School Bus License Process

To be considered for a bus driver position for Lafayette School Corporation, you need to submit an application online click here to be redirected to online application. Applications will be reviewed by the Director of Transportation. An interview will be conducted followed by a background check, pre-employment drug and alcohol test.

• You will take the written exams at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to get a permit/temporary license for a school bus. Requirements are: General Knowledge, Public Passenger, S Endorsement and Air Brakes. BMV will need to see the CDL physical before you complete the written exams. You will receive a temporary driver’s license for 180 days. Make sure you have a Class B Interstate license (not intrastate), with a P (passenger) and S (school bus) endorsement.
• A CDL Physical Examination and Physical Fitness Certificate are required. You can pick up both forms at the Transportation Office. The physical examination and physical fitness certificate will be completed at Indiana University Health – Occupational Medicine.
• Bring permit and CDL physical to the Transportation Office, and the Director of Transportation will pass your information along to one of the three driver trainers.
• Once the trainers feel confident that you are ready to take the test, we will contact the test site and set up a date and time for you to take the skills test. Lafayette School Corporation will pay the fee for you to take your state test one time; each additional time you have to test, you will be responsible for the $100 charge. Our trainer will accompany you when you go to be tested. This test is a Pass or Fail grade only.
• Upon completion and passing score of the skills test, the grader will update your license to the BMV. It is important that you make sure the correct endorsements have been put on your license before you leave the BMV.
• The Transportation Office will schedule you to take the three-day Safety School Course conducted by the Indiana State DOE/Safety Office. Once you successfully complete the Safety School, you will be issued a blue card. This blue card will allow you to drive a school bus with another licensed bus driver on the bus with you.
• The next step in the licensing process is for you to complete the observation/drive time on an actual school bus route with a licensed school bus driver. This form must be submitted to the State DOE/Safety Office. You observe on a bus route for four hours and drive a bus route for eight hours with another driver on the bus. When this is finished, the Transportation Office will submit all of the information to the State DOE and you will be issued your yellow card. This card is needed to transport kids alone.
• Your name will be added to our substitute driver list or be assigned to a route if there is a position available.