Montana

School bus in-service

REQUIRED 15 hours annual

Citation: 2022 Montana School Bus Standards (Mont. Bd. of Pub. Educ., promulgated per Mont. Code Ann. § 20-10-111)

The Board of Public Education's School Bus Standards (administered with OPI Pupil Transportation) require each district-approved training program to include 'a continuing education program for school bus drivers... at least 15 hours of in-service training annually' covering pre/post-trip inspection, defensive driving (Montana DRIVE encouraged), railroad safety, passenger management, etc. Baseline driver qualifications (CDL, DOT medical report on file, current first aid/CPR certificate, district certificate filed with the county superintendent) are set by MCA 20-10-103 and Board rules (ARM 10.64.201); the standards define in-service as training provided 'annually or more often to school bus-certified drivers.'

Official source ›

CDL & endorsements

CDL renewal cycle: every 8 years.

No general CDL continuing-education requirement beyond renewal; Montana CDLs run on a birthday-anniversary cycle of up to 8 years (MCA 61-5-111(4)(d)(i)).

Hazmat: Standard TSA security threat assessment cycle (federal 5-year max) via TSA enrollment; MCA 61-5-111(4)(d)(ii) shortens a transferred-in hazmat CDL to expire within 4 years of the surrendered license's issue when a prior STA is on record.

• First aid/CPR certificate must be kept current as a condition of the school bus driver certificate (MCA 20-10-103(5); ARM 10.64.201)
• Montana Highway Patrol semiannual bus inspections (TR-13); Montana DRIVE workshops and MAPT conference are encouraged sources of in-service hours