Comprehensive Guide to Driver Education Instructor Requirements

Becoming a driver education instructor is a rewarding career path for those passionate about road safety and education. This article details the requirements for obtaining a driver education instructor license, focusing on the specific regulations and guidelines. It covers various types of licenses and endorsements, general application prerequisites, and additional requirements for specialized endorsements.

Types of Driver Education Instructor Licenses and Endorsements

The requirements for driver education instructors vary based on the type of vehicle they intend to teach and the phases of instruction they will provide. The licensing structure includes different classes and endorsements, each with specific authorizations.

Class A Driver Education Instructor License: This license authorizes an individual to teach both the classroom and behind-the-wheel phases of driver education. With authorization from the Secretary of State, it also permits the provision of digital instruction for passenger-type vehicles (Class C vehicles).
Class B Driver Education Instructor License: This license is more limited, authorizing the holder to teach only the behind-the-wheel phase of driver education for passenger-type vehicles (Class C vehicles).
Class A Commercial Vehicle Endorsement: This endorsement allows an instructor to teach all phases of commercial motor vehicle driver education, including classroom, behind-the-wheel, and range (off-street) instruction for Class A and/or Class B vehicles. Authorization from the Secretary of State is required to provide digital instruction.

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Class B Commercial Vehicle Endorsement: This endorsement permits the instructor to teach only the behind-the-wheel and range (off-street) phases of commercial motor vehicle driver education.

General Application Requirements for Class A and Class B Instructor Licenses

To be eligible for a driver education instructor license, applicants must meet several general requirements. These prerequisites ensure that instructors possess the necessary qualifications and background to provide quality driver education.

Age Requirement: Applicants must be at least 21 years of age.
Educational Qualification: Submission of proof of a high school diploma or its equivalent is mandatory.
Driving Experience: A minimum of four years of driving experience as a licensed driver is required, along with possession of a valid driver's license.

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Physical and Mental Competence: Applicants must not have any physical, emotional, or mental impairment that would prevent driver licensure, as determined by the relevant regulations.
Driving Record: A clean driving record is essential. Applicants must have no convictions or adjudications for moving criminal traffic offenses within the last six years. Exceptions may be made for operating without a license if the license was expired for less than five years and operating with an expired registration. If the applicant holds or has held an out-of-state driver's license, a certified copy of their driving record and proof of licensure from each state where they held a license in the preceding six years must be submitted.
License Suspension or Revocation: Applicants must not have had their driver's license suspended or revoked within the last six years for offenses such as Criminal OUI (Operating Under the Influence), Excessive alcohol level, Homicide, Negligently causing death, Conditional license holder OUI, Juvenile provisional license violations, Refusing to submit to a chemical test, Drug impairment, Habitual offender status, or related revocations.
Accident History: Applicants must not have been an accident-prone driver within the year preceding the application date.
Instructor Test: Applicants must pass an instructor test administered by the Secretary of State. This test evaluates both knowledge and driving skills in a representative vehicle.

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Criminal Record: Applicants must not have been convicted of any Class A, B, or C crime or felony within the last 10 years. Specific disqualifying offenses include Murder, Felony murder, Manslaughter, Aggravated assault, Elevated aggravated assault, Stalking, Domestic violence terrorizing, Reckless conduct, Aggravated reckless conduct, Gross sexual assault, Sexual abuse of minors, Unlawful sexual contact, Visual sexual aggression against a child, Sexual misconduct with a child under 14 years of age, Unlawful sexual touching, Prohibited contact with a minor, sex offender restricted zone, Sexual exploitation of a minor, Dissemination of sexually explicit material, Possession of sexually explicit material, Kidnapping, Criminal restraint, Abandonment of child, Endangering the welfare of a child, Incest, Indecent conduct, and Commercial sexual exploitation of a minor or person with a mental disability.
First Aid Certification: Successful completion of a first aid course approved by the Secretary of State is required, and the completion card must be valid at the time of application.
Driving Dynamics Course: Applicants must have successfully completed a driving dynamics or defensive driving course approved by the Secretary of State within the preceding year.
Fees: A license fee, an instructor test fee, and a fee for the criminal background check must be submitted. The total cost varies depending on the class of vehicle.

Additional Application Requirements for a Class A License (Class C Vehicles)

For those seeking a Class A driver education instructor license for Class C vehicles, additional requirements must be met to ensure comprehensive preparation for teaching both classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction.

