Driving instructors

Professional driving instructors in Victoria must hold a Driving Instructor Authority when teaching an unlicensed person to drive a motor car. This page details the application process.

Information on this page

• Background
• Applicant criteria
• Application process
• Training requirements
• Registered training organisations
• Fees
• Further information
• Industry bodies and associations

Background

A Driving Instructor Authority must be held by anyone who, for financial gain or in the course of any trade or business, teaches an unlicensed person to drive a motor car on a road that is open or used by the public. This does not include a motorcycle, a vehicle with a gross mass of more than 4.5 tonnes or a vehicle with a seating capacity of more than 12 adults including the driver. Driving Instructor Authorities are issued under the Road Safety Act 1986. Driving instructors are required to adhere to Driving Instructor Authority Conditions (PDF, 95 KB, 2 pp.).

Applicant criteria

Applicants for a Driving Instructor Authority must:

• hold a full (non-probationary) Australian motor car drivers licence
• successfully complete the Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics (Road Transport – Car Driving Instruction) (TLI41207). For organisations offering this course, see registered training organisations below.
• meet the Medical Standards for Licensing of Commercial Vehicle Drivers as set out in the publication Assessing Fitness to Drive, available from registered medical practitioners
• pass a criminal history check. Applications will be checked for convictions or findings of guilt for serious violent, sexual, drug-related, fraud or dishonesty offences, or any other behavioural concerns known by the Victorian Taxi Directorate (VTD). A conviction or finding of guilt for one or more of these criminal offences or behavioural concerns will, in the absence of compelling evidence to the contrary, be likely to disqualify a person from being granted an authority
• pass a driver history check. Applications will be checked for serious or frequent traffic offences. A history of serious or frequent breaches of the Road Safety Act 1986 will, in the absence of compelling evidence to the contrary, be likely to disqualify a person from being granted an authority.

Prospective applicants who have concerns about their eligibility to be granted an authority should contact the VTD.

Mutual Recognition Agreement

'Driving Instructors’ are covered under the Mutual Recognition Agreement implemented through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) on 11 May 1992. It should be noted that the Mutual Recognition Agreement is based on skills transference from one state or territory to another and that, 'the scheme does not seek to interfere with regulation by the states, … of initial entry to, the conduct of, or practice in, occupations;'.

In summary the Mutual Recognition Agreement allows a skill or training to be recognised Australia-wide but also allows each state or territory to assess suitability criteria, including medical and criminal assessments.

Under the Road Safety Act 1986 (VIC) upon application for a driving instructor authority, the Secretary must be satisfied that the applicant is qualified to hold such an authority, including that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold the authority.

In order to determine that an applicant meets these criteria, the VTD requires on initial application, the provision of:

• a National Police Check issued by an Australian State or Territory Police Agency within the last six months; and
• a medical certificate completed by a registered medical practitioner with an opinion as to the applicant’s fitness to drive.

However, providing that the respective State or Territory (where the authority was previous held) can provide the VTD with the information outlined above and the applicant meets the legislative requirements to hold a driving instructor authority within Victoria, they will be granted an authority without the need for an additional medical or police check.

The VTD will accept medical reports and police checks utilised and obtained for the purposes of interstate authorities or VicRoads Licensing, providing they meet the requirements above. Whilst the VTD will assist in reducing the regulatory burden where possible, it must adhere to current legislative requirements when issuing driving instructor authorities.

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Application process

Step 1: Undertake national police record check

When applying for a Driving Instructor Authority, you need to undertake a national police record check:

When applying for a Driving Instructor Authority, you need to provide a current (issued within the last 6 months) National Police Certificate (NPC) (PDF, 131 KB, 1p.). A new online application form for a NPC is available by visiting Victoria Police or alternatively calling the Victoria Police information line on 1 300 881 596. The VTD no longer provides applicants with Consent to Check and Release National Police Record Forms.

Step 2: Complete application form

Complete a Driving Instructor Authority application form (PDF, 325 KB, 8 pp.) and have the medical section completed by a medical practitioner.

Step 3: Attach photographs

Provide two recent passport-sized colour photographs.

Step 4: Attach evidence of completing the Certificate IV course

Attach evidence that you have completed the Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics (Road Transport - Driving Instruction) (TL141207) or the Certificate III Motor Vehicle Driver Trainer (Car) course (if you enrolled in the latter course before 30 June 2008):

• The certificate

• A letter from a registered training organisation on company letterhead stating the units you have successfully completed.

Step 5: Lodge application

Send your application, together with your National Police Certificate, the photographs, evidence that you have completed the Certificate IV or Certificate III course, and the fee to the VTD.

Training requirements

Applicants for the Driving Instructor Authority must successfully complete a Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics (Road Transport – Car Driving Instruction) course at a registered training organisation. The course units are:

Registered training organisations

Fees

Full Driving Instructor Authorities are issued for a period of three years. Temporary, one-year Driving Instructor Authorities are issued to people who have a medical condition that needs to be reviewed annually. They may also be issued as a result of disciplinary proceedings.

Further information

For further information, contact the Victorian Taxi Directorate.

Industry bodies and associations