KS CDL Passenger

Kansas passed a law creating the S endorsement for school bus drivers to comply with federal law. P alone no longer covers school bus operation. If you hold P, you add S by passing the S knowledge test and a road test in a school bus representative of the type you will drive.

You must pass both the P endorsement knowledge test and the S endorsement knowledge test, then a road test in a school bus representative of the type you will be driving. The P knowledge test is a prerequisite step, so plan your study order with P first and S second.

No. The S endorsement is only needed to operate school buses, or buses contracted by a school district to transport school children. If you drive city buses or transport buses not affiliated with a school, P alone is the relevant endorsement and S is not required for that work.

A CMV skills test can take from one hour to one and one half hours depending on conditions. Scheduling is necessary to ensure a CDL examiner is available, so call a CDL testing facility in advance to confirm availability, since testing schedules vary with business conditions. Test examiners may be monitored for quality control.

Effective 6/2/2025, Kansas can no longer manually enter your medical examiner's certificate. The information must come electronically from the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. Kansas drivers can review the medical certificate FAQ page, and medical examiners have a separate page covering submission, error correction and how the process works.

You need a CDL to operate any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of 26,001 pounds or more, or a combination vehicle with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more. Check the rating of the specific vehicle you will drive, because the endorsement tests are tied to the type of vehicle you operate.

The skills test is a practical driving evaluation in a vehicle representative of your type, so weak pre-trip inspection habits and incomplete observation at stops are common failure points. Practice the inspection sequence and passenger or student loading procedures until they are automatic, and arrive familiar with the actual bus you will test in.

Work through the Kansas Commercial Driver's License Handbook, then layer the P material before the S material, since P knowledge is the foundation for school bus content. Confirm your medical certification is on file electronically before testing, and book the skills appointment early because examiner slots depend on facility schedules.

The Division of Vehicles CDL line is 785-296-3671, available Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Use [email protected] for credential issuance, required documents or credential status questions, and [email protected] for submitting medical certificate or self-certification forms.