The Darlington County School District will host a free bus driver training course in November. 

The DCSD plans to hire school bus drivers and will host the driver training class from Nov, 5 until Nov. 8, according to a press release from the district. The class will be held from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. each day at the Darlington County Institute of Technology, located at 160 Pinedale Drive in Darlington. Anyone interested in participating must registered by 12 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 2.

To be eligible to become a school bus driver, a person must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, have a valid South Carolina driver’s license for at least one year, and other steps including:

  • Complete an application for employment and paperwork to attend a training class
  • Pass a SLED background check
  • Pass a check of license history with the DMV
  • Complete State Department of Education classroom training (four days)
  • Obtain a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) permit
  • Pass a physical and a drug test
  • Train with district instructors for a length of time to be able to perform pre-trip skills and driving
  • Ride a route for five days with a driver

“After joining the Darlington County School District team, bus drivers will be able to earn between $11.30 and $16.29 per hour and earn bonus opportunities every 45 days,” says the release. “Full-time bus drivers also receive insurance benefits.”

For more information or to register, call the Darlington County School District Office of Transportation at 843-398-2313.