Nine University Reviews – What to Expect From An Online Educator

Each year we see more and more people looking to go back to education and study a wide range of courses online. Some people go back to learn things that they never did in the past, others do so for fun and some will look to use the likes of online courses like Nine University, to help them launch their own business. Incidentally those Nine University reviews which are online look incredibly impressive and it is easy to see why so many wish to study there. Regardless of what someone is looking to study it is important that they know what to expect from an online educator. Unfortunately there are a number of online courses which aren’t worth the money, and here is how to ensure that people choose well.

Reviews and Feedback

We mentioned about the importance of review in the intro and this is a point which cannot be overstated. The experiences of those who have studied somewhere before are going to be absolutely vital when deciding whether or not this is a course that is going to to be worthwhile. When looking at reviews people must be mindful of ensuring that the reviews they read are valid, and that there are a number of opinions covered within them, to give a clearer picture.

Resources

When studying online it is important to remember that much of the work is carried out by the individual, rather than a traditional method of classroom teaching. It is for this reason that new students must ensure that the course they are signing up for, is able to offer a wealth of learning resources which can be used. This should include video tutorials, reading materials, forums which allow students to communicate with each other and equally as important is having someone on hand to speak with should students run into any difficulty. Not enough places that offer online courses have teachers and mentors available for such circumstances, but it should be an essential feature of an online educator.

Course Design

Everyone learns at different speeds, in different ways and with different tools and this is why people have to ensure that they are choosing an educator which has a smartly designed course that fits with all types of learner. Courses should be carefully mapped out, they should be broken down into manageable pieces and they should also flow in a way that helps the learner really gain a depth of understanding about the course that they are studying. Given that learners will have to be self-disciplined during their course, it will always make sense to have an easy to understand course that can be managed without too much difficulty.

These are the key areas that people must look at when they are considering where to learn online, if an online course provider is able to incorporate these features then they are more than likely going to be a great choice for any student.

 

Caring for nature is one of the most important things children should learn about and develop as a habit. Regardless of one’s age, everyone should be more eco-friendly and be proactive in saving the planet.

Although there are numerous concepts children have to learn about, teaching them about rainforests, the essential roles they play, and how everyone can help save them is something that educators and even parents should prioritize.

A tropical rainforest encounter for students is one of the most unique, fun and effective strategies educators and schools can consider for teaching children the importance of these ecosystems.

By giving kids an immersive experience to cap off their classroom lectures and other activities, they will understand and appreciate these biomes better. They will become more inspired to lend a hand in saving the rainforests as well.

If you are looking for ideas for helping young children in Dubai learn about rainforests, below are some concepts that you have to cover or include in your lesson plan:

What Are Rainforests?

Rainforests are the planet’s oldest living ecosystems that cover around six percent of the earth’s surface. They are tall, compact jungles that receive high amounts of rainfall every year. Temperatures in these biomes are both hot and humid.

There are different types of rainforests, but the largest are the tropical and temperate ones.

Tropical rainforests are warm and wet. They are found in locations with equatorial or tropical rainforest climates, such as Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, South America, and the Pacific Islands.

Temperate rainforests, on the other hand, are cool and wet. They are located in temperate regions, such as North America, Europe, and New Zealand.

Montane, lowland, and flooded are the other types of rainforests.

All rainforests have four layers. These are the:

Forest floor

The forest floor is the lowest layer of a rainforest. The surface is covered with a thin film of fallen leaves and decaying fruits, seeds, and branches. It receives less than two percent of sunlight and that is why only plants that adapt to low light grow here. This layer is where the biggest animals in the biome can be seen.

Understory

This layer can be found between the forest floor and the canopy layer. It consists of leafy bushes, small trees, saplings, and vines. It is a dark place that receives two to 15 percent of sunlight. This layer is the habitat of boas, ants and other bugs.

Canopy

The canopy is made up of the branches and leaves of the biome’s trees. Ninety-nine percent of sunlight falls on this layer. It is home to 90 percent of all the plant and animal species that live in the rainforest, most of which seek the light in the treetops. You will find monkeys, birds, and various mammals and reptiles in this layer.

Emergent

The branches of the tallest trees in the rainforest make up the emergent layer. It is breezy when it is raining and extremely hot during the warmest part of the day. It also lacks shelter, and as such, it is mostly birds that dwell in this layer.

Where Are the Biggest Rainforests in the World Found?

