TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NOTE
School Business Services
School Transportation Management Section
Department of Education
John L. Winn, Commissioner
No. T-05-07
Contact:
Mike Starzinski
(850)
245-9795
SC 205-9795
DATE:
March 23, 2005
TO:
School District Transportation Directors and Service Managers
FROM:
Charlie Hood, Director, School Transportation Management
SUBJECT:
School Bus Safety Inspector Certification Testing Schedule
Providing students with access to educational programs requires that school districts and charter
schools employ or contract for an adequate supply of trained, well qualified transportation
support personnel. Among the most critical of these persons are certified school bus safety
inspectors.
This letter is to inform your district of the new statewide school bus safety inspector certification
testing schedule. This new schedule contains dates and locations where the Department of
Education will conduct testing through December 2005.
This schedule provides districts with certification test event scheduling information in advance
of test dates, allowing efficient planning and work scheduling to accommodate initial
certification testing of personnel. Please refer to the following information regarding class seat
reservations and testing procedures.
Morning testing sessions will start at 8:00 a.m. and end at 12:00 noon. Afternoon testing
sessions will start at 1:00 p.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. Reservations for available seats will be
made on a “first come, first served” basis. When calling to make reservations please identify the
test(s) your candidate(s) will be taking. Candidates are not eligible to be re-tested during the
same week that they fail any school bus safety inspector certification test.
Please call Ms. Katrina Bond at (850) 245-9795 or SC 205-9795 to reserve seats for testing
sessions. Seating reservations will not be accepted any later than seven days prior to the
published start date at each test location. If all days of a testing series are full, a waiting list will
be established to fill any possible cancellations.
At the time you call please inform Ms. Bond of those candidates who prefer that the written test
be read to them in English or Spanish.
Technical Assistance Note T-05-07
March 23, 2005
Page Two
The following are prerequisites candidates must meet in order to attend these testing sessions and
qualify for certification:
1)
?
Candidates must have a minimum of two years of automotive, truck, heavy
equipment, or bus (school or transit) mechanical (wrench turning) experience and
be employed as a journeyman level technician.
2)
?
Candidates must study the current edition of the School Bus Safety Inspection
Manual thoroughly and use the latest school bus inspection form while
performing several practice school bus inspections.
3)
?
Candidates must attend training classes conducted by a certified school bus
inspector trainer.
A certified trainer must also sign the candidate's inspector
certification application, indicating that the candidate meets all qualifications and
has attended the required training classes.
Through past experience we have determined that prerequisites number two and three above
should be completed just prior to attending a testing session so that information is fresh in a
candidate’s mind. Candidates cannot be certified as School Bus Inspectors unless they have the
required professional credentials and pass both the written and hands-on tests.
Candidates must come to the test site prepared to take their certification test(s). Candidates must
have the following items with them on the day of the test(s):
1)
?
First-time test candidates must present a completed Application for State of
Florida School Bus Safety Inspector Certification and a copy of their current job
description at the test site on the day of their test. These candidates will not be
tested unless they bring a completed application form to the test site that is signed
by the applicant, a certified school bus inspector trainer and their transportation
director (or designee).
2)
?
Re-test candidates must present a copy of their current job description at the test
site on the day of the test. The test administrator will bring previously submitted
applications of re-test candidates to the test site. Failure of applicants to provide a
current job description may result in a significant delay in the processing of their
application and/or withholding of their certification.
Technical Assistance Note T-05-07
March 23, 2005
Page Three
3)
Candidates must bring a copy of the current School Bus Safety Inspection Manual
to their test session to use during the hands-on test, as they will be asked to use
their manual during that portion of testing.
4)
Candidates must bring a photo ID to the test site. Candidates without photo IDs
will not be tested.
5)
Candidates must bring pens or pencils with them. No pens or pencils will be
provided at the test site.
6)
One portion of each test session will be hands-on, so please inform your
candidates to dress accordingly.
All other tools and equipment candidates will need to use during the hands-on test will be
provided at the test site.
A blank Application for State of Florida School Bus Safety Inspector Certification is enclosed.
Please copy the application as needed; however, we request that you distribute only two-sided
copies for applicants to fill out.
Please contact Mr. Michael Starzinski by email at Michael.Starzinski@fldoe.org or by phone at
(850) 245-9795 or SC 205-9795 if you have any comments, questions or need any further
assistance.
Attachments:
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School Bus Safety Inspector Certification Testing Schedule
Blank Application Form
CFH/ms
2005
?
Florida School Bus Safety Inspector
?
