Rule 3301-83-07 | School transportation driver physical qualifications rule.
(A) A person who meets the physical qualifications set forth in this rule as certified by a proper medical authority may be authorized to operate a school bus, as defined by division (F) of section 4511.01 of the Revised Code, or a motor van as defined in rule 3301-83-04 of the Administrative Code, for the purpose of transporting pupils.
(B) Annual physical exams are to be performed for operators of school buses and motor vans as set forth in divisions (A) and (B) of section 3327.10 of the Revised Code by one or more medical examiners annually appointed by the school bus or motor van owner. For purposes of this rule, a "medical examiner"is one of the professionals listed in those divisions of section 3327.10 of the Revised Code.
(C) Physical examination time schedule
(1) School bus and motor van drivers' medical examinations are to be scheduled after the first day of May and the completed medical examination is valid for the upcoming school year. A completed T-8 form is to be on file in accordance with procedures established by the department of education and workforce and completed before drivers will be qualified to operate a school bus or motor van with passengers on board for the next school year.
(2) Persons employed as new drivers before January first are to meet the physical qualifications as defined in paragraph (E) of this rule prior to operating a school bus or motor van with passengers on board and be re-examined if re-employed as a school bus or motor van driver for the next school year.
(3) Persons employed as new drivers on or after January first are to be examined prior to operating a school bus or motor van with passengers on board and the examination will remain valid throughout the following school year.
(D) A person may be certified by the appointed medical examiner as physically qualified to operate a school bus or motor van if the person:
(1) Has no loss of a foot, a leg, a hand, fingers, or an arm. Upon request to the department, a driver applicant missing a foot, leg, fingers, hand, or arm, may request a performance evaluation to be conducted by the Ohio pre-service program instructor(s) to determine the person's ability to control and safely operate a school bus or motor van and satisfactorily perform other related duties. Individuals who are granted an impaired or missing limb waiver are to be re-evaluated prior to applying for renewal of a T-9 certificate;
(2) Has no impairment of the use of a foot, a leg, a hand, fingers, or an arm, and no other structural defect or limitation which is likely to interfere with a person's ability to control and safely operate a school bus or motor van. Upon request made to the department, a driver applicant with an impairment of a foot, leg, fingers, hand, or arm, may request a performance evaluation to be conducted by the Ohio pre-service program instructor(s) to determine the applicant's ability to control and safely operate a school bus or motor van and satisfactorily perform other related duties. Individuals who are granted an impaired or missing limb waiver are to be re-evaluated prior to applying for renewal of a T-9 certificate;
(3) Has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus currently requiring insulin for control. Drivers who are insulin dependent are not eligible to operate school buses or motor vans unless they have obtained a waiver from the department pursuant to paragraph (F) of this rule;
(4) Annual urinalysis screening for glucose is to be performed. If glucosuria is detected, a medical examiner's statement regarding the potential condition of diabetes mellitus and any necessary treatment is to be attached to the T-8 form. If the medical examiner determines diabetes mellitus is not likely to impair the ability to operate school buses or motor vans, and the individual is not insulin dependent, a medical examiner will provide certification to that effect with the examination report;
(5) Has no current clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary insufficiency, thrombosis, or any other cardiovascular disease of a variety known to be accompanied by syncope, dyspnea, collapse, or congestive cardiac failure. A person with a history of cardiovascular surgery or abnormality will be given a more stringent examination (example: stress testing, holter monitoring, angiography or other examinations) to determine whether or not the surgery or abnormality is likely to impair a person's ability to control, inspect, and safely operate a school bus or motor van. If it is determined that the surgery or abnormality is not likely to impair the ability, a medical examiner will provide certification to that effect with the examination report;
(6) Has no history of transient ischemic attack (TIA), carotid insufficiency, cerebral vascular accidents (stroke) or other vascular abnormalities which are unstable or uncontrolled and/or likely to interfere with a person's ability to control and safely operate a school bus or motor van;
(7) Has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of respiratory dysfunction likely to interfere with a person's ability to control and safely operate a school bus or motor van;
