R13-13-304. Minimum Standards for 11 to 15 Passenger Vehicle Drivers and Instructors

A. All 925 Drivers shall comply with and be subject to R13-13- 102 and R13-13-108(D) with the exception of the following: 1. A commercial driver license (CDL) is not required unless the vehicle’s gross weight requires a CDL according to A.R.S. § 28-3228(C)(4)(b); 2. An Arizona “P” passenger or “S” school bus endorsement is not required on an Arizona Class D driver license; 3. 925 Driver performance examinations for equipment not found on a 925 Vehicle may be waived by the Department or if similar functioning equipment exists the Department may require an examination depending on how the 925 Vehicle is equipped; and, 4. At a minimum a valid Arizona Class D driver license is required. The applicant shall provide an Arizona driver license number or if applying based on an equivalent or greater valid driver license from another state according to A.R.S. § 32-4302, provide the name of the state, the class of license and the license number. B. Behind-the-wheel and classroom instructors of 925 Drivers shall comply with all of the requirements in R13-13-103. A valid CDL is required. C. CDL Certification and Derating: 1. Drivers holding a valid CDL and a valid CDL school bus certification according to Article 1 are cross-qualified as a 925 Driver. No additional training or certification is required. 2. CDL drivers certified in Article 1 desiring to relinquish their CDL and derate their certification to only a 925 Driver may do so by notifying the Department. The notification shall: a. Be made to the Department within 10 business days via electronic mail to schoolbus@azdps.gov or via postal mail Attention: Student Transportation Unit, P.O. Box 6638, Phoenix, AZ 85005-6638. b. Occur before the CDL and the requirements to maintain a CDL are relinquished; and, c. Occur before the Article 1 certification expires or is cancelled due to a lack of a CDL. 3. Derated CDL Drivers: a. The driver shall maintain at least a valid Class D license. b. No additional training is required. c. The derated CDL certification shall remain valid until the normal expiration. Upon the normal expiration, the driver shall then meet the 925 Driver certification requirements of Article 3.