus (S) and Passenger (P) endorsement applicants must complete federal Entry-Level Driver Training from a provider on the Training Provider Registry.
Training Pathways:
- District-paid training: Many North Dakota school districts and bus contractors will pay for your CDL training and testing if you agree to drive for them. Call the transportation director at your local district and ask.
- College or approved CDL school (about 1 week for Class B): A short Class B course, then add the S and P endorsements.
- Non-CDL school vehicle route: Vans and small buses seating fewer than 16 passengers do not need a CDL, but North Dakota still requires safety training for those drivers.
Where to Train in North Dakota:
- Your local school district or bus contractor — most will train you and pay the costs. Start with the district transportation director
- Williston State College / TrainND Northwest (Williston) — Class B CDL, one week / 60 hours, meets FMCSA ELDT rules — willistonstate.edu
- Bismarck State College (Bismarck) — Commercial Driving (CDL), FMCSA-certified training provider and state road test site — bismarckstate.edu
- North Dakota State College of Science / TrainND Southeast (Fargo), United Tribes Technical College (Bismarck), Turtle Mountain Community College (Belcourt), Cankdeska Cikana Community College (Fort Totten), 160 Driving Academy (Fargo), All States Driving Academy (Grand Forks), Commercial Education and Safety LLC (West Fargo) — all on the state-approved list at dot.nd.gov
- North Dakota Safety Council (Bismarck) — the required school bus driver workshops, in person, online, or by distance learning — ndsc.org/school-bus
Before You Start: You must be 21 years old in most cases. A school board can allow someone younger if it decides that person can do the job safely. You need a valid driver license, a good driving record, a DOT medical certificate, and you must pass the district's drug and alcohol testing.
Tip: Start with financial aid, scholarships, and any help an employer offers — that is where the money starts. After that, ask a career counselor or Job Service North Dakota whether WIOA or other programs can help with what is left over, like training, tools, work boots, or exam fees. What can be paid for depends on the program and on your own situation, so ask before you sign up rather than after. Registered apprenticeships let you earn a paycheck while you learn — see jobsnd.com/job-seeker/apprenticeships for ND programs.
Certification & Licensing
Class B CDL with S and P endorsements, a DOT medical card, and district background screening. The license comes from the North Dakota Department of Transportation. The medical rules are federal (FMCSA, 49 CFR 391.41). The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction sets the school bus driver rules in its School Bus Driver Guide.
What You Must Get:
- Class B CDL (or Class A) — required for buses built for 16 or more passengers
- School Bus (S) endorsement — written test plus a road test in a real school bus with flashing red lights
- Passenger (P) endorsement — required along with S
- Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) — required for a first-time S or P endorsement since February 7, 2022 (fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license/entry-level-driver-training-eldt)
- Physical exam and DOT medical card — North Dakota requires the physical before you sign a contract, and again at least every two years. The state guide says a driver must be in good physical and mental health and have normal use of both hands, both feet, both eyes, and both ears
- Vision: at least 20/40 in each eye with or without glasses, at least 70 degrees of side vision in each eye, and you must be able to tell traffic signal colors apart (49 CFR 391.41)
- Hearing: forced whisper at 5 feet in your better ear, or pass a hearing test, with or without hearing aids (49 CFR 391.41)
- Epilepsy or seizures: disqualifying under 49 CFR 391.41 unless you get a federal exemption, which is narrow
- Diabetes treated with insulin: possible with form MCSA-5870 completed by your treating doctor (fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/medical/insulin-treated-diabetes-mellitus-assessment-form-mcsa-5870)
- Driving record and background check — districts pull your driving record and run a criminal history check through the North Dakota Attorney General (attorneygeneral.nd.gov). Drunk or drugged driving, leaving the scene of a crash, and using a vehicle in a felony are disqualifying offenses for any CDL holder. Offenses against children, violent felonies, and drug felonies will normally end a school bus hire even when they do not touch your CDL. Rules vary by district, so ask before you spend money
- Federal Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse — your record is checked before hire and every year after
- Annual training: North Dakota requires a 3-hour training workshop every year, plus the DDC-4 defensive driving course within one year of hire and every 5 years after (ndsc.org/school-bus)
The Exams: Written knowledge tests for the CDL and for the S and P endorsements, then a road test given in a real school bus.
Cost: Often nothing to you, because many districts pay. If you pay yourself, a Class B course in North Dakota runs roughly $2,000 to $4,000, plus state test fees and about $100 to $150 for the physical. Call and ask for current prices.
Keeping It Current: Renew the CDL on the state schedule and the medical card at least every two years. Do the 3-hour workshop every year and the DDC-4 course every 5 years.
Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota School Bus Driver Pay (May 2025):
- Starting out (bottom 10–25%): $21.05–$22.52/hour ($43,780–$46,840/year)
- Middle (median — half earn more, half earn less): $24.42/hour ($50,790/year)
- Experienced (top 25–10%): $30.10–$39.05/hour ($62,610–$81,220/year)
What that means: North Dakota pays school bus drivers well above the national middle, because districts are short on drivers. But the annual figures above assume a lot of hours. Most bus routes are part time and follow the school year, so your real yearly pay depends on how many hours and how many extra activity trips you get. Ask the district what a normal week looks like.
Jobs in North Dakota: About 1,480 people do this work in ND today. By 2034, that should be about 1,570 (about 6% growth). Expect about 250 job openings every year in ND from growth and people retiring or changing jobs. Across the U.S., the change is about 0% change — little or no change.
Outlook: Good, and better than the national picture. About 250 openings a year in North Dakota, and many districts are actively short of drivers right now. One thing to know: school bus driver is not on North Dakota’s official In-Demand Occupations list. The need is still real — districts across the state are short of drivers — but it is not on the state list, so some training money tied to that list may not cover it. In practice that matters less here than in most careers, because districts and bus contractors commonly pay for the Class B training themselves. Ask the district transportation director first.
Who Hires in ND: Public school districts across North Dakota, private bus contractors, tribal schools, and Head Start and special programs.
Work Setting: Inside a school bus, on paved and gravel roads, in cold, snow, wind, and dark winter mornings. Rural routes in North Dakota can be long, with far-apart stops.
Physical Demands: Moderate. You sit and drive, but you also climb steps many times a day, do walk-around inspections in the cold, help students board, and sometimes install or check wheelchair lifts and belts.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota, May 2025 (SOC 53-3051); North Dakota and U.S. long-term employment projections 2024–2034, via O*NET OnLine. Numbers are rounded.
Where This Leads
Path 1: Regular Route Driver — A set morning and afternoon route.
Path 2: Activity and Trip Driver — Extra pay for games and field trips.
Path 3: Special Needs Bus Driver — Work with lifts, harnesses, and aides.
Path 4: Lead Driver or Trainer — Train and check new drivers.
Path 5: Transportation Director — Run the district bus program.
Path 6: Other CDL Work — Use the same license for transit, delivery, or truck driving.
The Real Talk
What's Great:
- Districts often pay for your CDL
- Short training
- You are off nights, weekends, holidays, and summers
- Steady work and real community value
- The split shift leaves room for another job
- ND pay is well above the national middle
What's Hard:
- Split shift with early mornings
- Often part time, not full time hours
- Managing student behavior while driving
- Winter roads in the dark
- Strict medical, driving record, and background screening
- You are responsible for children, which is heavy
Be Honest: Can you pass a DOT physical and a background check? Are you patient with children who are loud or difficult? Are you OK with a split shift and part-time hours?