National Driver Ed Teacher Credentialing

Our credentialing system improves professional driver education standards, standardizes instructor training, and makes professional training more available across the nation.

Obtain Credentials

Your credentials are valid for three years.

Become an ADTSEA member. You must renew the membership annually to maintain your credentials. ($50/year)
Take required courses through a provider in your state and submit a certificate of completion for each course.
Complete one year of teaching and submit documentation.

To receive your credentials, submit a copy of the certificate of completion for all three courses and documentation of teaching experience to

Renew Credentials

You must renew your credentials every three years.

Renew your ADTSEA membership annually to maintain your credentials. ($50/year)
Accumulate at least 30 points and submit documentation.

To renew your credentials, submit your Point Recording Form to

For More Info

ADTSEA National Office
724-801-8246

Quality Training for Driver Ed Instructors

The national credentialing system is designed to improve the quality of driver education teachers and instruction. It is also designed to standardize teacher training in driver education and make teacher training more available across the nation. The ADTSEA Teacher Credentialing System is for public, private, and commercial school driver education instructors and has the support of NHTSA, AAA, and AAMVA. These groups comprise the planning committee that provided guidance during development of this program.

A core of three courses is required for credentialing:

Driver Task Analysis
Developing Vehicle Operational Skills
Developing Classroom Knowledge

Course names may vary depending on program. For that reason, the offered courses should contain all of the information listed in the Course Outlines below and have enough contact hours to be offered either for college credit or for continuing education units. The courses may be taken through a college, university, or a sponsoring institution.

Course Goals

The courses required are the core of content and instructional methodology that every driver education teacher must know and perform. The classroom goal of these courses is to prepare a driver education instructional staff that is capable of developing and assessing new driver performances to include:

Impaired Driving and Decision-Making

Recognizing physical, social, and psychological influences that can affect motor vehicle operator performance
Demonstrating management of time, space, and visibility when operating a motor vehicle
Interaction with other roadway users in a positive manner
Demonstrating concepts and generalizations which enable one to make objective decisions regarding use of alcoholic beverages and drugs; consequences of fatigue, drowsy driving and road rage; and environmental factors that influence the decision-making process

Safe Driving Skills

Recognizing the general nature of the drivers' task within the HTS and the consequences of system failures
Understanding the use of occupant restraints and protective devices
Understanding consequences of speed selection
Demonstrating balanced vehicle movement
Practicing additional skills with parents/guardians/mentors

Risk Management

Applying the principles of perception to risk management when operating a motor vehicle
Applying risk management skills to the task of driving as a driver or passenger
Applying the techniques for managing risk when operating a motor vehicle over pre-selected on and off-street activities
Demonstrating the use of visual skills to obtain appropriate information to make reduced-risk decisions in low, moderate, and high risk driving environments

Laws, Regulations, and Methodologies

Identification of laws, rules, and regulations that govern the smooth movement of traffic
Use of current methodologies for providing classroom instruction in driver education including organization and classroom management and technologies
Use of current methodologies for providing in-car instruction in driver education including route development, giving directions, positive evaluation feedback, and evaluating driver performance
Identifying and supporting rules and regulations governing a state's graduated driver licensing program that includes a strong educational component

Independent Laboratory Activity Goals

The laboratory goal is to prepare a driver education instructional staff that is capable of developing and assessing new driver performances through:

A preliminary personal driving performance audit
Arranged observation of in-car teaching techniques
Arranged in-car techniques using off and on-street components
Arranged observation of driver education classroom teaching techniques
Arranged commentary driving laboratory training
Arranged classroom-teaching experiences
Arranged in-car practice teaching experiences
Scheduled final personal driving assessment

Course Outlines

Course outlines are designed to provide the backbone of the instructional materials presented. The course outlines are provided to establish the basis for curriculum and lesson plan development. The transparencies may be used to introduce topical concepts and ideas. All lesson outlines will need to be developed by the local agency to meet state and local requirements. When relevant, additional support materials will be made available and recommended for use within a topical area.

I. Driver Task Analysis

Driver Task Analysis is designed to be the prerequisite to the other courses and give the prospective instructor the content knowledge and skills necessary to teach driver education.