(8) Has blood pressure not higher than 160/90 mmHg. If the blood pressure is greater than 160/90 mmHg, a medical certificate is to be attached referencing the hypertension. To be eligible to drive a school bus or motor van, the medical certificate is to establish the nature of the treatment, that the blood pressure is now controlled at or below 160/90 mmHg, with treatment documented, and that the hypertension and treatment are not likely to interfere with a person's ability to control and safely operate a school bus or motor van. If initial blood pressure systolic is 161-180 and/or diastolic is 91-104, a non-renewable temporary certificate may be issued for up to ninety days pending control of blood pressure at or below 160/90 mmHg. In all cases where blood pressure is initially greater than 160/90 mmHg, a six month follow-up certificate will be furnished to the employer by the driver's treating medical examiner stating the blood pressure remains at or below 160/90 mmHg and under good control;
(9) Has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of rheumatic, arthritic, orthopedic, muscular, or neuromuscular disease which is likely to interfere with a person's ability to control and safely operate a school bus or motor van;
(10) Has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other seizure disorder and has no other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of a person's ability to control and safely operate a school bus or motor van;
(11) Has no mental, emotional, nervous, organic, or functional disease or psychiatric disorder which is likely to interfere with a person's ability to control and safely operate a school bus or motor van;
(12) Has distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen) in each eye without corrective lenses or visual acuity separately corrected to 20/40 (Snellen) or better with corrective lenses, distant binocular acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen) in both eyes with or without corrective lenses, field of vision of at least seventy degrees in the horizontal meridian in each eye, and the ability to recognize the colors of traffic signals and devices showing standard red, green, and amber. Persons may use corrective lenses to attain these standards;
(13) Screening audiometer test does not indicate an average hearing loss in the better ear greater than forty decibels at five hundred Hz, one thousand Hz, and two thousand Hz with or without a hearing aid when the audiometric device is calibrated to "American National Standard" (formerly ASA standard) Z24.5. (Hearing in at least one ear is to meet the preceding criteria).The hearing qualification does not apply to drivers employed by Ohio deaf and blind education services when transporting students enrolled at any division of Ohio deaf and blind education services, interpreters, and authorized passengers as provided within rule 3301-83-17 of the Administrative Code, after pre-trip procedures are conducted for each trip, including confirming communication capability to ensure the driver has the ability to communicate with passengers. The deaf driver's ability to communicate may be satisfied by transporting groups of students and employees that can communicate using both speech and sign language or a group that includes a sighted individual that can communicate using speech and sign language;
(14) Has no current clinical evidence or clinical record of use of illegal substances, or the use of prescription drugs not in accordance with a current, valid prescription, and has no current clinical evidence or clinical record of use of legally prescribed medication which is likely to interfere with a person's ability to control and safely operate a school bus or motor van;
(15) Has no recent history of alcohol abuse and has no current clinical diagnosis of alcoholism;
(16) Has no neurologic deficit that would impair a person's ability to control and safely operate a school bus or motor van;
(17) Does not show clinical evidence of active pulmonary tuberculosis or other communicable diseases; and
(18) Has speech and other communication capabilities to give clear and understandable directions or commands.
(E) Administration
(1) School bus or motor van drivers who have experienced a prolonged period of absence due to illness or injury or who have a significant change in their state of health are to be re-examined at the discretion of the school bus or motor van owner in accordance with this rule.
(2) Currently employed school bus or motor van drivers disqualified by the appointed medical examiner are to be notified by the school bus or motor van owner within fifteen days following receipt of the examination report. Currently employed school bus or motor van drivers desiring to appeal a disqualification may file the appeal in writing within no more than fifteen days with the school bus or motor van owner.
(3) Upon receipt of an appeal, the school bus or motor van owner is to arrange for a medical re-examination. The re-examination may be conducted by a public health board or private medical examiner who was not the medical examiner that performed the original examination.
