Driver Education School License (how to obtain)

Types of Driver Education School Licenses (Chapter 9 Rules Governing Driver Education)

• Class A driver education school license. A Class A license entitles a school to employ Class A or Class B instructors to teach both the classroom and behind-the-wheel phases of driver education for passenger type vehicles (Class C vehicles) but a Class A instructor must be employed.
• Class B driver education school license. A Class B license entitles a school to employ Class A or Class B instructors to teach only behind-the-wheel instruction for passenger type vehicles (Class C vehicles) to individuals who hold a valid learner's permit, temporary license or driver's license.
• Class A commercial motor vehicle driver education school license. A Class A Commercial Vehicle school license entitles a school to employ Class A commercial vehicle instructors to teach classroom, behind-the-wheel, and range (off-street) driver education for commercial motor vehicles (Class A and/or Class B vehicles). This license also entitles you to employ Class B commercial vehicle instructors to teach range and behind-the-wheel only, but a Class A commercial vehicle instructor must be employed. The off street range area must measure at least 20,000 square feet for Class A vehicles and at least 15,000 square feet for Class B vehicles.
• Class B commercial motor vehicle driver education school license. A Class B Commercial Vehicle school license entitles a school to employ Class A or Class B commercial vehicle instructors to teach behind-the-wheel and range (off-street) driver education for commercial motor vehicles (Class A and/or Class B vehicles) to individuals who hold a valid commercial learner's permit. The off street range area must measure at least 20,000 square feet for Class A vehicles and at least 15,000 square feet for Class B vehicles.

Driver Education School Licenses and Fees

Applicants must license each school location where driver education will be conducted and submit a license application and fee of $150.00 for each location.

• Applicants for a Class A license must license each school classroom location.
• Applicants for a Class B license must license each record keeping location for operation of the school.
• Applicants for a truck endorsement must license each school location to include one classroom and one range for Class A schools and one range for Class B schools.

General Application Requirements

To apply for a license, you must complete a driver education school license application form and meet the following requirements:

1. Training vehicle requirement. Complete a vehicle list form, which is provided with the school license application, listing each vehicle by year, make, registration plate number and vehicle identification number (VIN). Training vehicles must be equipped with an operable dual-control foot brake. Dual clutch pedals are required for vehicles with a standard transmission. The vehicle must also be equipped with an inside mirror that is available for use and provides the driver education instructor with unobstructed vision to the rear of the vehicle. When engaged in instruction, each vehicle must be equipped with an identification sign stating the name of the school as well as a student driver sign. (Commercial vehicles are exempt from dual brake/clutch and the inside mirror.)
2. Vehicle insurance. Submit a certificate of insurance from an insurance company showing that each vehicle has coverage by an automobile bodily injury and property damage liability insurance policy. A school must meet the limits of insurance described in Title 29-A, 1354, subsection 3A. The limits are as follows: $100,000 property damage; $100,000 personal injury or death of any one person; and $300,000 for personal injury or death of a number of persons. Combined single limit is $400,000. The certificate must contain the driving school name or if it's in an individual's name it must state the vehicle is insured for driver education use.
3. Compliance with land use regulations. Provide a letter from your local fire department showing the school premises comply with state and municipal statutory requirements regarding public health, safety, and access (101 Life Safety Codes). Also, a certificate of occupancy from the code enforcement officer or other town official that shows proof of compliance with state and municipal land use regulations and ordinances or a letter giving the driving school permission to use the location for driver education.
4. Surety bond. A Class A driver education school must file a surety bond of at least $10,000 and a Class B driver education school must file a surety bond of at least $2500.
5. Harassment prevention. Submit copy of harassment prevention policy; this policy is intended to prevent any form of harassment to students and instructors.
6. Refund and cancellation policy. Submit copy of refund and cancellation policy. A driver education school must have a written refund and cancellation policy which must be furnished to the student at the time of enrollment in a driver education course. All fees related to the course must be disclosed in this policy. This policy must include a notice that driver education is regulated by the Secretary of State.
7. Pass an inspection of all vehicles, required materials, and the school premises by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Record Keeping and Reporting Requirements (Forms and Applications)

