Program Overview
This program combines the full 80-hour Class B CDL course with the 14-hour Passenger endorsement, so you finish with both credentials in one enrollment. The course catalog prices it as its own program, course code 2.0P — it is not a Class B enrollment with the endorsement bolted on afterwards, and the registration fee is charged once rather than twice.
It is the route into transit, school district, shuttle, motorcoach and paratransit work, where the Passenger endorsement is a hiring requirement rather than an extra. If you want the School Bus endorsement as well, that is a separate program — see School Bus & Passenger Endorsement below.
What You'll Learn
- ELDT theory required under 49 CFR Part 380 Appendix B
- Truckers Against Trafficking and whistleblower driver rights
- Vehicle systems, basic controls, and hours-of-service overview
- Safe operating practices for Class B vehicles
- Pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspection and defect recognition
- Behind-the-wheel street driving on public roads
- Backing maneuvers and straight-line control
- ELDT passenger-specific theory: vehicle inspection, loading and unloading, passenger safety
- Emergency procedures, safety equipment and evacuation drills
- Pre-trip and post-trip inspection specific to passenger vehicles, in the bus configuration the school uses
- Safe passenger loading and unloading, including use of designated stops
- Smooth acceleration and braking, wide turns, space management and risk reduction with passengers aboard
Training Hours Breakdown
Meets FMCSA Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements per 49 CFR Part 380.
| Class B — Classroom Instruction | 40 hrs |
| Class B — Behind-the-Wheel Street Driving | 14 hrs |
| Class B — Backing Maneuvers | 8 hrs |
| Class B — Proficiency Training | 8 hrs |
| Class B — Observation Hours | 10 hrs |
| Passenger — Classroom/Theory | 4 hrs |
| Passenger — Proficiency Training | 10 hrs |
| Total Hours | 94 hrs |
Your Investment
Transparent Pricing. Bundled Program. No Surprise Fees.
The total below covers registration, tuition, books, drug test, DOT physical, knowledge test, CLP and skills testing. It is not everything you will pay: retest fees and the conditional fuel surcharge are billed by us but sit outside it, the WA State Skills Test Payment Fee of $5.25 per skills-test payment is a state charge outside it (see the note under the fee table), and two more fees are paid directly to WA DOL: your driving record ($15, required as part of the application process) and your CDL card (~$37–$130, prorated to your license renewal cycle). Details are listed below the fee table.
| Registration Fee | $100.00 |
| Tuition | $5,921.48 |
| Course Materials and Books | $250.00 |
| Drug Test | $50.00 |
| DOT Physical | $150.00 |
| Knowledge Test (1 attempt) | $35.00 |
| Commercial Learner's Permit | $40.00 |
| Skills Test (1 attempt) | $175.00 |
| Sales Tax | $433.52 |
| Total | $7,155.00 |
Not included above: the WA State Skills Test Payment Fee of $5.25 per skills-test payment. Course Catalog v5.2 v3 lists it under Other Costs, outside Total Paid to School.
If you already have your medical certificate or commercial learner permit, those costs will be removed from your total.
Which vehicle you test in matters. If your Class B training and testing are completed in the bus with an automatic transmission, the CDL you are issued carries an automatic-transmission restriction. Training and testing for the Class B in a manual bobtail Class A truck avoids that restriction, but then requires a second skills test in the bus to add the Passenger endorsement — an additional testing cost not included above. Talk to the office before you choose; this is a decision with a price attached.
Comparing Schools?
Make sure you're comparing total cost — not just tuition. Our fee table itemizes this program's total line by line, and lists separately what is paid direct to WA DOL, a testing vendor, or a medical provider, so you can see the whole picture before you enroll.
Other Costs Paid Direct to WA DOL
These fees are not included in the tuition above. They are paid directly to the Washington State Department of Licensing.
| WA Driving Record (MVR / full abstract)paid direct to WA DOL | $15 |
| Final license fee (CDL card)paid direct to WA DOL after passing skills test; exact amount set by DOL based on license expiration date | ~$37 – $130 |
See current WA DOL fee schedules: driving records · commercial driver licenses.
If Additional Time Is Needed
Retest fees ($175/attempt skills test · $35/attempt knowledge test), makeup sessions for unapproved absences, and 1:1 tutoring are billed separately. Most students complete the program without these — they depend on individual progress.
Additional Charges (Only If They Apply to You)
These are not included in the tuition above and do not apply to every student.
| Fuel Surchargecharged for any week your class is running while diesel is above $6.00 a gallon, and not otherwise. Check the current price before you enroll — the link below is the index we use.Diesel price tracked against the U.S. EIA weekly West Coast (PADD 5) ultra-low-sulfur on-highway diesel price, published weekly. | $30.00/week |
| Lodgingoptional, and only if you need it. Call the office and we can arrange a room at our negotiated rate. | varies |
Ways to Pay
There may be funding support available. Employers cover it for some students. Others qualify for state or federal programs. Some use a 529 plan. Check out our funding page for options to explore.
Prices reflect Burlington location (8.9% sales tax). Ferndale rates may vary slightly.
Traveling From Out of Town?
Preferred hotel partner from $68/night — 5 minutes from campus.
Related Programs
Class B CDL
2–3 Weeks or 4–6 Weekends
Class B on its own, without the Passenger endorsement, for straight trucks and local delivery routes.
School Bus & Passenger
30 Hours
Driving for a school district? School Bus and Passenger endorsements together, added to a CDL you already hold.
Class A Standard
4 Weeks or 8 Weekends
Ready to move up? Our 160-hour Class A program opens the door to tractor-trailer routes.
View All Programs
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