How to Complete the California CHP 295 Special Certificate Application

The CHP 295 is the application you file in person at a California Highway Patrol area office to obtain a Special Driver Certificate for a school bus, school pupil activity bus (SPAB), youth bus, general public paratransit vehicle (GPPV), farm labor vehicle (FLV), or vehicle used to transport developmentally disabled persons (VDDP).¹ You download the four-page form from the CHP website or pick one up at your local area office, complete the parts you’re allowed to complete on your own, and bring it with your supporting documents to a scheduled interview with a CHP School Bus Officer or Coordinator, who finishes the form with you, takes your fingerprints, collects fees, and sets up your tests.²

Ambulance drivers are outside this process. Ambulance driver certificates are issued by the DMV under a separate application.³

What to Have Ready Before You Go

The CHP publishes a companion checklist, the CHP 295-J, listing what original and renewal applicants must bring. Assembling everything in advance prevents a wasted trip.

For an original application, gather:

A valid California driver license in the correct class, with the passenger endorsement (and a school bus endorsement for school bus drivers).
A DMV ten-year driving history printout (H6). Request it from the DMV ahead of your CHP appointment.
A completed California Medical Examination Report (DL-51) and medical examiner’s certificate, dated within the past two years. The exam must be performed by a physician, licensed advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or doctor of chiropractic listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.⁴
A T-01 training card or employer letter confirming completion of the required training hours. This applies to school bus, SPAB, and FLV applicants. School bus training is a minimum 40-hour course, split evenly between classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel time.⁵
Fees. Most original applications cost $57 total: $25 for the DL-45 certificate plus $32 for the fingerprint background check. Youth bus original applicants pay $12 and are not fingerprinted.²

Renewals need the medical report and training documentation but not a fresh H6 or new fingerprints. The renewal fee is $12 across all certificate types.⁵

Filling Out the Form

The CHP 295 runs four pages, and not every page is yours to complete alone. Several sections must be filled in or signed in the presence of a CHP School Bus Officer or Coordinator (SBO/C), so do not complete the whole packet at home and drop it off.

Page 1. Fill in the personal information and driver license sections yourself: name, Social Security number, home address, and employer. The remaining fields on page 1 are for CHP use. Leave them blank.
Page 2. Do not sign this page in advance. The SBO/C reviews the content with you at the appointment, and you sign it in their presence.
Page 3. You may complete the convictions and residency history sections ahead of time. The officer will review both with you during the interview.
Page 4. You may fill in your work history in advance. Sign and date it in front of the SBO/C.

Accuracy matters throughout. Your background check runs against the personal information you enter, and errors delay processing. If you have a prior certificate history, including any past revocation or suspension, be ready to discuss it at the interview.⁶

Scheduling and Attending Your CHP Appointment

The CHP 295 cannot be submitted by mail or online. Call your local CHP area office to schedule an interview with an SBO/C.⁵ At the appointment, the officer will:

Review your completed CHP 295 and every supporting document you brought.
Go over the minimum physical and medical requirements with you.
Explain the background check, driving record review, and testing procedures.
Conduct or schedule your Live Scan fingerprinting.
Collect your fees.

This is also where you complete the sections of the form that require the officer’s presence, so bring any pages you’ve already started along with the full document set.⁷

Background Check and Tests

Original applicants other than youth bus drivers are fingerprinted at the appointment. The Live Scan operator transmits your prints electronically to the California Department of Justice. If your prints do not match any record, processing completes in 48 to 72 hours. If there is a match, a DOJ technician reviews the associated criminal history and applies the disqualification criteria for your certificate type before responding to the CHP.⁸ The review looks at your full criminal record, not just driving offenses.

Once you clear the background check, testing begins. Depending on the certificate, the CHP administers up to three exams:

A written test on passenger transportation laws and safe driving practices.²
A driving test consisting of a pre-trip vehicle inspection, basic control skills, and a behind-the-wheel road test in a vehicle comparable to the one you’ll operate.¹
A first aid examination, required for school bus and youth bus applicants only. It is scored independently of the other two tests.

You get three attempts to pass each test. Fail any test three times and you’re disqualified, with a 45-day wait before you can reapply.⁷ Ask your CHP office which times are available for the interview, testing, and certification when you schedule.

When Your Certificate Issues

After you pass every required test and clear every requirement, the CHP issues a permanent Special Driver Certificate. It’s valid for up to five years and expires on your fifth birthday following the issue or most recent renewal date.⁹ A temporary certificate may be issued in some situations while final verification is pending, letting you start work before the permanent card arrives by mail.

Renewing With the Same Form

Renewals use the CHP 295 again, with a lighter document load. You don’t need a new H6 or new fingerprints. You do need a current DL-51 medical report and documentation of any required training. The fee is $12.² Because the certificate expires on your birthday in year five, start the renewal process well before that date to avoid a lapse. Call your local CHP office to schedule the renewal interview the same way you scheduled the original.

1
California Highway Patrol. School Bus Program
2
California Highway Patrol. CHP 295 Special Certificate Application
3
California Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver License Certificates and Endorsements
4
California Legislative Information. California Code Vehicle Code 12517.2
5
California Highway Patrol. CHP 295-J Applicant/Carrier Document Checklist
6
California Highway Patrol. School Bus Program – Section: CHP 295 Directions
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California Highway Patrol. HPH 82.7 Chapter 2 Application Process for School Bus, School Pupil Activity Bus, Youth Bus, General Public Paratransit Vehicle, and Farm Labor Vehicle Driver Certificates
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Office of the Attorney General. Fingerprint Background Checks – Section: The Background Check Process
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California Legislative Information. California Code Vehicle Code 12517.4