(4) All re-examinations will be based on the school bus or motor van driver physical qualifications set forth in this rule and are final.
(5) Physical qualification examination reports are to contain a release authorization to be signed by the examinee for purposes of evaluation by the medical examiner.
(6) Costs for examinations are the responsibility of the school bus or motor van owner.
(7) Physical examination reports for persons certified by the medical examiner as meeting this rule are to be retained for a period of six years by the school bus or motor van owner.
(F) Insulin dependent waivers
The department may grant waivers to insulin using individuals under the following conditions:
(1) The individual has not had a previously issued insulin waiver revoked or lapsed;
(2) The individual completes an insulin dependent waiver packet and submits the packet to the department's pupil transportation office;
(3) The individual has passed all other components of the Ohio school transportation vehicle physical;
(4) The individual possesses a currently valid operator's driver license and has had a driving record for a two-year period immediately preceding the date of application that:
(a) Contains no suspensions or revocations of their licenses for the operation of any motor vehicle, including their personal vehicle, except for suspensions or revocations due to nonpayment of fines;
(b) Contains no involvement in a reportable accident in any vehicle with an associated citation for a moving traffic violation; and
(c) Contains no involvement in more than one serious traffic violation in any vehicle as defined in division (II) of section 4506.01 of the Revised Code.
(5) Medical components for application
(a) The individual has provided a licensed endocrinologist with a complete medical history including, but not limited to, the date insulin use began, all hospitalization reports, consultation notes for diagnostic examinations, special studies pertaining to the diabetes, all follow-up reports, and reports of any hypoglycemic insulin reactions within the last three years;
(b) The individual has been examined by a licensed endocrinologist and a complete medical evaluation concerning their medical history and current status has been made, including, at a minimum, the following:
(i) Fasting blood studies (glucose, glycostylated hemoglobin/HB A1c, including lab reference range) and urinalysis performed during the last six months; and
(ii) A detailed report of insulin dosages and types, diet utilized for control, and any significant factors such as smoking, alcohol use, and other medications or drugs taken; and
(iii) Assessment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
(c) The individual submits a signed statement prepared by the examining endocrinologist whose license status is indicated. The signed statement is to include separate declarations indicating the following medical determinations:
(i) That the endocrinologist is familiar with the applicant's medical history for the past three years either through actual treatment over that time or through consultation with a medical examiner who has treated the applicant during that time;
(ii) That the applicant has been using insulin to control the applicant's diabetes on the date of the application;
(iii) That the applicant does not have severe hypoglycemia or episodes of altered consciousness requiring the assistance of another person to regain control;
(iv) The applicant does not have hypoglycemia unawareness or the inability to recognize the early symptoms of hypoglycemia such as sweating, anxiety, forceful heartbeat, and light-headedness;
(v) That, within the past three years, the applicant has not had a hypoglycemic reaction at any time that resulted in any change in mental status that would have been, in the endocrinologist's opinion, detrimental to safe driving;
(vi) That the applicant's diabetic condition will not adversely affect the applicant's ability to operate a school bus or a motor van;
(vii) That the applicant has been educated in diabetes and its management, thoroughly informed of and understands the procedures that are to be followed to monitor and manage the applicant's diabetes, and what procedures should be followed if complications arise; and
(viii) That the applicant has the ability and has demonstrated willingness to properly monitor and manage the applicant's diabetes.
(d) The individual submits a separate statement from an examining ophthalmologist that the applicant has been examined and that the applicant does not have unstable proliferative diabetic retinopathy or unstable advancing disease of blood vessels in the retina and has stable visual acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen) in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses.
(6) Maintaining a valid waiver.
