A certified driving school instructor is approved to give behind-the-wheel instruction in vehicles (including cars, trucks, buses, tractor-trailers and/or motorcycles), and/or instruct the Classroom Pre-Licensing course.

You must be employed by a driving school licensed by DMV and meet several requirements in Commissioner’s Regulations Part 76.16 (PDF) (CR-76). You must

• be at least 21 years of age
• have a driver license valid for operation in New York State that
  • has been valid for at least 2 years preceding application in the class of vehicle that you intend to teach in, and
  • has not been suspended or revoked in the last 2 years, and
  • shows an acceptable driving record
• have a high school or high school equivalency diploma
• pass the required vision, road test, written and driving school instructor driving tests
• never have been convicted of a felony or of any crime involving violence, dishonesty, deceit, indecency, degeneracy or moral turpitude

You must also complete the 30-hour course titled Methods and Content Course for In-Car Instruction (or MCCII). You can take MCCII at any community college or driving school that DMV has approved to provide the course. 

If you want to teach the Pre-Licensing Course, you must successfully complete a 30-hour Teaching Techniques and Methodology course (a college-level course) and have at least one year experience as a behind-the-wheel certified driving school instructor.

Once you have been hired by a driving school, an official from that driving school must complete an Application for Driving School Instructor Certificate on your behalf.

To ensure the official's application for you is accurate, provide the official with

• a copy of your high school or equivalency diploma
• one passport-type photo of yourself, taken within the last 30 days
• if your driver license is issued from a state other than New York, you must include a certified copy of your driving record from the state agency that issued your license.

If your application is approved, DTP will forward your application to the local DMV Testing & Investigations Unit (T&I).

If the official is unable to submit the application online, a paper application (MV-523) is linked below and available for mailing.

The T&I Unit will contact you to schedule your test (unless the driving school you are employed by is authorized by DMV to conduct these tests for their employees). The test consists of a vision test, a road sign test, a written test and a behind-the-wheel instructor's driving test. For each application, you can take the Road Sign and Written Tests twice, and the Behind-The-Wheel Instructor’s Driving Test once. If you do not pass, you must submit another Application for Driving School Instructor Certificate with photos and a $10 fee.

Vision Test

The Vision Test is similar to the vision test you must pass to qualify for or renew your driver license. You can take the vision test at DMV or have your eye doctor or physician conduct this test and complete the Vision Test Report (PDF) (MV-619). Attach the Vision Test Report to your application.

Road Test

The Road Sign Test evaluates your knowledge of road signs. See the Driver’s Manual (MV-21) for more information.

Written Test

The Written Test is based on information in the Driver’s Manual (MV-21), Commissioner’s Regulations Part 76 (PDF) (CR-76), and Section 394 of the New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law (PDF) (MV-299.1). There is a Study Guide for the Written Test for Driving School Instructor Applicants (PDF) (MV-368).

Behind-the-Wheel Instructor's Driving Test

The Behind-The-Wheel Instructor’s Driving Test tests your ability to drive and to give a student instruction, in the type of vehicle you want to teach in. You must provide your own vehicle for this test.

After you pass all tests, the DTP will issue a Driving School Instructor Certificate (MV-524) and mail it to the driving school where you are employed.

You must carry the Driving School Instructor Certificate when you are teaching, and when you take a customer to a DMV Road Test Site. If a customer or DMV employee asks to see the certificate, you must present it.

Your Driving School Instructor Certificate authorizes you to teach only for the driving school listed on the certificate. Once you are certified as a driving school instructor, you can get an additional certificate to teach for another school. An official from that driving school must complete an Application for Driving School Instructor Certificate on your behalf. To ensure the official's application for you is accurate, provide the official with

• a copy of your high school or equivalency diploma
• one passport-type photo of yourself, taken within the last 30 days
• if your driver license was issued from a state other than New York, you must include a certified copy of your driving record from the state agency that issued your license.

There is no fee for an additional certificate if you have a valid certificate with another driving school.