1. New Course Report. A driver education new course report must be submitted to the Secretary of State on an approved form at least seven (7) days prior to the start of the driver education course. The Secretary of State must be notified, prior to the changes or as quickly as possible thereafter, of any changes made to the schedule indicated on the originally submitted report, including cancellations due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.
2. Course Completion Report. A driver education course consists of two parts: classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel instruction. Classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel instruction must be completed before the student is issued a course completion certificate, and added to a course completion report. Course completion reports must be submitted to the Secretary of State within 30 days of the final classroom session. Any students who have not completed the course by the 30 day due date must be listed on a separate report. Only the name of the instructor(s) directly involved in any portion of the instruction of the course shall be listed on the course completion report.
3. Student Record Sheet. All student record sheets must be kept for each student and maintained in a secure location by the school for a period of at least two (2) years from the date driver education was completed. Upon expiration of the retention period all student record sheets must be disposed of in a secure manner. All schools are required to keep student record sheets; this includes private behind-the-wheel instruction.

A driver education student record sheet must show that each student successfully completed the required course curriculum and be retained by the school. Student record sheets must contain; student identity, visual acuity, number of classroom and behind the wheel hours provided to the student, instructor name and location, parental involvement and signature of student at the completion of the course certifying the student received all required components of the course. A copy of the student record sheet shall be provided if requested by the student, parent or guardian.

4. Final Examination. A driver education school must administer a final examination to students who have completed all the requirements provided in these rules and any additional requirements imposed by the driver education school. The examination must consist of a minimum of 50 questions and the student must correctly answer 80 percent of the questions to pass the examination. The Secretary of State shall provide the questions for the final examination.
5. Inspection of records. The Secretary of State may, with or without notice to the driver education school, inspect all school records. The school must make such records available to the Secretary of State for inspection.
6. Location. The location and address of the school. The school owner must immediately advise the Secretary of State, in writing, whenever the location or address of the school changes.
7. Employees. The school shall provide the names and addresses of persons employed by the school. The school must immediately advise the Secretary of State, in writing, whenever a driver education instructor is hired or leaves the school's employ.
8. Training Vehicles. Prior to use for instruction, the vehicle must be examined and approved as a training vehicle by the Secretary of State. A new certificate of insurance or bond must be submitted to the Secretary of State any time a vehicle is added or deleted.
9. Sale or closure of driver education school. A driver education school owner must immediately advise the Secretary of State, in writing, of its sale or closure. If a driver education school has any students who have not completed the course, a written plan must be submitted to the Secretary of State detailing what arrangements will be made to enable the student to complete the course. A driver education school that is closed or sold must immediately return all documents, forms and other related material issued by the Secretary of State and its license, if unexpired, to the Secretary of State.
10. Loss or destruction of records. The loss, mutilation or destruction of any records required to be filed or maintained in accordance with these rules must be reported immediately to the Secretary of State.

Exemption from License Fees

A "noncommercial" driver education school is exempt from paying the license fee. The license issued will be termed a "noncommercial" driver education school license which authorizes the school to employ both "noncommercial" and "commercial" driver education instructors. In order to claim an exemption, no fee can be charged to your students and your students must be given course credit towards graduation. If not exempt from fee, the license issued will be termed a "commercial" driver education school license which authorizes the school to employ only "commercial" driver education instructors.

Other Information

Your application will be reviewed by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to determine whether you meet the licensing requirements. If your application is approved, you will be issued a license which will be mailed to you. Your license will expire one year from the date it is issued. Operating a driver education school without a valid license is a Class E crime.

Once you are issued a Driver Education School license it is your responsibility to notify the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in writing of any change in information on the original license application (e.g., change of school name or ownership, address, telephone number, driving or criminal record, employee health, training vehicles, and instructors employed by the school). All correspondence and renewal notices will be sent to the licensee's last known address on file with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

If you have any questions, please contact this office at (207) 624-9000 Extension 52128.