Code of Massachusetts Regulations
540 CMR - REGISTRY OF MOTOR VEHICLES
Title 540 CMR 8.00 - School Bus Driver Training Programs and School Bus Driver Instructors
Section 8.03 - School Bus Driving and Pupil Transport Training Programs (Pre-service and In-service) General Requirements

(1) No school bus driving instructor (Instructor) may certify any person in a school bus driver training program unless the person has satisfactorily completed a pre-service training program established and approved by the Registrar under the provisions of M.G.L. c. 90, § 8A consisting of approximately 60 hours, and has passed a written examination with a grade of at least 75%. Such written examination shall be prepared, administered and evaluated by the Registry of Motor Vehicles and shall consist of questions based on the course content of the training program.

Commercial Driver License (CDL) applicants must complete a minimum of 32 hours behind-the-wheel training as well as a minimum of 28 hours classroom training with a certified Massachusetts School Bus Instructor.

Current CDL holders who need to obtain a Registry of Motor Vehicles MV or Department of Public Utilities issued school bus driver's certificate must complete a minimum of 40 hours which shall consist of any combination of classroom and behind-the-wheel training to be determined by the certified School Bus Instructor.

For Class B applicants, the mandatory minimum hours of behind-the-wheel training must be conducted in a representative vehicle for that class of license.

For Class C applicants, the mandatory minimum hours of behind-the-wheel training must be conducted in a school bus having a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of at least 14,000 lbs.

For school buses, a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the operator shall be used.

(2) Prior to the commencement of an in-service training program, every applicant for training shall be required to submit proof of previous qualified training to the Instructor.

(3) An applicant for the renewal of a school bus operator's license issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles, or by the Department of Public Utilities, may only be certified by an Instructor after satisfactory completion of an in-service training program in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. c. 90, § 8A and of not less than eight hours duration.

(4) The Instructor shall notify the appropriate licensing authority under M.G.L. c. 90, § 8A, on a form prescribed by said authority, of the successful completion of a pre-service or in-service school bus driver training program by any person.