Is a CDL required to be a school bus driver?
Yes, pretty sure it is.
Among other things, yes
In some states. I’m not sure about Tennessee.
Yes with special training and endorsement for school bus driver.
AFAIK, ALL State/Provincial jurisdictions in the US and Canada (most definitely Canada) require ‘commercial’ licenses and special ‘school bus’ certification. In addition, I believe that almost all bus companies and boards of education require and provide training. The company I work for requires a 40 hour training program, including both classroom and ‘hands on’ training.
In AB, a ‘bus’ license is ‘Class 2’ and with it, I am licensed to drive any vehicle up to a semi or a motorcycle. AFA a ‘school bus’, two days of additional training and a ‘road test’ is required within 6 months of obtaining the ‘Class 2’ license, to continue to drive a school bus (the ‘S’ endorsement) in AB. This is pretty much standard in Canada and, I believe, in the US, to wit, a ‘commercial’ license with a ‘school bus’ endorsement.
FWIW, there is a shortage of school bus drivers because, it is really only a part time job though, for the hours you work, the pay is not bad. With my employer, I am paid by the ‘run’, so I loathe snowy roads and don’t mind when certain kids are away, reducing my stops and time driving. IF you can supplement your regular ‘run’ hours with ‘charters’ and other runs, it can be lucrative. For many of the laid off ‘corporate’ workers in Calgary, such a job is ‘beneath’ them and not all retirees want to, or can, handle driving kids. Unfortunately, with all the Middle East immigration to Calgary, we have a lot of people who still drive like they are in Cairo or Damascus. In the US, you have to hire people like Johnthony, whereas in Canada, you have a lot of Muhamed’s, Abdullahs and Jameelahs. Oh well, all the more to try to bring to Jesus!