Certification for Driver Education

Approval to teach Driver and Traffic Safety Education is issued if the applicant meets certain requirements of the State Education Department. The Department of Motor Vehicles also reviews the driving record of the applicant. The following describes those requirements and categories of approval:

CERTIFICATION CATEGORIES

1-Year Provisional

3-Year Provisional

Permanent

Basic Driver Education Teacher Preparation Program

6 credit hours

Basic Driver Education Teacher Preparation Program

6 credit hours

Basic Driver Education Teacher Preparation Program

6 credit hours
 

AND

AND
 

General Safety Course

3 credit hours

General Safety Course

3 credit hours
 

OR

AND
 

Trends & Problems in Driver Education

3 credit hours

Trends & Problems in Driver Education

3 credit hours

6 Credit Hours Total

9 Credit Hours Total

12 Credit Hours Total

An applicant holding a valid permanent New York State Secondary School Teaching Certificate (NYS SSTC) would received an all approved designation. This person could teach Driver & Traffic Safety Education in all schools, providing it is an Education Department approved course. Other applicants would be restricted to the nonpublic sector. These would include school counselors. social workers. psychologists and school administrators.

The teacher approval application is submitted when the applicant completes the requirements and obtains a position in a school district as a Driver and Traffic Safety Education teacher with a school offering an Education Department approved course.

Teacher preparation institutions offering the required courses are as follows:

  • Broome Community College

  • Hofstra University

  • SUC @ Buffalo

  • SUC @ Oswego

  • New Jersey City College

If you have additional questions, please contact the Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Instructional Technology at 518-474-5922.