Ohio asked FMCSA to accept its Pre-Service School Bus Driver Training in place of ELDT. FMCSA said no in May 2022. So Ohio drivers need both: federal ELDT and the state pre-service certificate under OAC 3301-83-10. ELDT365 handles the federal theory for $20 per course.
Before carrying pupils. Taught by regional Ohio pre-service instructors, who are also qualified ELDT theory instructors for their own in-person program.
With a district-certified On-Bus Instructor (OBI), who also meets the federal BTW instructor definition. This is usually your ELDT BTW provider.
Issued through ODEW. The T-9 form was updated July 2026.
ODEW offers an online option for the renewal classroom only; initial training is in person.
Regional pre-service instructors and your district OBIs, coordinated through ESCs in many regions.
Federal theory for B, P and S, filed the same day. Your OBI files the BTW under the district's own registry listing. Together that is the complete ELDT record the BMV checks before the skills test.
Ohio districts usually coordinate through the regional ESC that hosts the pre-service instructors.
Class B, Passenger and School Bus on ELDT365, filed the same day. FMCSA denied Ohio's request to skip this in May 2022, so it is required alongside the state program.
With a regional Ohio pre-service instructor. Required before the driver carries any pupil.
Your district On-Bus Instructor. These hours are the federal BTW record under the district's registry listing, which is how most Ohio districts handled ELDT from the start.
The BMV checks the registry first. Renewal is 9 classroom hours every six years (online option for renewal only) plus annual in-service.
Class B, Passenger and School Bus are $20 each per driver. A driver who needs all three is $60; a Class B holder adding the two endorsements is $40. Ohio fleets can put a card on file and be billed as they enroll, or prepay seats on a PO with a W-9 and a quote. No minimum and no contract. The federal explainer, pricing comparison and who-this-is-for detail are on the bus driver overview.
Ohio's 15-hour pre-service and 12 on-bus hours satisfies Ohio. It does not satisfy FMCSA. A driver getting a Class B, Passenger or School Bus endorsement for the first time since February 7, 2022 also needs a federal ELDT record from a provider on the Training Provider Registry before the OH skills test. The two records live in two different systems: the state training with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, the ELDT with FMCSA.
Regional Ohio pre-service instructors for the classroom hours and district-certified On-Bus Instructors for the 12 on-bus hours, under ODEW.
9 hours of classroom every six years (online option available for renewal) plus annual in-service, per OAC 3301-83-10. ELDT has no refresher.
Because FMCSA denied the exemption. Its May 2022 decision says a state program that meets or exceeds ELDT is minimally affected because it can simply register on the TPR and file. Most Ohio districts did exactly that for BTW. The theory is the part you can also just buy for $20.
Moves to us: the federal theory for Class B, Passenger and School Bus, and the FMCSA filing. Stays with you: Ohio's 15-hour pre-service and 12 on-bus hours, behind-the-wheel, the physical, drug testing and background checks. Nothing about your Ohio certificate changes.
Free school account, $20 per course per driver, filed to the FMCSA registry the same day. Ohio's 15-hour pre-service and 12 on-bus hours stays exactly where it is.
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