Passenger and School Bus
Passenger and School Bus Endorsements
The Passenger Endorsement and School Bus Endorsement are required for different purposes based upon the type of passengers or the vehicle being used to transport them.
Eligibility requirements
Applicants must:
- Be twenty-one (21) years of age
- Have at least three (3) years driving experience
- Meet the following vision standards
- 20/40 distant visual acuity in each eye, with or without corrective lenses
-
20/40 distant binocular acuity in both eyes, with or without corrective lenses
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit:
- A completed Application for Commercial Driver's License (CDL-1) and a CDL Test Authorization
- A completed Application for Chauffeur License, including three (3) signed references.
- A current, valid driver’s license.
- An original BCI report issued by the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office, located at 4 Howard Ave, Cranston, RI 02920 (corner of Pontiac Ave. and Howard Ave).
- The BCI report must be dated within 60 days of submission.
Testing and Training Requirements
Applicants must:
- Pass the required knowledge exams
- The Passenger exam is required for both endorsements
- The School Bus exam must also be passed to obtain the School Bus endorsement
- Complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT)
- Pass required Skills Test(s) in the appropriate vehicle
Additional Requirements for Out-of-State Applicants
Applicants who have been licensed in another state or country within the past five (5) years, or who are not Rhode Island residents, must also provide:
- A certified driving record from each state or country where they were licensed during the past five (5) years.
- A criminal background check from each state where they were licensed during the past five (5) years.