Classroom Sessions and Recommended Timeframes:

The task of the driver in the HTS, 6 hours
Personal factors influencing operator performance, 5 hours
Motor vehicles laws, regulations, and their application, 3 hours
Managing risk within the HTS, 6 hours
Sensory perception and performance of the driving task, 7 hours
Improving driver performance, 5 hours
Motor vehicle performance capabilities and maintenance, 5 hours
Legal and moral obligations relative to using the HTS, 2 hours
Trip planning, 1 hour
Class assessments, 2 hours
Instructor flexible activities, 6 hours

Laboratory Sessions and Recommended Time Frames:

Preliminary driver performance audit, 1 hour
Traffic survey, 2 hours
Off-street activities, limited space, and time, 2 hours

II. Developing Vehicle Operational Skills

Developing Vehicle Operational Skills is designed to provide the prospective driver education teacher with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully conduct on-street instruction, provide a safe learning environment while doing so, and evaluate new driver performance.

Classroom Sessions and Recommended Time Frames:

Class introduction, scheduling, and grading, 2 hours
Risk management principles in simple driving situations, 2 hours
Factors that influence learning and habit development, 4 hours
Standards for driver performance, 2 hours
Laboratory learning environments, 2 hours
Planning and preparing for instructional performances and outcomes, 2 hours
Planning vehicle operational experiences, 2 hours
Planning off-street laboratory experiences, 2 hours
Planning on-street laboratory experiences, 2 hours
Techniques for student performance assessment, 2 hours
Involving mentors in the learning process, 2 hours
Local curriculum and program needs, 4 hours
Course assessments, 3 hours

Laboratory Sessions and Recommended Time Frames:

Off-street driving techniques observation, 2 hours
On-street driving techniques observation, 4 hours
Off-street lesson plan development, 4 hours
On-street lesson plan development, 4 hours
Off-street lesson presentation, 2 hours
On-street route development, 5 hours
On-street lesson presentation, 2 hours
Local curriculum and program needs, 2-4 hours

III. Developing Classroom Knowledge

Developing Classroom Knowledge is designed to provide the prospective driver education teacher with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide quality classroom instruction, successfully manage the classroom, and provide for appropriate student evaluation.

Classroom Sessions and Recommended Time Frames:

Course introduction, scheduling, and grading, 2 hours
Risk management principles in complex situations, 2 hours
Influencing learning and habit development, 3 hours
Standards of driver performance, 2 hours
Classroom learning environments, 2 hours
Preparing NHTSA goals and instructional outcomes, 4 hours
Planning for classroom experiences, 2 hours
Planning for computer-assisted instruction, 2 hours
Instructor characteristics and techniques, 4 hours
Planning for simulation-based instruction, 2 hours
Assessment of student performances, 1 hour
Course assessments, 2 hours
Planning for local curriculum and program needs, 2 hours
Classroom lesson plan development, 6 hours
Classroom lesson presentation, 12 hours

Laboratory Sessions Recommended Timeframes:

Classroom lesson observations, 4 hours
Final personal driving audit, 1 hour

Maintaining Your Credentials

The National Credential/Certificate will expire each successive third year after initial issuance. To maintain this credential/certificate, points must be accrued in each three-year time frame. During this time frame, a teacher must accumulate a minimum of 30 points to continue their national credential/certificate. Points must be earned in the following ways:

Membership in ADTSEA or other national and/or state professional traffic safety associations
2 points per year
Registration and participation in state and national professional organization conferences
2 points per conference
Successful completion of professional development workshops or courses (30 contact hours or 3 credits minimum)
3 points per course or workshop
Teaching driver education students
1 point per 30 hours of instruction completed in any phase (classroom, laboratory or on-street instruction) to a maximum of 12 points in 3 years. Must teach at least a total of 30 hours in one or more phases in the 3-year period to maintain credential/certificate.
Teaching state or nationally approved driver improvement courses
1 point per 30 hours of instruction
Publication of articles in professional journals
2 points per article authored or co-authored
Elected officer in state or national, professional traffic safety organization
1 point per year
Other professional development activities as approved on an individual basis by the ADTSEA office
1 point per approval

Point Recording Form Teaching Verification Form