North Carolina is the one state where the DMV itself trains school bus drivers. NCDMV's own page says the driver takes federal ELDT theory first, then NCDMV training and testing with district sponsorship. ELDT365 is that first step, for $20 per course.
Unlike most states, the DMV's School Bus and Traffic Safety section runs the training and issues the certificate. Your system sponsors the driver.
As described on district pages (Pitt County, Hertford County). The exact hours are NCDMV's to set; several districts now run the classroom portion as three online days through NCDMV before the road days.
Pre-trip, backing and driving skills, all with an NCDMV Driver Education Program Specialist. Two training attempts and six testing attempts per year.
Defensive driving, behavior management, emergencies, railroad crossings, first aid and more, plus monthly safety meetings at most systems.
NCDMV, with your school system as sponsor. NCDMV does not hire drivers; it trains yours.
The federal theory NCDMV expects to be done first. Have new hires finish it before you refer them to NCDMV, and their record is already on the registry when the DEPS schedules them.
NCDMV will not train a driver without it. Your system refers the driver to NCDMV School Bus and Traffic Safety.
NCDMV's own page says the federal ELDT classroom theory comes first. Class B, Passenger and School Bus on ELDT365, filed the same day, before the referral goes in.
Increasingly three online days through NCDMV, then an in-person test with the Driver Education Program Specialist.
Drug test, DOT medical and the CLP have to be in before the DEPS schedules road days. Two training attempts and six testing attempts per year.
Pass all three and NCDMV issues the School Bus Driver's Certificate. Then 8 hours in-service every school year at your system.
Class B, Passenger and School Bus are $20 each per driver. A driver who needs all three is $60; a Class B holder adding the two endorsements is $40. North Carolina fleets can put a card on file and be billed as they enroll, or prepay seats on a PO with a W-9 and a quote. No minimum and no contract. The federal explainer, pricing comparison and who-this-is-for detail are on the bus driver overview.
NCDMV school bus driver training and certification satisfies North Carolina. It does not satisfy FMCSA. A driver getting a Class B, Passenger or School Bus endorsement for the first time since February 7, 2022 also needs a federal ELDT record from a provider on the Training Provider Registry before the NC skills test. The two records live in two different systems: the state training with NCDMV School Bus and Traffic Safety, the ELDT with FMCSA.
NCDMV School Bus and Traffic Safety, with sponsorship from your school system. Classroom is increasingly delivered online by NCDMV; road training is in person with a DEPS.
8 hours of in-service each school year at your system, plus monthly safety meetings at most systems. ELDT has no refresher.
NCDMV training with a Driver Education Program Specialist is the state certification. Whether NCDMV or your system files the federal BTW record depends on which entity is listed on the registry as the BTW provider; ask your DEPS. The theory record is ours and is filed the same day.
Moves to us: the federal theory for Class B, Passenger and School Bus, and the FMCSA filing. Stays with you: NCDMV school bus driver training and certification, behind-the-wheel, the physical, drug testing and background checks. Nothing about your North Carolina certificate changes.
Free school account, $20 per course per driver, filed to the FMCSA registry the same day. NCDMV school bus driver training and certification stays exactly where it is.
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