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Bus Driver, City/Transit Occupational Licensing

License required in 51 states

60th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations

Average Fee for License:$123

What They Do

Bus drivers, also known as motor coach operators, drive a bus or motor coach on regular route operations, charters and private carriages. They may assist passengers with baggage and collect fares or tickets.

Bus Driver, City/Transit Licensing Overview

All 50 states and D.C. require a licence to work as a Bus Driver, City/Transit. On average, these laws require $123 in fees, 108 days of education and about 5 exam. Bus Driver, City/Transit Licenses have the 60th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.

Where is a Bus Driver, City/Transit the most regulated?

Out of the 51 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Bus Driver, City/Transit has the highest burden in New Jersey. New Jersey requires $169 in fees, 5 exams, 3 years experience, and no education.

Where is a Bus Driver, City/Transit the least regulated?

Out of the 51 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Bus Driver, City/Transit has the lowest burden in New Mexico. New Mexico requires $18 in fees, 5 exams, no experience, and no education.

Where is a Bus Driver, City/Transit license the most expensive?

An occupational license for a Bus Driver, City/Transit costs the most in Washington. Washington requires $335 in fees, 5 exams, no experience, and 94 clock hours education.

Where is a Bus Driver, City/Transit license the least expensive?

An occupational license for a Bus Driver, City/Transit costs the least in New Mexico. New Mexico requires $18 in fees, 5 exams, no experience, and no education.

Where does it take the longest to obtain a Bus Driver, City/Transit license?

An occupational license for a Bus Driver, City/Transit takes the longest to obtain in New Jersey, Rhode Island.It takes 1095 days (3 years).

Where is it fastest to obtain a Bus Driver, City/Transit license?

An occupational license for a Bus Driver, City/Transit takes the least time to obtain in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming (0 days).

What states require exams for a Bus Driver, City/Transit license?

To obtain an occupational license for a Bus Driver, City/Transit there is at least one exam required in: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming. Texas requires 6 exams.

All 50 states and D.C. require a license to work as a city or transit bus driver. On average, these laws require $106 in fees, 100 days of education and experience, and five exams. Altogether, these requirements are the 61st most burdensome of the 102 occupations studied. However, because bus drivers are licensed by all states and D.C., the occupation ranks as the eighth most widely and onerously licensed.

Each state requires five exams, fees ranging from $18 (New Mexico) to $335 (Washington), and a minimum age of between 16 and 21. Ten states require prior driving experience of one (Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Oregon and Utah), two (Rhode Island and West Virginia) or three years (New Jersey). Instead of driving experience, Washington requires completion of an eight-day (36-hour) training course. The other 40 states have no experience or training requirements.

States Ranked by Average Licensing Burden for 102 Lower-Income Occupations

More Burdensome Less Burdensome
Based on data released in November 2022

State Licensing Requirements

Select a chart to view:
Burden Rank State Occupations Licensed Fees Estimated Calendar Days Lost Education Experience Exams Minimum Grade Minimum Age
7 Alaska 64 $160 365 None 1 years 5 0 18
18 Alabama 63 $118 0 None None 5 0 21
34 Arkansas 72 $92 0 None None 5 0 18
10 Arizona 68 $35 365 None 1 years 5 0 18
33 California 75 $98 0 None None 5 0 18
16 Colorado 34 $311 0 None None 5 0 18
14 Connecticut 65 $219 0 None None 5 0 21
13 District of Columbia 61 $245 0 None None 5 0 21
9 Delaware 42 $53 365 None 1 years 5 0 18
38 Florida 55 $82 0 None None 5 0 18
32 Georgia 41 $100 0 None None 5 0 18
19 Hawaii 64 $105 0 None None 5 0 21
36 Iowa 71 $86 0 None None 5 0 18
5 Idaho 66 $190 365 None 1 years 5 0 18
22 Illinois 41 $55 0 None None 5 0 21
4 Indiana 37 $171 365 None 1 years 5 0 21
42 Kansas 35 $50 0 None None 5 0 18
39 Kentucky 38 $65 0 None None 5 0 18
23 Louisiana 77 $184 0 None None 5 0 18
29 Massachusetts 50 $150 0 None None 5 0 18
30 Maryland 58 $140 0 None None 5 0 18
17 Maine 46 $124 0 None None 5 0 21
39 Michigan 48 $65 0 None None 5 0 18
44 Minnesota 35 $49 0 None None 5 0 18
36 Missouri 33 $86 0 None None 5 0 18
45 Mississippi 65 $101 0 None None 5 0 17
50 Montana 32 $27 0 None None 5 0 18
25 North Carolina 66 $177 0 None None 5 0 18
49 North Dakota 65 $28 0 None None 5 0 18
41 Nebraska 61 $52 0 None None 5 0 18
35 New Hampshire 37 $90 0 None None 5 0 18
1 New Jersey 54 $169 1095 None 3 years 5 0 21
51 New Mexico 66 $18 0 None None 5 0 18
15 Nevada 75 $162 0 None None 5 0 21
42 New York 41 $50 0 None None 5 0 18
27 Ohio 40 $167 0 None None 5 0 18
31 Oklahoma 42 $123 0 None None 5 0 18
6 Oregon 69 $188 365 None 1 years 5 0 18
46 Pennsylvania 50 $37 0 None None 5 0 18
2 Rhode Island 70 $158 1095 None 3 years 5 0 21
47 South Carolina 60 $34 0 None None 5 0 18
26 South Dakota 32 $171 0 None None 5 0 18
21 Tennessee 69 $71 0 None None 5 0 21
11 Texas 38 $133 0 None None 6 0 18
8 Utah 64 $139 365 None 1 years 5 0 18
48 Virginia 72 $30 0 None None 5 0 18
28 Vermont 31 $153 0 None None 5 0 18
12 Washington 76 $335 22 94 clock hours None 5 0 18
20 Wisconsin 42 $269 0 None None 5 0 18
3 West Virginia 67 $169 730 None 2 years 5 0 18
24 Wyoming 26 $180 0 None None 5 0 18

License to Work

The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.

View Report