High School

A few classes can help prepare you for a career in driving instruction. You should do well in your own driver education classes, as knowledge of the rules of the road and familiarity of the maintenance and operation of a car is imperative. Communications and speech classes are also important since instructors must be able to convey ideas and techniques to their students.

Postsecondary Training

A college degree is not necessary except at certain high schools where driver education is taught by licensed teachers. In such cases, a degree in education, or comparable major, is required. If you aspire to operate your own driving school, you may want to consider taking college-level business courses. Classes such as accounting, marketing, or business management will help you set up a successful operation.

Other Education or Training

The American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association offers continuing education (CE) opportunities at its annual conference. One recent workshop provided tips on creating hands-on learning activities in driving education classrooms and in in-vehicle instruction. The Driving School Association of the Americas also offers CE seminars. Contact these organizations for more information. 

Certification or Licensing

The American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association offers a credentialing/certification program for driving instructors. The program consists of three classes: Driver Task Analysis, Developing Vehicle Operational Skills, and Developing Classroom Knowledge. A driving instructor who currently holds or is working towards a degree would work towards the national credential. Those teachers without a degree work toward the national certificate.

Licensure requirements vary from state to state. In Massachusetts, for example, all driving schools and their instructors must be registered with the state's Registry of Motor Vehicles. Check with your state motor vehicle department for required documents. If you work as a driving instructor at a public school, you will need a teaching license.

Other Requirements

Driving instructors must possess a valid driver's license and a clean driving record.

There is no direct way to obtain experience as a driving instructor before you get hired, but any experience you can get teaching others will be useful.

A desire to teach and help others is an important quality for driving instructors. They also need to be patient and levelheaded in case students become nervous or panic when encountering different driving situations. Instructors are experts in the rules of the road, as well as basic car maintenance. It is also imperative to have a good driving record. Some schools may conduct a background check before employment.

Driving school owners should be organized, detail-minded, and have strong business skills.