There are dozens of rainforests scattered around the globe. However, the largest and most popular ones can be found in:

South America

The biggest and most well-known tropical rainforest, which is the Amazon, covers 40 percent of South America and spans nine countries:

• Brazil
• Bolivia
• Colombia
• Ecuador
• French Guiana
• Guyana
• Peru
• Suriname
• Venezuela

The Amazon, which is approximately 5,500,000km² wide, is home to over half of the earth’s remaining rainforests and around 390 billion trees divided into thousands of different classes. A tenth of all known flora and fauna species live here as well.

Central Africa

The Congolese rainforest, which spans an area of 1,780,000km², covers six countries:

• Cameroon
• The Central African Republic
• The Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Gabon
• Republic of the Congo

The rainforest covers the Congo Basin and has a variety of rivers, forests, flooded woodland, swamps, and savannahs.

New Guinea

The New Guinea Rainforest is over 288,000km² wide and is located in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. It is the largest rainforest in the Asia-Pacific region.

The rainforest covers numerous forests and coastal mangroves. You will find many of the world’s most unique plants and animals here, including the most number of orchid species in the world.

Chile, Argentina, Borneo, USA, Canada, and Australia also have vast rainforests that serve as home to thousands of species of flora and fauna.

Why Are Rainforests Important?

The rainforests found in different parts of the world are crucial ecosystems that have several significant roles:

They produce clean air for all living things to inhale.

Rainforests are sometimes called the “lungs” of the Earth. The trees in these ecosystems absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release healthy and safe oxygen for humans and animals to breathe in.

They help maintain the earth’s climate.

Since rainforests absorb carbon dioxide, which is a chief factor in climate change, they reduce its unhealthy effects. Additionally, they absorb tropical heat and moisture; when these two accumulate, they can make storms and tornadoes stronger.

They provide shelter and protection to thousands of species of flora and fauna.

Different types of animals and plants of various sizes live in rainforests. Many of these species are endangered; if their biomes are destroyed, they will be wiped out as well.

They supply food and raw materials for medicines and other products.

Lastly, rainforests are sources of various items that you eat and use almost daily. Cocoa, which is used for making chocolates and other by-products, bananas, pineapples, and other fruits and vegetables come from tropical forests. Many rainforests plants are used for medicines, as well.

How Can You Help Protect the Rainforest?

Every year, the rainforests from different parts of the world are getting smaller and smaller. They are under constant threats including deforestation, illegal logging, large-scale farming and ranching, development, and mining.

Everyone, even young students, can help save the rainforests. You can do this by:

• Using less paper. Additionally, recycle and reuse paper instead of throwing them after only one use.
• Asking your parents to buy food products that are grown sustainably. These foodstuffs are cultivated in ways that are more eco-friendly and safer for the environment and wildlife.
• Requesting your parents to purchase wooden furniture pieces that are not made of threatened rainforest woods. Mahogany, ebony, and rosewood are some of the types of timber everyone should avoid buying.
• Participating in bake garage sales and other fundraising events that aim to raise money which will go to an organization that helps conserve rainforests. The additional funds will help sustain their operations.
• Joining and organizing events that promote awareness of preserving rainforests. These can include a film showing, online petitions, and visits to artificial biodomes and other places where you can learn more about the wildlife in forests.

With all rainforests under the threat of destruction, everyone, including young children, need to pitch in to help save them. This should be something you encourage your students to do, not only during their lessons but throughout their lives.

 

American College of Acupuncture is a college in Houston which specializes in the teachings of Oriental medicine and acupuncture and they offer one of the best chances to study this topic in the country. This is a college which has been widely acclaimed and which is generally considered as being the best of its type in the USA. I have recently finished the most incredible 4 year course there which saw me earn a doctorate, and it has been the most challenging but rewarding 4 years of my life. If you wish to study Oriental medicine then this is the place to do it, and here are the benefits which you can count on when you do.

Courses Available

One of the most beneficial reasons as to why this college is so greta is because they offer a wealth of courses which you can take. My four year doctorate was just one of 2 doctorates that are available at the college, they also offer 2 masters courses which take a year each. If you just want learn a little bit about Oriental medicine then you can also take advantage of the short courses which the college offers, perfect to get a taste for this topic.

Depth

Whether you take on a short course or a post-grad option you will be amazed by the depth which the courses go into. For example they will not just cover the practices, theories and techniques behind Oriental and Chinese medicine, but also the administration side of things and how you can use these ancient practices in today’s modern world.

