Idaho Department of Education

Public Driver Education Programs are valuable resources for Idaho communities and provide students with the tools and skills necessary to become safe, responsible drivers. Programs are annually approved and have certified driver education instructors who use standards-based driver education curriculum. Public Driver Education Programs develop the foundation and fundamentals of young drivers.

New Driver Education Instructor Certification

To become a licensed Public Driver Education Instructor, candidates must:

• Complete the New Instructor Training Course – This is offered online three times a year through Northwest Nazarene University (NNU). For more information see the course registration page. The course has a mentorship component for classroom and in-car instruction to ensure the new instructors are ready to teach.
• Pass a behind-the-wheel skills test. Skills test must be submitted to the Idaho Department of Education sealed in an envelope. These are conducted by Idaho Transportation Department’s Skills Test Examiners. For more information on skills tests, visit Idaho Transportation's DMV webpage.
• Pass and submit a physical using the Medical Examination Form.
• Instructors must have a satisfactory driving record.
• A background check is on file with the district/charter. For more information on background checks, check out the Background Investigation Check webpage.

Driver Education Certifications are renewed annually and valid from July 1 - June 30.

Requirements for certified instructors

• Medical examination must be renewed upon expiration (Medical Examination Form).
• Complete eight hours of professional development training each year. The Idaho Department of Education hosts annual Professional Development conferences to help instructors meet this requirement.
• Instructors must have a satisfactory driving record.
• Background check is on file with the district/charter.

Driver Education Certifications are renewed annually and valid from July 1 - June 30.

lapsed driver education certification

To recertify as an Idaho Driver Education Instructor:

• Complete either a) the Idaho New Instructor Training Course Final Exam (receive 80% or higher) or b) 15 hours of driver education professional development.
• Submit an updated physical using the Medical Examination Form.
• Background check is on file for the district/charter.
• Instructors must have a satisfactory driving record.
• District of employment must add the instructor by completing the Request to Add Instructor form.

Submitting an updated physical

Submitting a driver education reimbursement

The Idaho Department of Education has developed a resource guiding districts/charters on this process:

Advanced Opportunities & Driver Education

Districts can receive up to $375 per student by districts offering a driver education class as an overload course. Students will be able to access their Advanced Opportunities funding ($225 per student). See guidance:

Stipulations regarding use of Advanced Opportunities funding include: course must be offered by an accredited public school, driver education is an overload course, and taught by a certified driver education instructor through the Idaho Department of Education.

Idaho Driver Education Advisory Committee (IDEAC)

IDEAC ’s mission and other information can be found in their Charter and Information. IDEAC is compromised of the following individuals:

• Idaho Department of Education (Ben Puga)
• Department of Motor Vehicles - Permit and License Division (Steven Swickard)
• Office of Highway Safety (Tabitha Smith)
• OSBE (TBD)
• Idaho State Police (Captain Chris Weadick)
• County Sheriffs or City Police Department (Cpl. Kyle Wills)
• Division of EMS – DHW (TBD)
• Department of Occupational and Professional Licenses (Kent Absec)
• Public DE instructors (3 members)
  • 1 member will represent Northern Idaho (Dorie Nelsen)
  • 1 member will represent Central Idaho (Mark Schaal)
  • 1 member will represent Eastern Idaho (Todd Coburn)

  IDEAC Open Meetings

  Tuesday, January 24, 2023 (Meeting Notice | Agenda)
  Wednesday, March 8, 2023 (Meeting Notice | Agenda)
  Wednesday, June 14, 2023 - CANCELED
  Wednesda,y September 13, 2023 (Meeting Notice)
  Wednesday, December 13, 2023 (Meeting Notice)

  DRIVER EDUCATION APPLICATION

  Excel Document

  

  Word Document

  

  Jot Form

  

  PDF Document

  

  Online Form

  Resource Files

  • General Information
  • Contracting with Private Company Guidance
  • English Language Learners Driver Education Guidance
  • Idaho Public Driver Education Program Manual | (Print Version)
  • Idaho Public Driver Education Curriculum Guide
  • Idaho Traffic Laws | (Print Version)
  • Idaho’s Graduated Driver’s Licensing (GDL) Program
  • Instructor Profile FAQ
  • Starting a Driver Education Program
  • Using Advanced Opportunities Program for Public Driver Education Program
  • Special Education and Driver Education
  • Driver Education Reimbursement
  • Driver Education Reimbursement Form
  • Driver Education Reimbursement Guidance
  • Student Classroom List
  • Program/Instructor Forms
  • Annual Program Plan Packet
  • Annual Vehicle Inspection Form
  • Student Certificate of Completion
  • Collision/Incident Report Form
  • Student Driver Education Policies Agreement
  • Medical Examination Form (Physical)
  • Request to Add Instructors
  • Student Classroom List
  • Newsletters
  • July & August 2023 Newsletter
  • April, May, & June 2023 Newsletter
  • March 2023 Newsletter
  • February 2023 Newsletter
  • January 2023 Newsletter
  • December 2022 Newsletter
  • November 2022 Newsletter
  • October 2022 Newsletter
  • September 2022 Newsletter
  • August 2022 Newsletter
  • June & July 2022 Newsletter
  • Annual Driver Education Program Reports
  • 2023 Annual Report
  • 2022 Annual Report
  • 2021 Annual Report
  • 2020 Annual Report
  • 2019 Annual Report
  • 2018 Annual Report

  Frequently Asked Questions

  A complete resource of information for Driver Education instructors can be found in the Operating Procedures handbook.

  • How long are Annual Program Plans approved for?

  Annual Program Plans are valid from July 1-June 30 and they need to be approved annually. Reminders are sent to Driver Education Program Coordinators annually.

  • How do you calculate the test eligibility dates?

  When calculating the test eligibility dates, best practice is to take the month and day the student graduates and add 6 months, keeping the same day. For example, if a student graduates 06/14/2022, their test eligibility date would be 12/14/2022.

  • Why have I not received my Instructor Authorization Card even though I have done all the requirements?

  Annual Program Plans must be approved for driver education instructors to receive their Instructor Authorization Card.

  • What is required for a Driver Education Program to receive the reimbursement?

  Annual Program Plans must be approved before a district/school can receive payment. Annual Program Plans must be submitted 30 days prior to the start of the first course.

  • Who can participate in public driver education programs?
  Students 14 1/2-21 years of age can participate in a public driver education program.
  • Do students who have Class D Instruction Permit or Class D Driver's License surrender their permit/license to participate in the driver education program?

  If a 17-21-year-old student has their regular Class D Instruction Permit or Class D Driver's License, they do not surrender their permit/license to the driver education program. A student is only required to surrender their permit if it is a Driver Training Permit.

  • If a student wants to complete an IDLA driver education course for their classroom instruction, but is taking in-car instruction in a different district, which district does the student register for their IDLA course?

  The student will need to register for the IDLA course in the district that is the local school they attend. That is the school of record for IDLA enrollments. There is an assignment in the first unit of the IDLA class that has them provide the in-car driving information for the IDLA teacher to connect with the driving school and provide them with what they need in terms of grade reports.

  • Can a student from a different district enroll in our program?

  Students enrolled in any Idaho public school district may enroll in driver education training outside their home district with approval from both districts.