Skip to content
LexBuild

49 CFR § 383.123 - Requirements for a school bus endorsement.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s383.123"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 383.123 - Requirements for a school bus endorsement."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "383.123"
section_name: "Requirements for a school bus endorsement."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REGULATIONS"
part_number: "383"
part_name: "COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE STANDARDS; REQUIREMENTS AND PENALTIES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 521, 31136, 31301,  and 31502; secs. 214 and 215 of Pub. L. 106-159, 113 Stat. 1748, 1766, 1767; sec. 1012(b) of Pub. L. 107-56, 115 Stat. 272, 397, sec. 4140 of Pub. L. 109-59, 119 Stat. 1144, 1746; sec. 32934 of Pub. L. 112-141, 126 Stat. 405, 830; secs. 5401 and 7208, Pub. L. 114-94, 129 Stat. 1312, 1546, 1593 (49 U.S.C. 31305(d)), sec. 23019 of Pub. L. 117-58, 135 Stat. 429, 777; and 49 CFR 1.87."
regulatory_source: "52 FR 20587, June 1, 1987, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "383"
---

# 383.123 Requirements for a school bus endorsement.

(a) An applicant for the school bus endorsement must satisfy the following three requirements:

(1) *Qualify for passenger vehicle endorsement.* Pass the knowledge and skills test for obtaining a passenger vehicle endorsement.

(2) *Knowledge test.* Must have knowledge covering the following topics:

(i) Loading and unloading children, including the safe operation of stop signal devices, external mirror systems, flashing lights, and other warning and passenger safety devices required for school buses by State or Federal law or regulation.

(ii) Emergency exits and procedures for safely evacuating passengers in an emergency.

(iii) State and Federal laws and regulations related to safely traversing railroad-highway grade crossings; and

(iv) Operating practices and procedures not otherwise specified.

(3) *Skills test.* Must take a driving skills test in a school bus of the same vehicle group (see § 383.91(a)) as the school bus applicant will drive.

(b) *Exception.* Knowledge and skills tests administered before September 30, 2002 and approved by FMCSA as meeting the requirements of this section, meet the requirements of paragraphs (a)(2) and (3) of this section

[76 FR 26891, May 9, 2011]