Introductory Course in Driver Education: Applicants must submit proof of successfully completing an introductory course in driver education within the preceding three years. This course, approved by the Secretary of State, covers peer teaching, curriculum delivery, harassment prevention, and teaching special needs students.

Additional Application Requirements for a Class B License (Class C Vehicles)

Applicants for a Class B driver education instructor license for Class C vehicles must also fulfill specific additional requirements tailored to behind-the-wheel instruction.

Introductory Course in Driver Education: Similar to Class A applicants, those applying for a Class B license must complete an introductory course in driver education within the preceding three years. This course must be based on an approved curriculum, include harassment prevention training, provide a minimum of eight hours of instruction, and include behind-the-wheel training. The course must be approved by the Secretary of State.

Additional Requirements for a Class A Commercial Vehicle Endorsement

Instructors seeking to teach commercial vehicle operation must meet stringent requirements to ensure they possess the expertise necessary to train future commercial drivers.

Introductory Course in Commercial Vehicle Driver Education: Applicants must have successfully completed an introductory course in commercial vehicle driver education within the preceding three years. The Secretary of State must approve the courses which fulfill this requirement.
Commercial Driving Experience: A minimum of two years of experience in the last 10 years as a licensed Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) driver in the actual operation of a representative Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) is required. This experience may be applied to the general requirement of four years of experience as a licensed driver. The endorsement may be issued for Class A or Class B vehicles. Proof of experience must be submitted on letterhead from a current or past employer, listing the applicant's name, dates of employment, and class of vehicle.
Commercial Vehicle Driving Record: Applicants must not have had their driver's license suspended or revoked for operating a commercial motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol level of 0.04% or more or refusing to submit to a chemical test within the last six years.

Additional Requirements for a Class B Commercial Vehicle Endorsement

The requirements for a Class B commercial vehicle endorsement mirror those for Class A, focusing on practical experience and a clean commercial driving record.

Commercial Driving Experience: Applicants must have at least two years of experience in the last 10 years as a licensed CDL driver in the actual operation of a representative CMV. This experience may be applied to the general requirement of four years of experience as a licensed driver. The endorsement may be issued for Class A or Class B vehicles. Proof of experience must be submitted on letterhead from a current or past employer, listing the applicant's name, dates of employment, and class of vehicle.
Commercial Vehicle Driving Record: Similar to the Class A endorsement, applicants must not have had their driver's license suspended or revoked for operating a commercial motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol level of 0.04% or more or refusing to submit to a chemical test within the last six years.

Exemption from License Fees

Certain driver education instructors may be exempt from paying the license fee, which aims to support driver education programs in specific educational settings.

Eligibility: Driver education instructors employed by and providing driver education in a public secondary school, an approved private secondary school, an applied technology center or region, or an adult education program that offers driver education that holds a "noncommercial" school license are eligible for a fee exemption. These programs must not charge students a fee, and students must be given course credit toward graduation.
Noncommercial License: Instructors who qualify for a fee exemption will be issued a "noncommercial" driver education instructor license. This license authorizes them to provide driver education only while employed by a "noncommercial" driver education school.

Additional Information

Several key points are important for prospective and current driver education instructors to keep in mind regarding their licensing and responsibilities.

Application Review: The Bureau of Motor Vehicles reviews each application to determine whether the applicant meets all licensing requirements.
License Expiration: A driver education instructor license is valid for two years from the date of issuance.
Unlicensed Teaching: Teaching driver education without a valid license is classified as a Class E crime.
Notification of Changes: Once a driver education instructor license is issued, the licensee is responsible for notifying the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in writing of any changes to the information on the original license application. This includes changes to name, address, phone number, driving or criminal record, and health status. All correspondence and renewal notices will be sent to the licensee's last known address on file with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Supporting Students Through Grants

In some regions, financial support is available to help students access driver education programs, promoting broader access to quality training.

Wisconsin Act 86: Under this program, eligible teens who qualify for free/reduced lunch can apply to the Wisconsin DMV to have their 30-hour classroom instruction, 6-hour observation, and 6-hours of behind-the-wheel training paid for by the state.
Enrollment and Reimbursement: Students with grants may enroll in any driver education program offered by an authorized driver education provider, such as a public school, CESA program, tribal or private school, or DMV-licensed driver training school. Driving schools should complete the required documents to be registered with WisDOT in PeopleSoft as a supplier to be reimbursed for the driver education grants. Required documents include a State of Wisconsin New Supplier form DOA-6460, a W-9 form, and a scanned copy of a VOID check or signed letter from a financial institution with account and routing number if the school wants to be paid by ACH (electronic direct deposit).

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