School Bus Endorsement Online ELDT Theory Course
Required endorsement for all school bus drivers, covering safety protocols and procedures.
This course includes:
- FMCSA Compliant Curriculum
- TPR Submission Included
- Certificate of Completion
- Mobile-Friendly Access
- English Only
- Lifetime Access
TPR submitted to FMCSA in minutes after completion
About This Course
Required endorsement for all school bus drivers, covering safety protocols and procedures.
What this course covers
The course follows the school bus endorsement theory curriculum in Appendix D to 49 CFR Part 380. Its 11 units are about the hazards that only a school bus driver faces: children at the roadside, the danger zones around the bus, and getting students out in an emergency. It assumes you already have, or are also completing, passenger (P) endorsement training.
- Danger zones and use of mirrors, and loading and unloading students, including stop arms, crossing gates and checking the bus for sleeping children at the end of each route.
- Vehicle orientation and pre- and post-trip inspections of stop arms, crossing arms, emergency exits and other school bus equipment.
- Post-crash procedures and emergency exit and evacuation.
- Railroad-highway grade crossings for school buses.
- Student management, including the warning signs of bullying, and special safety considerations such as strobe lights, high winds, backing and tail swing.
- School bus security and route and stop reviews.
No federal minimum number of hours applies. You complete every unit and pass each module quiz at 80% or higher, with retakes allowed.
Who needs it and who is exempt
Under 49 CFR 380.603, anyone adding the school bus (S) endorsement for the first time on or after February 7, 2022 must complete school bus theory and school bus behind-the-wheel training with registered providers. Because S requires the passenger (P) endorsement, a new school bus driver needs ELDT for both; our passenger endorsement course covers the P half. States add their own background checks for school bus drivers on top of the federal rule.
You are exempt if you held the S endorsement before February 7, 2022, or held a CLP with the S endorsement issued before that date and added the endorsement before the CLP or its renewal expired. The Part 383 exceptions in 380.603(a), such as certain military drivers under 383.3(c), also apply. Renewing an S endorsement you already hold does not trigger ELDT. The passenger and school bus guide explains how the two endorsements fit together.
Steps from permit to the S endorsement
ELDT is one step in the state licensing process. The order is the same in the 49 states that accept our course; your state agency sets fees and test dates.
- 1Pass the passenger and school bus knowledge tests at your state licensing agency so P and S are on your CLP or CDL. New drivers need the Class B (or Class A) permit first; see the CLP requirements guide.
- 2Complete this theory course online (and the passenger course if you do not already hold P) and pass each module quiz at 80% or higher.
- 3Your record is sent to the Training Provider Registry automatically, usually within minutes. Confirm it with how to check your ELDT record.
- 4Complete school bus behind-the-wheel training in person, in a school bus, with a provider registered for school bus training. School districts and bus contractors often train their own drivers; the CDL school finder lists registered providers by state.
- 5Take the state school bus skills test in a school bus. Theory and behind-the-wheel must be completed within one year of each other.
The theory versus behind-the-wheel guide explains why the two halves can come from different providers.
What is included
The course costs $20 and includes all 11 units, the quizzes, your certificate of completion and the registry submission.
After your last quiz we send the record to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry automatically, usually within minutes, once your permit or CDL number is in your profile.
Is This Course Right for You?
Required for operating school buses
School bus drivers
K-12 student transportation
Activity bus drivers
Sports and field trips
Not sure if this is the right course? Check our FAQ or contact us
What Happens After You Complete the Course
Your path from enrollment to certification is straightforward and fully compliant with federal requirements.
FMCSA Compliant
This course meets all Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
TPR Submission
Upon successful completion, your training record is submitted to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry (TPR) automatically, usually within minutes, once your permit or CDL number is in your profile.
Certificate of Completion
Receive a certificate verifying your successful completion of the course. Your record will be available for DMV verification.
Fast Processing
Once you finish every lesson and quiz, we send your theory record to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry automatically, usually within minutes.
Important: Certificate Requirements
- •You must complete all course modules and pass all required quizzes to earn your certificate.
- •Each quiz has a minimum passing score. Failed quizzes can be retaken after review.
- •This course covers the ELDT theory requirement. Behind-the-wheel training is a separate, in-person step for every license and endorsement except hazmat.
- •After TPR submission, complete behind-the-wheel training with a registered provider (not needed for hazmat), then schedule your state skills test (for hazmat, the knowledge test). Our CDL school finder lists registered behind-the-wheel providers near you.
ELDT theory by state
The ELDT curriculum is federal, so this course is the same in the 49 states that accept it. What differs is the licensing side: the agency that issues your permit, its fees and how the skills test is scheduled. Each state page lists those details for that state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about this course
You need both unless you already hold the P endorsement. The S endorsement requires P, and each endorsement has its own ELDT theory curriculum (Appendix C for passenger, Appendix D for school bus) and its own behind-the-wheel training.
No. This course covers the theory half online. The behind-the-wheel half must be done in person in a school bus with a provider registered for school bus training, and both records must be in the registry before your skills test.
Many districts and contractors are registered for behind-the-wheel training but not theory, or they prefer new hires to arrive with the theory record already in the registry. Ask your employer which half they provide; this course covers the theory half.
No. Background checks, fingerprinting and medical rules for school bus drivers are set by each state and the employer, separate from federal ELDT. The course covers the Appendix D curriculum only.
If you held the S endorsement before February 7, 2022 you are exempt from ELDT for it, even if you later let it lapse, under 49 CFR 380.603(b). Your state may still require you to pass the knowledge and skills tests again; ask your licensing agency.
After enrollment, you'll have instant access to all course materials through your student dashboard. You can learn on any device - computer, tablet, or phone.
You do not need a CDL number to create an account or buy a course. Before you start the lessons you will need your Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) number, because FMCSA requires a state-issued license or permit number to record your training in the Training Provider Registry. ELDT is required before your CDL skills test, not before the permit test, so the usual order is: pass the CDL knowledge tests at your state licensing agency to get your CLP, then enter the permit number here and start training. If you already hold a CDL and are upgrading or adding an endorsement, enter your current CDL number instead.
Yes! You can start, stop, and resume your training anytime. Your progress is automatically saved, so you can learn at your own pace around your schedule.
You have lifetime access to the course. Most students complete it within 1-2 weeks, but you can take as long as you need.
Our courses work on any device with a web browser - desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Your progress syncs across all devices.
When you pass all quizzes, your theory record is submitted to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry (TPR) automatically, usually within minutes, once your permit or CDL number is in your profile. You'll receive a certificate of completion. Next comes behind-the-wheel training with a registered provider (not needed for hazmat), then your state skills test (for hazmat, the knowledge test). Our CDL school finder at lowestcosteldt.com/cdl-schools lists registered behind-the-wheel providers near you.
No. All sales are final and course purchases are non-refundable, including if you picked the wrong course, changed your mind, or did not finish. The only exceptions are a duplicate charge for the same course, or a verified technical problem on our side that keeps you from accessing the course. If you bought the wrong course and have not started it, contact support within 48 hours and we may transfer your enrollment to another course. See our Refund Policy for details.
Still have questions? Contact our support team
Ready to Start Your Training?
Online ELDT theory from a registered provider, accepted in 49 states. Start today; your theory record goes to the FMCSA registry automatically, usually within minutes.
All sales are final. Review the course details before you enroll.