How Do I Get Driving Instructor Training?
Driving instructors teach new teenage drivers, train commercial truck drivers and public bus drivers, help race car drivers prep for competition, and provide refresher courses for senior drivers. Work environments vary greatly depending on the area of instruction one wishes to pursue, and driving instructor training varies greatly as well. Training and education time ranges from a few weeks for those intending to work for a private driving school, to a few years for those who wish to teach at a high school.
New drivers are required to receive driver's education in many states, with a certain number of hours both behind the wheel and in the classroom required to take a driving exam. Even in states that don't require formal training, many new drivers opt for it, as insurance companies may offer reduced rates to those who have completed professionally-led training. Future instructors of new teenage drivers must choose between teaching at a high school or teaching at a private driving school.
Those intent on a career as a high school driving instructor will require a bachelor's degree and a teaching credential in addition to the training private driving school instructors complete. Some universities include driving instructor training with a teaching license, but this training can also be acquired through a private driving training school or community college program. A driving instructor license is required to work as a paid driving teacher, and each state has its own criteria for hours of driving instructor training required before a license is granted.
Driving instructor training for drivers of passenger vehicles is often done at the same school that new drivers attend. In fact, it is typical for a driving instructor to secure a job at a licensed private driving school first, then complete the training program at that particular school before becoming licensed. Race car driving schools, truck driving schools, and schools for those who will operate public transportation vehicles offer programs that vary by state, so the best option for these types of schools is to call and inquire about driving instructor training and requirements for hire.
No matter which type of driving instructor training desired, there are some basic requirements that hold true from state to state before one can begin a training program. Driving instructors must be at least 21 years old, have a clean driving record, and not have been convicted of a felony. They must also have held a driver's license for a prescribed number of years, depending on the state.
Written by Hillary Flynn