Each insulin-dependent driver will:
(a) Carry, use, and record readings from a portable self-monitoring blood glucose device (SMBG) that is equipped with a computerized memory. Blood glucose monitoring is to be performed one hour prior to and approximately every four hours while on duty. The driver will present the glucometer or a printout of the device's electronic records, showing the preceding three months of blood glucose values, to any authorized enforcement official upon request;
(b) Carry, upon their person, and use, as necessary, a source of rapidly absorbable glucose;
(c) Carry insulin and the equipment/materials necessary for administering the medication;
(d) Report, in writing, any citation for a moving violation involving the operation of any vehicle, including personal vehicles, to the employer and the department no later than fifteen days following the issuance of such citation. A photostatic copy of the citation issued is to accompany the written report;
(e) Report, in writing, the judicial or administrative disposition of any citation for a moving violation involving the operation of any vehicle, including personal vehicles, to the employer and the department no later than fifteen days following the notice of disposition;
(f) Report, in writing, any involvement in an accident whatsoever, regardless of whether the driver was cited, while operating any vehicle, including personal vehicles, to the employer and the department no later than fifteen days following the accident, and include in that report, any state, insurance company, and/or motor carrier accident reports;
(g) Submit any medical information derived from medical assistance or treatment arising from any accident involvement to the department upon request following the accident. A copy of the attending medical specialist and laboratory reports may be provided to satisfy this paragraph;
(h) Submit a signed statement from a licensed endocrinologist, upon request of the employer, that the driver has been examined and that any diabetic condition is currently stable and under control. Log records of blood glucose values for the preceding three months are to be made available to the examining endocrinologist at the time of the examination.
(7) All documentation described in paragraph (F)(5) of this rule is to be submitted by secured electronic transmission to waiverapp@education.ohio.gov or mailed to the department's pupil transportation office, 25 South Front street, Columbus, Ohio 43215-4183. Failure to timely submit reports may be cause for waiver revocation.
(8) Any individual driver operating a school bus or motor van granted a waiver pursuant to this rule remains subject to the provisions of section 3327.10 of the Revised Code, including providing written notice of incidents as set forth in division (D) of section 3327.10 of the Revised Code.
(9) Applicants for a waiver from the insulin-using diabetes mellitus qualification are to submit applications on plain paper and include all supporting documents and the information as set forth in this paragraph. Each information item is to contain a complete and appropriate answer, or, if an item is not applicable, marked with "none."
(a) Vital statistics
(i) Name of applicant (first name, middle initial, last name);
(ii) Address (street number and name);
(iii) City, state, and zip code;
(iv) Telephone number (including area code);
(v) Sex (male or female);
(vi) Date of birth (month, day, and year);
(vii) Age;
(viii) State driver's license number and a list of all licenses held during the three-year period immediately preceding the date of application to operate a school transportation vehicle;
(ix) Issuing state;
(x) Driver's license expiration date;
(xi) Driver's license classification; and
(xii) Employer's or prospective employer's name, address, and telephone number.
(b) Experience
(i) Number of years and approximate miles driving school buses;
(ii) Approximate number of years and miles driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) as defined in rule 4901:2-5-01 of the Administrative Code; and
(iii) Number of years driving vehicles other than a CMV or school bus.
(c) Experience factor
(i) Unless the department is satisfied otherwise, the driver has accumulated at least two years' experience operating a motor vehicle on a regular basis and that experience is recent enough to reflect the driver's capabilities; and
(ii) Additionally, to qualify for a waiver, a driver has a clean driving record as described in paragraph (F)(4)(a) of this rule for the three years immediately preceding the date of the application.
(d) Applications will include supporting documents necessitated by this rule and any other documents deemed necessary by the department.
(G) The following applies to waivers under this rule:
(1) A waiver issued by the department is valid for six years from the date of issuance unless the waiver is revoked by the department for cause or based on a change in statute or rule.
(2) A waiver issued by the department may be revoked for failure to comply with this rule.
(3) All medical documentation submitted to the department according to this rule may be reviewed by a panel of physicians appointed by the department. This panel of physicians is to make a recommendation on whether a waiver should be issued based upon medical documentation.
(4) The department has final approval say on all waiver determinations.
Last updated July 1, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Supplemental Information