Bus or coach driver
Transport

How to become a bus or coach driver

You can get into this job through:

• an apprenticeship
• applying directly

Apprenticeship

You can get into this job through a passenger transport driver intermediate apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship (Entry requirements)

You'll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

Direct application

You'll usually apply to bus or coach companies and train on the job. You would be put through Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) driver training that normally lasts between 1 and 6 weeks. Your employer would also give you training for the Certificate of Professional Competence or Driver CPC.

More info

Further information You can find out more about jobs in the passenger transport and travel industries from Careers That Move.

What it takes

Skills & Knowledge

You'll need:

• customer service skills
• knowledge of public safety and security
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• knowledge of transport methods, costs and benefits
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to operate and control equipment
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restriction & Requirements

You'll need to:

• have a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) - this is known as the Driver CPC
• be over 18 years of age
• have a full driving licence

Every 5 years you'll need to:

• take 35 hours of Driver CPC training
• renew your bus driving licence if you're aged 45 or over

Find out more about applying for your provisional PCV licence.

For some jobs you’ll also need a digital tachograph card.

What you'll do

Day to day

Your day-to-day duties may include:

• taking fares
• checking tickets and passes
• giving timetable or route information
• helping passengers who are having difficulty getting on or off the vehicle
• driving safely and keeping to timetables

If you're a coach driver, your duties may also include:

• greeting passengers and checking documents
• loading and unloading luggage
• making announcements during the journey
• making sure passengers are back on board for return journeys, and after scheduled stops
• keeping the coach clean and doing basic vehicle checks
• recording driving hours and reporting any incidents
• for trips abroad, keeping passengers up to date with travel information and dealing with border control authorities

Working environment

You could work from a vehicle. You may need to wear a uniform.

Career path and progression

Career path & progression

With experience, you could become a service controller or inspector, depot manager or driver training instructor. You could also set up your own business. For this you'll need the Transport Manager CPC in Passenger Transport. This could be done through a local training provider.