Quality of Professors

This is a college which prides itself on being the best in the country and in order to maintain that they seek out the very finest teachers and professors for there students. Some these professors have traveled throughout Asia honing their knowledge and their techniques and others have actually come from China and other parts of Asia, to share their knowledge. The professors demand a high standard from you and in return you will learn more than you ever thought that you could about these subjects.

Real Life Experience

The theory is of course important but so too is being able to put what you are learning into practice. It is for this reason that the college has a clinic on campus which is used by members of the public, giving you the perfect chance to put your knowledge into practice.

Health and Helping

The knowledge which you learn here will make you think deeper about your own health and the type of lifestyle which you live. For my part I have changed my own lifestyle as a result and I have also been able to help my friends and my family with the things that I have learned here, from health problems to supporting them with a healthier lifestyle.

The best college to study this topic and one which will provide you with a great amount of benefits.

 

There are many strong proponents of the value of gaming for productivity–particularly in the education realm. A quick look at this survey shows that 15 percent of gamers surveyed reported they have played online games in a school setting. With technology becoming easier to use and more integrated into our everyday life, online games now have a place in education. They are being used more and more in classrooms where teachers are gleaning opportunities to learn and grow by allowing the students to play online games as a part of the lesson.

Terry Heick, a writer for the education blog TeachThought.com shares, “Even if you’re soundly convinced about their merit and place in learning, how can you consistently integrate them in the classroom? The 21st century classroom is about diversity–infinite possible pathways between content and students, resulting in self-directed learning as much as data-driven ‘teaching.’ Online games can be a significant part of that.”

Research for Inspiration

For educators looking for specific ways to incorporate online games into their classrooms and lessons there are many resources available. Some teachers have found benefit using Wikis to find the most popular games. These allow you to collaborate and share ideas on how to teach and integrate these games into the classroom, whether you want to focus on World of Warcraft, Minecraft, or any other games that may come to mind.

Dr. David Childs, Ph.D., Northern Kentucky University shares many resources to help social study teachers incorporate online games into their lesson plans on Democracy and Me.org. “Using online games for educational purposes is nothing new, many people of a certain generation remember Oregon Trail and early math video games of the late twentieth century. However, many teachers do not realize the incredible role online games can play in the classroom today, especially in the area of social studies,” he explains.

Real Life Examples

This 2014 blog post on using technology to teach history in the classroom goes a little deeper, “Current video games, and even some older ones, contain huge amounts of historical, geographical, and economic data that we need to find ways to use…an AP US history teacher using the game Medal of Honor helped his students understand the events surrounding D-Day and the impact they had on post-war relationships.” This particular teacher connected the game to real life and tapped into students emotions by having veterans come in and share their stories — but only after the kids had played the game and learned the language used and a bit of the geography of that time period. It had a profound effect on his students.

The National Education Association is taking notice. They recently wrote about the uptick in game-based classrooms, focusing on Gaming and Instructional Technology Specialist, Lucas Gillespie, who has a blog devoted to showing teachers how they can incorporate gaming into the classroom. “I like to use the games that my students play at home because I find they have more fun and I’m better at creating lessons through those types of games,” says Gillespie. “With that, it is important to acknowledge that there is an equity issue around getting those types of online games in the classroom. I need to have a PC, often with some decent power, to play games like Minecraft: Education Edition, Cities: Skylines, and Offworld Trading Company.”

A Different Approach

But, what if you don’t have that kind of access in your school system? Gillespie explains, “I allowed students to bring their own devices to school. Students would team up to complete the tasks together in the game using the same devices they used at home. If none of that is possible, you can still use game-based learning in the classroom by having students create their own games. Whether digitally, on free programs like Scratch, or with low/no-tech board games, having students make their own games is an awesome experience and one of my favorite assessments.”

Online gaming will surely continue to grow and evolve with technology, as will its use in the classroom. Allowing students do something immersive and interactive, such as playing online games, can provide numerous benefits in the classroom and beyond.

 

Source: Pexels

In 2011, almost 300,000 people died in more than 300 disasters, and millions of people suffered and were affected because of it. The estimated cost of disasters during the last two decades exceeded 2 billion dollars. Earthquakes and disasters made 2011 the most expensive year in history in terms of recovery cost.

However, many countries are still not investing enough to avoid such disasters and are not taking certain actions for protecting their land. Many development representatives are still not providing proper aid to poor countries.

Disaster risk reduction should be considered to build a more sustainable and maintainable future. This requires an investment in prevention of climate-related catastrophes.

