How do I become a driving instructor in Washington state?

School Bus Driver Instructors are an essential part of the student transportation team in any district.

About

Driver Instructor Training Course

School Bus Driver Instructors are an essential part of the student transportation team in any district. Qualified applicants must successfully complete this two-week training course to become a Washington State authorized school bus driver instructor.

With time spent in the classroom and behind-the-wheel of a school bus, participants receive training in all aspects of school bus driver instructing including writing and presenting lesson plans, effective classroom instruction, reference point driving instruction, and the rules and regulations of the Washington State pupil transportation industry.

Instructor Materials

Materials are available in our password protected resources area. Please contact us if you are having trouble logging in.

Course Information

Driver Instructor Training Course Registration

Registration for the Driver Instructor Training Course will follow a three-tiered approach in the following order of priority:

• Tier 1:  Scholarships  –  Organizations providing full scholarships for the registration fee will have reserved spots for identified recipients that meet the criteria of the program.
• Tier 2: High Need –  High need districts can apply for 1 of 25 spots on a first-come, first-served basis for identified individuals using the established criterion.  Three criteria have been identified using district feedback to determine highest district need for driver instructor training.  They are:
  •  1. Employer’s driver fleet includes less than 6% State certified School Bus Driver Instructors:
    • 6 instructors divided by 100 authorized drivers = (6/100=0.06)
    • 5 instructors divided by 50 authorized drivers = (5/50=0.10)
    • 2 instructors divided by 25 authorized drivers = (2/25=0.08)
    • 3 instructors divided by 75 authorized drivers = (3/75=0.04)
  • 2.  A Driver Instructor is retiring or leaving, which will leave a driver fleet that includes less than 6% State certified School Bus Driver Instructors; or
  • 3.  Employer requires applicant to obtain State certification as an authorized School bus Driver Instructor as a condition for employment or promotion..
• Tier 3: Open Enrollment – The open enrollment process is conducted on a first-come, first-served basis for those applicants that meet the program criteria.

Open Enrollment Process:

• To obtain an Open Registration Request form, applicants must email a request to [email protected] beginning March 9.
• The Open Registration Request form is to be submitted electronically beginning at 7:00PM on March 16, Pacific Time.
• The Open Registration Request form will only be accepted starting on this date and time.
• Requests will be electronically time-stamped.
• According to the number of spots available, applicants will be notified as to their status of their request.
• Successful applicants will receive a Course Application Packet for completion.
• The Course Application Packet must be submitted by Saturday, March 31.
• ESD 112 will facilitate the registration by processing the Course Application Packet and collecting registration payment.

Course Information

Special Note:  Two (2) sessions with 36 seats each (72 total) will be offered in Summer 2023.  Registration timelines and instructions will be emailed to transportation supervisors in late Fall 2022.

Date:  July 17-22, 2023 (Session 1); July 24-29, 2023 (Session 2)

Duration: Six-day course

Location: ESD 112, 2500 NE 65th Avenue, Vancouver WA

Cost: $1200 – Course Only – Does not include lodging/meals

Class Size Limit: 36 each session

Course Requirements

Participants must hold a Class A or B commercial driver’s license with passenger and school bus endorsement and air brake restriction removed, and also meet all requirements for school bus drivers as prescribed in chapter 392-144 WAC. Applicants must also provide a school bus driver abstract of driving record. Participants in this course are required to have at least two years experience as an authorized school bus driver in Washington State.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About the Driver Instructor Training Course

What is the date & location?

July 18-29, 2022

Educational Service District 112
2500 NE 65th Avenue
Vancouver WA 98661

How do I register for the Driver Instructor Training Course?

Registration is facilitated by the ESD 112 Regional Transportation Registrar through a 3-tier process (Scholarships, High Need, and Open Registration) and by submission of the corresponding application. For further information please contact Regional Transportation at ESD 112.

What is the registration fee and how do I make payments?

The registration fee is $1200.00. Accepted forms of payment for registration is credit/debit card, or purchase order. If you choose purchase order, please provide a PO number with your application and send a hard copy of the purchase order to:

Educational Service District 112
ATTN: Cherrie Williams
2500 NE 65th Avenue, Vancouver WA 98661

How do I know if I’m registered for the course?

You will receive an email notification upon registration.

What time does class begin on Monday?

Class begins at 8:00 a.m. on Monday.

What time does class end on Friday?

Plan to be in class until 5:00 p.m. on Friday.

Are meals provided?

You are responsible for all your own meals. A list of some of the area restaurants are available upon request.

Is there lodging nearby?

A list of area hotels is available upon request. You are responsible for making your own lodging arrangements.

How should I dress?

Dress is mostly casual. You will spend time outside driving, so you may want to dress in layers. Don’t forget your driving shoes! You will be required to give a presentation, so be sure to bring business-casual attire.

Do I need to bring anything to class?

Come prepared with note taking and writing materials.

Contacts

Who to Contact

For more course information, e-mail Mark Dennis. For registration questions, contact Cherrie Williams.

Mark Dennis

Region 3 Coordinator

Contact

Phone: 360-299-4008

Email: [email protected]

Cherrie Williams

Transportation Specialist

Contact

Phone: 360-952-3641

Email: [email protected]

Transportation Resources

CWU Pupil Transportation Management Training Program
OSPI—Student Transportation (OSPI)
State Student Transportation Directory
Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL)
Washington Association for Pupil Transportation (WAPT)
School Bus Driver Qualifications – RCW 392.144
National Congress for School Bus Transportation (NCSBT)
National Association of Pupil Transportation (NAPT)
American School Bus Council (ASBC)
School Bus Information Clearing House (SBICH)

School Bus Drivers Wanted

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