Special Drivers Certificate Matrix - Acronyms
| Acronym | Compound Term |
|---|---|
| BTW | Behind-the-Wheel |
| CDE | California Department of Education |
| CDL | Commercial Driver License |
| CHP | California Highway Patrol |
| Class | Classroom |
| DMV | Department of Motor Vehicles |
| EC | California Education Code |
| FLV | Farm Labor Vehicle |
| GPPV | General Public Paratransit Vehicle |
| HPH | Highway Patrol Handbook |
| INS | In-service |
| "P" | Passenger |
| PAB | Pupil Activity Bus |
| Regs. | Regulations |
| "S" | School Bus Endorsement |
| SPAB | School Pupil Activity Bus |
| TP | Training Period |
| TSI | Training Safety Institute |
| VC | California Vehicle Code |
| VDDP | Vehicle for Developmentally Disabled Persons |
| VTT | Verification of Transit Training |
| 13 CCR | Title 13, California Code of Regulations |
Special Drivers Certificate Matrix - Page 1
| Certificate | Vehicle Defined |
Original
Training |
Renewal Training |
Written
Testing |
Driving Testing |
Commercial License |
Training Verification |
Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Bus | VC 545 |
20 hr. Class 20 hr. BTW (EC 40082) |
10 hr.
per TP Class/BTW or In-service (EC 40085) |
CHP Rules & Regs. First Aid (VC 12517 VC 12517.4) |
CHP Pre-Trip BTW (VC 12517 VC12517.4) |
A or B License w/(P), (S) endorsements (VC15250 VC15275 VC 15275.1 VC 15278) |
CDE T-01 (EC 40087) |
CDE Certified (EC 40081b) |
| SPAB | VC 546 |
15 hr. Class 20 hr. BTW (EC 40083) |
10 hr.
per TP Class/BTW or In-service (EC 40085) |
CHP Rules & Regs. (VC 12517 VC 12517.4) |
CHP Pre-Trip BTW (VC 12517 VC 12517.4) |
A or B License w/(P) endorsement (VC 15250 VC 15250.1 VC 15275 VC 15278) |
CDE T-01 (EC 40087) |
CDE Certified (EC 40081b) |
| FLV | VC 322 |
10 hr. Class 10 hr. BTW (EC 40084) |
2 hr./yr. Classroom (EC 40086) |
CHP Rules & Regs. (VC 12519) |
CHP Pre-Trip BTW (VC 12519) |
A or B License w/(P) endorsement (VC 15250 VC 15250.1 VC 15275 VC 15278) |
CDE T-01 (EC 40087) |
CDE Certified (EC 40081b) |
| Transit and VTT |
VC 642 |
15 hr. Class 20 hr. BTW (EC 40083) |
8 hr.
per TP Class/BTW or In-service (EC 40085.5) |
DMV Rules & Regs. |
DMV |
A or B w/(P) endorsement (VC 15250 VC 15250.1 VC 15275 VC 15278 VC 12804.6) |
CDE T-01
or DMV DL 260 EC (40087a,b) |
CDE Certified |
| GPPV | VC 336 |
12 hr. Class
+ 8 hr. Certified Def. Driving 20 hr. BTW (VC 12523.5) |
2 hr./yr. Refresher Training (VC 12523.5) |
CHP Rules & Regs. (VC 12523.5) |
CHP Pre-trip BTW (VC 12523.5) |
A or B |
Evidence
of Training (VC 12523.5) |
Employer
Verified (VC 12523.5) |
A school bus instructor: may instruct for school
bus, SPAB, transit bus, or farm labor bus (EC
40088(C)(1))
A SPAB Instructor: may instruct for SPAB, transit
bus, or farm labor, but may not instruct for school bus (EC 40088(C)(2))
A transit bus instructor: may instruct for transit
bus or farm labor, but may not instruct for school bus or SPAB
(EC 40088(C)(3))
A farm labor instructor: may instruct for farm
labor only (EC 40088(C)(4)
NOTE: Holders of a SPAB certificate may upgrade to a school bus drivers certificate (EC 40082b)
NOTE: Any applicant applying for a CDL must comply with Parts 380, 383 and 384 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal
Regulations
Special Drivers Certificate Matrix - Page 2
| Certificate | Vehicle
Defined |
Original Training |
Renewal Training |
Written Testing |
Driving Testing |
Commercial License |
Training Certificate |
Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAB | 13 CCR 1201(v) VC 545(a)(11) |
VC 12517.45 |
10 hr. per TP Class/BTW or In-Service (EC 40085 VC 12517.45) |
CHP Rules & Regs. (VC 12517.45) | CHP Pre-Trip BTW (VC 12517.45) | A or B w/(P) endorsement (VC 15250 VC 15250.1 VC 15275 VC 15278) |
CDE T-01 (EC 40087) |
CDE Certified (EC 40081b) |
| Youth
Bus "A" school to non-school activity |
VC 680(a) |
10 hr.
Class 10 hr. BTW (VC 12523) |
2 hr.
per TP Refresher Training (VC 12523) (HPH 82.7) |
CHP Rules & Regs. First Aid (VC 12522) (HPH 82.7) |
CHP Pre-Trip BTW (HPH 82.7) |
A or
B w/(P) endorsement (VC 12523) |
Evidence
of Training (VC 12523 [A]) (HPH 82.7) |
Employer
Verified (HPH 82.7) |
| Youth Bus "B" residence to school |
VC 680(b) |
10 hr.
Class 10 hr. BTW in addition... Instructors Manual 10 hr. Class 10 hr. BTW (VC 12523) (HPH 82.7) |
2 hr.
per TP Refresher Training in addition... 10 hr. Renewal Class (HPH 82.7) |
CHP Rules & Regs. First Aid (VC 12522) (HPH 82.7) |
CHP Pre-Trip BTW (HPH 82.7) |
A or
B w/(P) endorsement (VC 12523) |
T-01 (additional training only) Evidence of Training |
CDE Certified
for additional training Employer Verified |
| VDDP | VC 12523.6 |
Fingerprint Background Check (VC 12523.6[b][1]) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
A or
B w/(P) endorsement C if less than 10 pass. (VC 12517.5) |
N/A |
N/A |
| Paratransit Vehicle |
VC 462 |
4 hr.
Safe Operation 4 hr. Special Transportation (VC 12517.5) |
4 hr.
Safe Operation 4 hr. Special Transportation (VC 12517.5) |
N/A |
N/A |
A or
B w/(P) endorsement C if less than 10 passengers (VC 12517.5) |
N/A |
Employer
Verified (VC 12517.5) |
All original California Special Driver Certificate applicants must submit a set of fingerprints to the California Highway Patrol prior to certification except the following: Farm Labor Vehicles, Transit and VTT, and Paratransit Vehicles.
NOTE: Holders of a SPAB certificate may upgrade to a school bus drivers certificate (EC 40082{b})
NOTE: Any applicant applying for a CDL must comply with Parts 380, 383 and 384 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal
Regulations
Updated 2019