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The school bus endorsement applies to applicants who wish to drive a school bus in any Class A or B CDL. To add an S endorsement to your CLP/CDL, you must pass the Ohio school bus test, and you must also pass skills tests in a school bus. The OH CDL bus test consists of 20 questions, and you'll need at least 16 correct answers to pass (80%). The knowledge test covers the following sections of the Ohio CDL Manual: School Buses, Vehicle Inspection Test, Basic Control Skills Test and Road Test. After studying, take this OH CDL practice test to prepare for the actual bus test!
1. Air brakes use ________ to make the brakes work.
compressed gas cylinders
compressed gases
compressed air
2. To know when to shift, you can use each of the following except:
road speed.
perception distance.
engine speed.
3. If the road is icy, you should:
put the transmission in neutral and stay off the brake until the vehicle has slowed down, then pull off the road and stop.
reduce speed to a crawl and stop driving as soon as you can safely do so.
maintain your current speed and stop driving as soon as you can safely do so.
4. Crossover mirrors are used to:
see the "danger zone" areas in front of the bus and to the left and right side of the bus.
monitor passenger activity inside the bus.
monitor the left and right sides of the bus at a wide angle.
5. The area to the left of the bus is always considered dangerous because of:
parked vehicles.
passing vehicles.
blind spots.
6. If you recognize a distracted driver on the road, you should:
follow them closely.
try to pass them.
give them plenty of room.
7. When your route is finished, you should conduct a post-trip inspection of the bus. The inspection should include all of the following except:
Looking for articles left on the bus
Looking for sleeping students
Opening windows and doors
8. Service brakes should:
always be checked before applying the brakes.
only be checked by a mechanic.
be checked before each trip.
9. When approaching the bus stop, you should activate the lights approximately _______ before the bus stop.
5-10 seconds
4-6 seconds
25 seconds
10. Never refuel your bus:
while the windows are open.
in a closed building with riders on board.
with a higher grade of fuel.
 
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Frequently Asked Questions

If you are 15 ½, you can get a TIPIC (temporary instruction permit identification card) within 60 days of passing the knowledge and vision tests. After holding the permit for six months and completing your driving instruction, you can apply for a probationary license within 60 days after passing the driving and skills tests. If you're 18 or older, after obtaining the permit, you can obtain a class D driver license without the six-month waiting period.

You have two options:
  • You can visit an Ohio driver exam office. No appointment is required, but check days and business hours of the chosen office.
  • You can take the test online at KnowTo Drive, the official knowledge testing platform. If you are between 15 ½ and 19 years old, you must be supervised by a driver who is at least 19 years old. After passing the test, you are still required to visit a local Ohio BMV office to validate your identity and pass the vision screening.

Applicants can choose between a compliant and a standard license. Ensure you have proof for the following based on your card preference:
  • Full legal name (and proof of name change, if applicable)
  • Date of birth
  • Legal presence in the U.S.
  • Social Security number (SSN)
  • Ohio street address (you'll need two documents for a compliant card and one document for a standard card)

Refer to the acceptable documents list for more information.


The BMV written test is offered in multiple languages, including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Japanese, Russian, Somali, and Spanish. If you speak another language or are hearing impaired, you may use an interpreter

The BMV written test covers road rules, safe driving practices, and road signs. Studying the official Ohio Digest of Motor Vehicle Laws is the first step to pass the exam because it contains all of this information. Once you've read it, you can take our free practice tests!
The Ohio BMV written test consists of 40 multiple-choice questions and is based on the information provided in the manual. Remember, you have 60 minutes to complete the online test. Taking numerous practice tests and thoroughly studying the handbook will increase your chances of success.

To pass the Ohio BMV written test, you need to reach a score of 75%. This means that you must correctly answer 30 questions and can miss up to 10 questions. Sign up for DMV Premium to test your preparation and check if you are ready for the real exam.

With a permit in Ohio, the following restrictions apply:
  • You must have your permit while driving.
  • If you are under 16, a parent/guardian, or a licensed driving instructor must be in the passenger seat. If you are 16 or older, driving is allowed with any licensed driver over 21 in the passenger seat, except between midnight and 6 a.m. During this time you must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, custodian, or an approved driver aged 21 years or older (form BMV 2438).
  • Everyone in the vehicle must use safety belts.

With a probationary license, these restrictions apply:
  • Driving is prohibited from midnight to 6 a.m., unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, or custodian, or an approved driver aged 21 years or older. Exceptions for driving during restricted hours include employment activities and school-sponsored or religious events (form BMV 2826).
  • You can transport only one non-family member unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
  • Everyone in the vehicle must use safety belts.
  • The driver is prohibited from using any mobile devices, including cellular phones.
If you are under 18, during the first 12 months of holding a license, you cannot drive from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., unless accompanied by a parent/guardian or an approved driver aged 21 years or older, authorized by the BMV 2438 form, or for employment activities and school-sponsored or religious events (form BMV 2826).

In Ohio, an instruction permit is valid for a period of one year. If you are under 18, use this time to complete a driver education class (24 hours of instruction and 8 hours of driving time) at a training school and accumulate 50 hours of driving before scheduling the road test to obtain a probationary driver license.

If you don't pass your BMV written test, you'll need to wait for 24 hours before attempting it again. There's no restriction on the number of retests available in person. However, if you opt for the online permit test, you're allowed a maximum of two attempts within a six-month period.

OH CDL School Bus Test

Number of questions: 20
Correct answers to pass:16
Passing score:80%
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