Certification Testing Schedule
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Host District
Test Dates
Palm Beach
March 28 through April 1, 2005
Escambia
April 18 through 22, 2005
Clay
May 16 through 20, 2005
Osceola
June 20 through 24, 2005
Collier
July 18 through 22, 2005
Bay
September 19 through 23, 2005
Pinellas
October 17 through 21, 2005
Broward
November 14 through 18, 2005
Notes:
Dates and locations are subject to change.
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Districts will be promptly notified of any changes made to this schedule.
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_______________________________ ________
_______________________
______________________________________ ________________________ ______ ________
--------------------------
___________________________________________________
______________________________________ _________________________ ______ _________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wr
__-____ __-____ __-____
Certification #: ________ - _____________
H/O ______ ______ ______
APPLICATION FOR:
STATE OF FLORIDA
SCHOOL BUS SAFETY INSPECTOR CERTIFICATION
Please Type or Print
_________________ _______ _________________________________
First M.I. Last
____________________
Florida
________
Apt. # City
Zip
___ / ___ / _____
Education:
Birth Date
APPLICATION LEVEL - CHECK ONE:
1.
2.
TRAINER
3.
4.
Back to top
MECHANICAL WORK EXPERIENCE or SUPERVISORY EXPERIENCE:
ing areas: a) Automotive;
Level #4 in school transportation management.
#1)
__________________________________________________
Street Address
City
State Zip
Tel. #: (___) ____ - _______
To: _____/_____/_____
#2)
Street Address
City
State Zip
Tel. #: (___) ____- _______
To: _____/_____/_____
Name: ________
Home Street Address
Check Highest Level Achieved
Driver License Number
High School Diploma 2 yr. College Degree
or
GED
4 yr. College Degree Post Graduate Degree
INSPECTOR
SUPERVISOR I
SUPERVISOR II
Candidate must document a minimum of 2 years mechanical experience (or a 2 yr. Vo-Tech degree) and Journeyman
level professional credentials, for Certification Level #1, #2, or #3 above, in any of the follow
b) Truck; c) Heavy Equipment; or d) Buses (transit or school); or a minimum of one year of supervisory experience for
List employers where applicable experience and credentials were gained:
Your current or most recent employer:
Your position or job title: ____________________________________________________________
Supervisor’s name: _______________________ Your Supervisor’s Title: _____________________
Employed From: _____/_____/_____
Employer (previous to #1 above):
Your Position or Job Title: ____________________________________________________________
Supervisor’s Name: _______________________ Your Supervisor’s Title: ______________________
Employed From: _____/_____/_____
Note:
If needed to demonstrate compliance with requirements, list additional employers, mechanical experience, or Vo-Tech degree information
on a separate piece of paper and attach to this application.
CERTIFICATION INFORMATION
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________
City
Zip
_____________________
NOTE:
)
Applicant’s Signature: __________________________ Date: ______/______/______
The Applicant meets all training requirements:
Trainer’s Signature: ____________________________ Date: ______/______/______
The Applicant meets all applicable qualifications and requirements:
This Section for DOE USE ONLY
Inspector: Trainer: Supervisor I:
Supervisor II:
Applicant is denied or no number issued due to
:
No Training Received
Written Test Date:
______/_____/______ Passed _________ Failed ________
* Retest Date: 1. ______/_____/______ Passed _________ Failed ________
* Retest Date: 2. ______/_____/______ Passed _________ Failed ________
* Retest Date: 3. ______/_____/______ Passed _________ Failed ________
Hands On Test Date:
______/_____/______ Passed _________ Failed _________
* Retest Date: 1. ______/_____/______ Passed _________ Failed _________
* Retest Date: 2. ______/_____/______ Passed _________ Failed _________
* Retest Date: 3. ______/_____/______ Passed _________ Failed _________
(
* If Applicable)
Certified By
: ___________________________ Date: ______/______/_______
Revised 9/19/03
Name of employer or district where applicant is employed
_____________________, Florida ___________
Work or Mailing Address
Supervisor’s Name: __________________________ Title:
This Application must be signed by the applicant’s Transportation Director, a certified School Bus
Inspector/Trainer, and the Applicant (inspector and supervisor applicants only to be eligible for testing.
Candidates must bring a photo ID, a completed and signed application (original signatures only…NO
COPIES), and a copy of their current job description to the testing site.
Trans.
Director’s Signature: _________________________ Date: ______/______/______
Insufficient Data
Does Not Qualify
Insufficient Experience
Classified as a Mechanic’s Helper
Name of DOE Official
