All school bus drivers in Pennsylvania must be certified and hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).  To become certified as a school bus driver, an individual must be at least 21 years of age, possess a valid driver’s license, pass a physical examination, attend at least fourteen (14) hours of classroom instructions, receive a minimum of six (6) hours of behind-the-wheel training, and pass a series of school bus driver’s tests administered by the Pennsylvania State Police.

To maintain certification, a bus driver must pass an annual physical examination every four (4) years, attend seven (7) hours of classroom instruction, receive three (3) hours of behind-the-wheel refresher training and retake a school bus driver’s test.  Bus drivers are required to submit background checks that are completed on school staff, plus a background check on their driving record.