There are 5 priorities that have been identified for such actions:

• Ensure that danger reduction becomes a local and national priority
• Identify, estimate and monitor disaster risks and upgrade Red-Alert systems
• Use awareness, innovation, knowledge and education to develop a culture of security at all levels
• Reduce the basic risk factors
• Strengthen the preparation for an operative quick response and recovery, from local levels to the national levels.

Disaster management organizations aren’t the only ones responsible for such harsh climate-related events, but citizens and political leaders are also responsible for these disasters. All of them can reduce the risk just by getting empowered to make decisions.

What is Emergency Planning? What is Disaster Preparedness and how does Risk Reduction Management work?

Emergency planning can be explained as the process of preparing methodically for future eventualities, including major disasters and incidents. The preservation of public security, limitation of injury and proficiency of life-saving assets are some of the important aims of reducing risks. Emergency planning is more like a procedure than a result — especially as the planning method itself needs to be modernized time-to-time as situations change.

The goal of disaster preparedness is to reduce the effects of a disaster on population and to plot a synchronized strategy that decreases the waste of time, resources and efforts. Disaster preparedness has the potential of saving the maximum number of lives and properties during a disaster — it aims to bring back the harmed population back to normal routine as quickly as possible. On the one hand, in order to sustain development activities, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) program must reduce disaster risk. Unreliable development policies will increase losses and risks of disasters. Therefore, DRR includes every part of society, government, professional and private sector.

Disaster managers and volunteers cooperate with emergency managers, local governments and other charitable organizations to provide aid and save lives. The chaotic and deadly result of Hurricane Katrina reminds people about the importance of collaboration and coordination.

Disaster Risk Reduction is a wide term that includes everything we do to minimize or prevent the damage caused by natural climate-related hazards, such as floods, earthquakes, droughts and storms. Raising funds for disaster risk reduction save lives, not just after the disaster happens, but even during a calamity. Homeland security degree supports a wide range of disaster risk reduction activities, such as:

• Early Alert/Warning systems alert people before a volcano breaks out or tsunami hits, giving them time to escape the red-zone
• Analysis of hazards can help the communities to plan where to build and how to build
• Formation and construction of buildings in a way to survive damage
• Skilled responders can instantly rescue injured and trapped people

The United States Presidential Policy Directive outlines emergency preparedness and organization efforts using 5 dependent mission zones, i.e. Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response and Recovery.

Prevention

Prevention means the abilities required to evade, daunt or stop an impending crime or endangered catastrophic incident. Prevention is an act that prevents an expected or an actual incident from occurring.

Protection

Protection is the capability to protect something from getting harmed by an artificial or natural disaster. It focuses on current activities that protect lives and properties. Few example are:

• Storm shelters
• Security valuations/safety checks
• Physical security
• Security recruitment

Mitigation

Mitigation is considered as a necessary ability to remove or minimize the loss of property and life injury by decreasing the impact of an incident or emergency. We can define mitigation as reducing the probability of threats and hazards that can happen. Few examples are:

• Teamwork
• Emergency tactics
• Site plotting
• Training

Response

Response is also required to calm an incident once it has already occurred or is about to happen inevitably. It establishes a harmless and secure environment; saves lives, resources and property; and enable the conversion to recovery. Example Response Strategies:

• Campus/Site safety teams
• Responsive team
• Technology

Recovery

Recovery means the important abilities to contribute in restoring the usual operations after an emergency or incident. A few examples of recovery strategies are:

• Mental health strategies
• Family reunion plans
• Continuation of Business

Emergency management or planning is the process that summaries the actions that are important to achieve the 5 inter-dependent missions of preparedness. Emergency strategies demonstrate an organization’s commitment to preparedness and safety. Emergencies can’t always be avoided, and all-natural disasters emergency plans offer the finest opportunities to prevent damage, protect property and people, reduce the number of injuries, respond effectively and recover from an incident.

Emergency management or risk reduction management is a key to reduce loss of lives, injuries and damage from natural disasters. People must be aware and prepared of what hazards they can face in their own societies. They must know in advance what exact preparations to make before an incident, what to do during a storm, flood, earthquake, fire or other disasters, and what actions to take after its consequences. We must learn and share the safety precautions to avoid losses from such disasters.

Writing an essay is a task that we all might be expected to do at work, school, or even at home. Chances are you remember something about how to write an essay, but you might have forgotten some of the essentials that will make your essays great. Top essay writers know that the structure of the essay is crucial. Here’s how you structure a basic essay.

