| Driver Training Program Definitions | Program Certification Requirements | Instructor Certification Requirements | FAQ |
No amount of background, previous employment, credentials, experience or talent will help teach today's students if it is not solidly rooted in the foundation of providing an individualized education that connects with, and engages the students.
Assistant Instructor:
- Must have obtained a driving instructor certification by the Department of Driver Services or have passed
all of their criteria. (Current employment as a DDS instructor not required.)
- Law enforcement Officer or First Responder.
Associate's Level:
- 0-1 year driver training experience.
- College-level courses (2) in Education verifiable by transcript. (EDU or EDUC)
- Minimum 2 years experience in teaching, training or education, verifiable by resume.
- Must provide 25 verifiable, favorable references from parents and/or students.
- Minimum 2 years experience in retail or high-volume customer contact position verifiable by resume.
- $25 annual registration
Bachelor's Level: Meets Associate's Level criteria and:
- 1-5 years driver training experience.
- College-level course in Geometry verifiable by transcript. (GEO or GEOM)
- Minimum 5 years experience in teaching, training or education, verifiable by resume.
- Must provide 50 verifiable, favorable references from parents and/or students.
- Minimum 2 years experience working with Law Enforcement or Public Education.
- $50 annual registration.
Master's Level: Meets Bachelor's Level criteria and:
- 5+ years driver training experience.
- College-level course in Psychology verifiable by transcript. (PSY or PSYC)
- Minimum 10 years experience in the automotive training industry verifiable by resume.
- Minimum 10 years experience in research related to the automotive and/or transportation industry.
- Must have traveled nationally speaking on teen driving.
- Minimum 100 verifiable, favorable references from parents and/or students.
- Degreed in Science, Physics, Mathematics or Education.
- $100 annual registration.
Professionalism:
In order to be certified by the NDDI, instructors must strictly adhere to the following hygiene guidelines:
- Proper grooming
Men: No hair longer than neckline, ears uncovered, facial hair must be neatly groomed
Women: Hair longer than shoulders must be secured.
- No piercings (men)
- Only ear piercing acceptable (women)
- No tattoos or body art
- Correct and proper command of the English language
- Must submit to background check
Continuing Certification:
- Must submit 10 favorable from parents and 10 from students by December 1st, annually.
- Annual registration fees still apply.
Consumer alert: To verify the NDDI Certification of any Defensive Driving instructor:
- E-mail the instructor's name and company to:
InstructorCertification@NationalDefensiveDrivingInstitute.org
- An NDDI-approved program's web-site will display one of the following seals of instructor certifications:
Defensive Driving instructors meeting the following requirements may submit to be certified. Contact the NDDI at:
InstructorCertification@NationalDefensiveDrivingInstitute.org
Copyright © 2010 [National Defensive Driving Institute]. All rights reserved.