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Bus and coach drivers transport passengers on local, national or overseas journeys.
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; away from home
There will be
0.3% fewer Bus or coach driver jobs in 2029.
In your local area
As a bus driver, you could:
If you're a coach driver, you may also:
You may need to wear a uniform.
You can get into this job through:
You can apply to do a Passenger Transport Driver Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, with a bus or coach company.
You will need to hold at least a Category B (car driving licence) to start training.
The apprenticeship typically takes 12 months to complete and combines workplace training with off-the-job study.
You'll usually need:
You can apply to bus or coach companies and train on the job.
Most companies will expect you to have a at least 6 months' car driving experience.
You would be put through Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) driver training that normally lasts between 1 and 6 weeks.
Your employer will also give you training for the Certificate of Professional Competence or Driver CPC.
You'll need to:
Some travel companies offer contracts where you receive a daily rate until the job is complete. For example, it might be driving passengers on a coaching holiday. In cases like these, the rates can be from £120 a day upwards.
You can find out how to become a qualified bus driver on GOV.UK.
With experience, you could become a service scheduler, inspector, depot manager or driver training instructor.
You could also set up your own business. For this you'll need the Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Confidence (CPC). This can be done through a local training provider.