Introduction

All essays must start with an introduction! It’s your job to let your reader know what your essay will be about and your introduction is the right place to do so. Depending on the type of essay you are writing, your introduction will most likely include background information on the topic, your point of view on the topic, and a brief explanation of what will be included in your essay. A proper introduction helps the reader understand what they are about to read, which is extremely important when you are writing a report for work or filing a case against your landlord, for example. For some writers, the introduction can be the hardest part, so it might be best to skip it when you sit down to write and come back to it after you’ve drafted the rest of your essay.

Body paragraphs

After your introduction, you will enter the bulk of your essay. Your body paragraphs will need to clearly and explicitly state the points you are trying to make. If you are writing an argumentative essay, your body paragraphs will explain your points of view and the evidence you have for those points. You might also include a rebuttal section, in which you point out the other side’s argument and use evidence to rebut that argument. It might seem strange to devote time to the opposition, but acknowledging the other side’s point of view is an excellent way to tip readers to your side, because they will better understand how solid your argument is.

As with any part of your essay, it’s important that your body paragraphs make sense and work together. You don’t want to jump from one point to the next without any transition, and you need to make sure your evidence clearly links back to the point you are trying to make. It can sometimes be helpful to create an outline of your essay, which includes all the points you would like to make and the evidence to support those points. You can then look at your outline and decide the order of your body paragraphs. If at any time you’re struggling to connect your points back to your main idea, throw out those points and think of new ones. If they don’t fit, you can’t make them!

Conclusion

Once you have written all your body paragraphs and clearly made your point, you will wrap up your essay with a conclusion. Your conclusion should always include a summary of your essay and a restatement of your main argument with fresh authority. A compelling conclusion should leave readers thinking about the great points you’ve made. You can do this by asking your readers a question or pulling in a new piece of evidence that perfectly supports your argument. Your conclusion should not be just a summary of your essay, but should also include new information, such as solutions, recommendations or concepts to further research, that will leave your readers thinking.

Almost a third of current college students in America have never needed to write an essay longer than ten pages, so maybe you haven’t been asked to do so yet. But knowing how to write a basic essay, whether ten pages or more, will help you get done what needs to get done without feeling overwhelmed or confused. And structuring your essay correctly will help your readers clearly see your points.

For more learning and education tips from Tutor Circle, check these out!

 

So you’ve realized that your exam is coming up in just a few days and you’re nowhere near ready to take it on. Between your daily life responsibilities and schoolwork, there’s so much to do — and you barely have time to recover from the panic, let alone make sure you’re prepared! The following tips are just a few things you can do to help improve your grade, even when you feel that all is lost.

1. Stay Calm. We know the last thing you want to hear right now is “just stay calm” when you’re in a panic. But it’s important to try to eliminate the negative thoughts that hold you captive in this moment. Take a moment to take a deep breath and set your mind straight. There is nothing you can about the situation in the present moment, and agonizing about the problem will only serve to keep stuck.

2. Go to Sleep. It can be very tempting to attempt to “binge” study everything you need to know the night before an exam. But depriving yourself of sleep will do more harm than good and may severely affect your ability to concentrate on anything, therefore rendering all of your efforts totally obsolete. Be satisfied with where you’re at so far. It’s far much better to know some of the answers than to stay up all night and remember none of them the next day.

3. Prioritize. So, how do you learn everything you need to know without compromising on your sleep? The best way is to prioritize the topics that are likely to appear on the test. Most instructors will at the very least hint at the various topics you can expect on the exam. Put more effort into these topics and you at least have a chance at a passing grade.

4. Be Consistent. The worst thing you can do while trying to study last minute is to change up your studying style. For example, don’t attempt to read a full book in one sitting when you’ve never done it before. Changing your studying habits, no matter how much your roommate swears by them, will always derail your efforts to learn. Keep it practical: if you use flashcards, don’t skip the crucial step of making them. You are far more likely to learn something when you are comfortable.

5. Get Some Help. If there is a certain subject of topic that you simply find too difficult to understand, there is nothing wrong with asking for help. Get a study buddy from your class to help you with the difficult areas and also help you remain on task. If you are taking an online course, a great place to find the kind of support you need is discussion boards where you can find a study partner in your time zone.

When you’re in the midst of exam panic, you may think to yourself, “I wish I could pay someone to do my homework!” While that’s an option for some, you can definitely implement the above tips that will help you improve your grades during crunch time. With these ideas, studying will be far more productive and even possible to get those target grades, even if you’ve forgotten an exam and have to study last minute. Happy studying!

To read more on topics like this, check out the education category.

