LICENSE INFORMATION
How to obtain a CDL with the proper endorsements to drive a school bus.
We are always interested in obtaining more bus drivers. There is always the question. "What do I have to do to be able to drive a school bus?" I am going to try to explain it in the following steps.
1. Contact the transportation department to obtain access to the online training portal for the online portion of our new driver training program. Step 1 and 2 can be completed at the same time.
2. Go to the State Revenue Office at 1140 South Rogers St. YOU MUST TAKE YOU BIRTH CERTIFICATE WITH YOU!!! Tell them that you want to obtain a "Class B CDL with Passenger Endorsement and School Bus Endorsement." You will have to pay a $50 application fee. They will give you a CDL Manual and a Test Packet. Ask them for a "Paid Receipt" and keep it with your packet for reimbursement. Your Test Packet is only valid for 1 year from the date of purchase.
3. Once you have completed the online training and have studied the CDL manual and are ready to take the test at Arkansas State Police (ASP) Headquarters, then you will need to go to the following LINK to schedule your written test.
4. Go to ASP Headquarters on your scheduled date and time to take the written part of the examination. YOU MUST TAKE YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE WITH YOU!
5. Once you pass all portions of the written examination, ASP will issue you a Commercial Learners Permit (CLP) Authorization form. Take that form to the Revenue Office and they will issue you a CLP. YOU MUST TAKE YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE WITH YOU!
6. Contact the Bus Shop to schedule training for the Pre-Trip, Basic Skills, and Road (Driving) Test portion of the License Requirement. We will prepare you for this and schedule you an appointment with the ASP Skills Examiner.
7. On your scheduled date for CDL skills examination, we will take you to the examination site. YOU MUST BRING YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE WITH YOU! Once you have passed the Pre-Trip, Basic Skills, and Road Test, the examiner will sign off and stamp your application.
8. Go to the Revenue Office to have your Drivers License changed to a CDL. YOU MUST TAKE YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE WITH YOU! Make sure when you get your new license that it is a Class B CDL and it has the P and S Endorsements on it. Also, make sure it does not have a Restriction K on it. If you are using your CDL for school bus driving only, then you will check Excepted Interstate (EI) on your CDL - 2 application.
7. Once you have completed the above requirements, we will schedule you a DOT Drug Test, DOT Physical, background check, and run a drivers license report. Once we get approval on these items, you will be ready to get "On the Road"!!!!
*REMEMBER---
YOU HAVE 1 YEAR TO COMPLETE ALL OF THE STEPS ABOVE!!! IF YOU FAIL TO DO SO, YOU WILL LOSE YOUR $50!!!
If you have any questions, please call me at 479-214-0874.
Thanks,
Jason Teague