---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 20163"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "20163"
heading: "Certification of train conductors"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/20163"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Rail Programs"
  - "Part A — Safety"
  - "Chapter 201 — General"
  - "Subchapter II — Particular Aspects of Safety"
---

# §20163. Certification of train conductors

- (a) **Regulations.—** Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, the [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14) of Transportation shall prescribe regulations to establish a program requiring the certification of train conductors. In prescribing such regulations, the [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14) shall require that train conductors be trained, in accordance with the training standards developed pursuant to section 20162.
- (b) **Program Requirements.—** In developing the regulations required by [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14) may consider the requirements of [section 20135(b)](/usc/49/20135.md?p=b) through (e).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 110–432, div. A, title IV, § 402(a), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4884.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The date of enactment of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, referred to in subsec. (a), is the date of enactment of div. A of Pub. L. 110–432, which was approved Oct. 16, 2008.