The transport industry in the US is huge, to say the least. From commercial truck drivers to couriers and delivery drivers, the country is reliant on the people who are tasked with getting things from A to B. As such, employment opportunities are far-reaching and wages are generally ample, making a career in driving a very lucrative choice indeed.

One such career path that is becoming ever more popular is that of the humble school bus driver. Unlike many driving jobs, school bus driving comes with sociable and predictable hours, while still paying quite well. As of 2016, 687,200 were employed to drive school buses and this is predicted to rise by 6% over the next 7 years.

So, how do you make the leap into this much sought-after line of work? Here, we break down the five steps you need to take in order to become a school bus driver.

Step One: Understand the Licensing Laws in Your State

Before you can start applying for positions with schools, you first need to obtain proper certification.  This certification will most likely come in the form of a Commercial Drivers License (CDL). But, when it comes to obtaining your CDL, different states have different regulations and expectations, so it’s vital you do some research into what that means for you.

For instance, to obtain your CDL in Alaska you have to be at least 21 years old, while in Georgia you can apply for your CDL at 18. Alternatively, states such as Colorado, Louisiana and Minnesota require you to pass a physical examination. Other than this, it’s also important to note that almost every state has its own CDL handbook, containing state-specific information for drivers operating commercial vehicles.

You can click here to view CDL requirements state by state

Step Two: CDL Training

The road to obtaining your CDL is not exactly as straightforward as just ‘driving’ a vehicle. The skills required when operating a commercial vehicle exceed those needed when you’re driving a car. Since the path to earning your CDL is more extensive, so too is the workload.

Depending on where you live, the expected training requirements vary, with some states such

as Ohio requiring that drivers complete 160 hours of training both in the classroom and on the road. To complete your education requirements, you might want to consider completing a qualified CDL training program through a community college, private driving school or school run by a trucking company.

But, not every training program is the same, each containing different characteristics. It is probably a good idea to evaluate the pros and cons of each program before committing.

Perhaps weigh up the length of each program, as some courses can take few weeks to complete while others can take months.

Also, depending on the school you attend, the cost will vary. A program conducted through a community college is a more cost-effective option, but a program with a private school offers a quicker completion time.

Step Three: Passing Your CDL Test

Passing the test is not necessarily a walk in the park. Even with the best training program under your belt, the final CDL exam can still feel overwhelming. There is a certain combination of both determination and courage needed to successfully pass the exam. So, if you’re feeling stressed, don’t worry, you’re not alone.

The CDL test is split into two parts: a written knowledge and practical skills. Your knowledge test will take place at your local DMV office. From there, you will have 60 minutes to complete 50 multiple-choice questions. To pass this section of the test, you will need a score of 80%, so there is some room for error.

Now, the practical skills test is in a league of its own. The purpose of this test is to evaluate your execution of procedures and determine whether you can safely operate the vehicle. Expect to perform many different maneuvers throughout this exam. Some of these driving procedures could include safety checks, sharp turns, checking mirrors correctly and navigating through traffic.

Step Four: Adding Endorsements to your CDL

Once you’ve earned your CDL, you’re not home free just yet. Following federal regulations, any driver transporting 16 or more passengers, is required to earn additional endorsements to their CDL. In order to transport students from A to B, school bus drivers are required to earn a School Bus Endorsement as well as a (P) passenger endorsement and air brake endorsement, if required in your state.

While it might be easy to assume that a practical exam is all that’s needed to obtain your endorsements, this is not the case. Similar to your CDL test, an endorsement exam is separated into two parts: a written knowledge test and practical skills exam. These tests cover a range of topics, such as student management, loading and unloading procedures, approaching bus stops, post-trip and pre-trip inspection, proper use of safety devices, emergency exit and evacuation, railroad crossings; backing. Now, if you feel overwhelmed by the range of topics covered here, not to worry!

There are a number of resources available online to get you up to speed. Particularly, there’s an extensive range of practice tests you can take to give you a taste of the real deal.

Step Five: Making It Official

Once you’ve earned both your CDL and appropriate endorsements, you can start applying for work. A great place to find positions is to either search through bus driving companies or follow school district job listings

Many school districts will require you to undergo further training covering subjects like emergencies, district policies, driver and student relations, as well as first aid. This additional training is essential to ensure the school district (your employer) that you are both trustworthy and safety conscious.

As a new school bus driver, you can expect to receive a rate of between $11.00 and $16.00. That said, the more experience you gain, the more your prospective employers are willing to pay. So, if you are willing to put in the time and the work you will reap what you sow.

To read more on topics like this, check out the education category.