To drive a commercial or local bus in Victoria you need Commercial Passenger Vehicle and Bus Driver Accreditation.

Becoming a bus driver

Information on this page

Accreditation application process

To apply for accreditation, applicants must complete the following application process:

Step 1: Complete application form

To apply, complete one copy of the Application for Accreditation to Drive a Commercial Passenger Vehicle and Private Bus booklet, including the completed medical certificate and vision acuteness certificate.

You are required to submit:

  • your current full (non-probationary) Driver Licence and proof that you have held that licence in Victoria for at least 12 months
  • a primary acceptable proof of identification
  • a secondary acceptable proof of identification
  • evidence of entitlement to work in Australia
  • a current (issued within the last 6 months) National Police Certificate (NPC)
  • A new online application form for a NPC is available by visiting Victoria Police or alternatively call the Victoria Police information line on 1300 881 596. We no longer provide applicants with Consent to Check and Release National Police Record Forms. When making a request for a NPC from Victoria Police, in Section E (Purpose of check) of the application form, you must select the box marked “Other” and specify that the intended purpose of your police check is “VTD Accreditation”.
  • If you are from a Culturally & Linguistically Diverse background (CALD*), you must provide a certificate of evidence of English Language Competency in the form of:
  • For International Second Language Proficiency Ratings (ISLPR): level 3 in speaking, level 3 in listening, level 2 in reading and level 2 in writing
  • For English as a Second Language (ESL): Certificate III in ESL (for speaking and listening) and Certificate II in ESL (for reading and writing)
  • For International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 5.5 for Speaking and Listening and an average of 5.5.
  • The certificate must have been issued in Australia within the last twelve months.

*CALD is identified where:

  • The applicant was born in a country where English is not the primary recognised language
  • The language spoken at home is a language other than English.

Step 2: Lodge application

Lodge your application by mail or in person at the VTD or at a VicRoads office. Please note that lodgement via mail or at a VicRoads office may increase the time it takes to process your application.

We will notify you of your application status within 10 business days of receiving all the information and documentation required. This will not include time taken in the mail or to transfer from a VicRoads office. If criteria is not met, you will be advised to provide additional information. Please contact us on 1800 638 802 for further information.

Step 3: Assessment

We will assess your application, taking into consideration:

  • its duty of care to the public
  • the results of your medical examination and vision acuteness test
  • your driving and criminal history and whether there would be an increased risk of re-offending
  • your competency to provide the service.

Step 4: Outcome of assessment

If satisfied that it is appropriate, based on the above criteria, we will issue you a Driver Accreditation and a copy of Driver accreditation conditions on payment of the fee.

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Renewing your Driver Accreditation

You will be sent a renewal form about 10 weeks before your Driver Accreditation expires. You need to:

  • complete and sign the renewal form
  • have the medical certificate completed by a registered medical practitioner
  • have the visual acuteness certificate completed by a registered medical practitioner or registered optometrist
  • lodge the form by mail or in person to the VTD, or in person at a VicRoads office.
  • have a National Police Certificate (NPC) upon application for renewal if your accreditation has been expired for more than six months. A new online application form for a NPC is available by visiting Victoria Police or alternatively call the Victoria Police information line on 1300 881 596. We no longer provide applicants with Consent to Check and Release National Police Record Forms.
  • If all criteria are still met, we will re-issue a Driver Accreditation for a further period on payment of the fee.

Fees

For information on payments, see fees and charges.

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For further information, contact us.