The heart of every school bus is the certified school bus staff, which includes school bus aides. School districts and charter schools rely on school bus staff for successful pupil transportation.

Requirements

To become a Delaware school bus aide, applicants must be at least 18 years of age and satisfactorily complete the following. These requirements apply to all new applicants and for any person whose aide employment has lapsed for more than a year.

  • School bus driver classroom training or any other district-required training
  • Pre-employment drug test
  • Child protection registry check
  • Criminal background affidavit
  • State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) fingerprinting and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal background checks
  • Delaware school bus aide physical with TB screening

Complete an employment application with either a contractor or a school
district.

Have a contractor or district/school submit a Child Protective Registry
registration.

Complete a pre-employment NON-DOT drug test. If working for a contractor,
have them submit the drug test verification form to a district/school. BAT is not
required for pre-employment. The driver must go to one of the approved drug
testing locations.

Schedule an appointment with IdentoGO online (https://uenroll.identogo.com) or call (866)761-8069. When scheduling the appointment, you must receive the service code for the school district holding your file to be able to schedule your appointment. Individuals are to get a receipt and turn the receipt into the district/school Transportation Office.  The local district’s Human Resource Office reviews the background check, completes the DE School Bus Aide Background Clearance Verification Form, and submits it to the Transportation Office.

Complete School Bus Driver/Aide Affidavit and provide to Transportation
Office (notary required)

Medical Requirement:

  • Have a doctor complete the DDOE School Bus Aide Physical Form
  • Have a TB Test completed and provide results or a letter from a
    physician stating you cannot take the test and are clear of TB.
  • Once the DOE School Bus Aide Physical Form and TB Test Results are
    submitted to the district, a blue physical card will be issued to you

Attend the Department of Education (DOE) 12-hour class in basic school bus driver/aide training. These class are held every month in each county. Please see the training calendar and complete online registration to attend.

Please note, these steps are for guidance only, and the Department of Education is not providing legal advice. The aide is responsible for completing all requirements of the law regardless of whether they are included in this form. If you would like to download a copy of these steps, please see the Requirements and Procedures for Becoming a Certified Aide checklist.

To search the list of applicable forms, please see Pupil Transportation Forms. For a list of Resources as well as Statutes and Regulations, please see School Pupil Transportation.

Training

Aides attend a one day, aid specific training. All training attendees must complete online registration. Training is available in each county. Please review the schedule below and/or download a copy of the training calendar.

New Castle and Kent class times are from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please do not arrive for training earlier than 8:30 a.m.

Sussex County times are from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please do not arrive for training earlier than 8:00 a.m.

New Castle County

New Castle County Vo-Tech Marshallton Center, 1703 School Lane, Wilmington, DE 19808

Register for training in New Castle County

Year Month Available Dates
2025 July 10
2025 August 7
2025 September 11
2025 October 2
2025 November 3
2026 January 8
2026 March 5
2026 May 7

Kent County

Collette Education Resource Center
35 Commerce Way, Suite 1, Dover, DE 19904

Register for training in Kent County

Year Month Available Dates
2025 July 31
2025 August 28
2025 September 24
2025 October 30
2025 November 20
2025 December 18
2026 January 29
2026 February 19
2026 March 26
2026 April 30
2026 May 28
2026 June 25

Sussex County

Former Millsboro Middle School, 302 East State Street, Millsboro, DE 19966

Register for training in Sussex County

Year Month Available Dates
2025 July 17*
2025 August 14
2025 September 25
2025 October 23
2025 December 11
2026 February 26
2026 April 30
2026 June 18

*July 17th class will be held at Indian River School District Ingram’s Pond Classroom – 24184 Godwin School Rd. Millsboro, DE 19966