What endorsement does a school bus driver need?

School bus drivers need both the P (Passenger) and S (School Bus) endorsements. The P endorsement covers passenger transport generally; the S endorsement adds school-bus-specific knowledge (danger zones, loading/unloading procedures, railroad crossings, evacuations, student management, anti-bullying). The S endorsement requires: passing the school bus written knowledge test; passing a road skills test in a representative school bus; passing a background check (most states); meeting state-specific physical and character requirements that may exceed standard CDL requirements. Some states require additional training hours, fingerprinting, and ongoing background monitoring. Background checks are renewed periodically.