Applying for a Driving Instructor Licence

You can only apply for a Driving Instructor's Licence if:

• You're at least 21 years old
• You've held a full driver licence (not learner, provisional, probationary or restricted) of the relevant class for at least three years during the four-year period immediately prior to your application for an instructor's licence
• You've been authorised by Transport for NSW (Transport) to undertake an approved course in driving instruction and have passed
• You’ve been provided with a Working With Children Check number for employment purposes. A Working With Children Check for volunteer purposes will not be accepted.

Application process

To safeguard the professionalism and standards of driving instruction, a strict application process must be followed.

Applications submitted from 17 December 2021 will need to be finalised within six months from the date we receive your application.

If you need longer than six months to complete the required instructor training course, when you provide your training certificate you will need to submit a new application form. You won’t need to provide an updated medical or undergo a driving or knowledge test unless they were completed more than 18 months ago.

Transport has introduced this requirement to ensure that we assess your suitability to hold a Driving Instructor licence based on your current information.

The process looks like this:

1. Documents and checks
2. Tests (theory and practical)
3. Letter of eligibility
4. Driving Instructor training course.

1. Documents and checks

You'll need to provide:

• A completed Application for Licence under Driving Instructors Act 1992 (PDF, 261.87 KB), Form No. 239
• A completed medical check stating that you're fit to drive (your doctor can submit a medical report online.) 
• Criminal history checks
• Provide a Working With Children Check number and expiry date for employment purposes
• Four colour passport-sized photos.

2. Tests

You'll need to:

• Pass an extended knowledge test on road rules (90 questions). The test must be in English and without interpreter assistance
• Driving Instructor applicants: Pass a driving test with a 95 per cent pass rate. You must pass the driving test before you're issued a letter of eligibility. If you undertake the test in an automatic vehicle, your Driving Instructor Licence will have a condition allowing you to teach in an automatic vehicle only
• Riding Instructor applicants: Pass a Motorcycle Operator Skills Test (MOST) with a 100 per cent result.

You're required to supply the vehicle for all driving/riding tests and assessments.

3. Letter of eligibility

When all documents are provided checks are completed and you've satisfactorily passed the required tests, Transport will issue you with a letter of eligibility. You cannot enrol into an instructor training course unless you hold a current letter of eligibility.

4. Instructor training course for Car and Heavy Vehicle

The Car and Heavy Vehicle instructor training standards are nationally agreed and included in the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF):

• Cars: Driving instructors must pass the Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics (Road Transport - Car Driving Instruction) TLI41216 or TLI41218 or TLI41221. See, Car Training Provider Search.
• Heavy vehicles: Driving instructors must pass the Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics (Road Transport - Heavy Vehicle Driving Instruction) TLI41316 or TLI41318 or TLI41321. See, Heavy Vehicle Training Provider Search.

5. Instructor training course Motorcycle

Motorcycles: Riding instructors must pass the Transport pre-learner rider training course as a student before commencing the instructor training with an approved motorcycle course provider.
 

6. Upgrading to a Higher Class of Driving Instructor's licence

To upgrade to a higher class of Heavy Vehicle Driving Instructor licence (e.g. HR to HC) applicants must:

• Pass an extended knowledge test on road rules (90 questions)
• Pass a driving test with a 95 per cent pass rate. You must pass the driving test before you're issued a letter of eligibility. If you undertake the test in an automatic vehicle, your Driving Instructor licence will have a condition allowing you to teach in an automatic vehicle only
• Complete an Application for Licence under Driving Instructors Act 1992 (PDF, 261.87 KB), Form No. 239 for an upgrade
• When all documents are provided, checks are completed and you've satisfactorily passed the required tests, Transport will issue you with a letter of eligibility
• Contact a Transport approved and accredited provider of Heavy Vehicle Driving Instructor Training. A Recognition of Prior Learning Process (RPL) may be able to be completed on the previous training completed

Note: A Driving Instructor upgrading from a class HC to MC Driving Instructor licence is not required to complete an instructor driving test in an MC vehicle.

Heavy vehicle, older driver, safer driver and motorcycle training/assessing schemes or courses

The Heavy Vehicle Competency Based Assessment (HVCBA), Older Driver Assessor, Safer Driver and Motorcycle Rider Training/Assessing schemes and courses operate under contracts/agreements with Transport.

Instructors wanting to work in these schemes or courses must be employed by an organisation with a current Transport contract/agreement.

Instructors in these schemes or courses are required to undertake further training and assessments, in addition to the requirements listed above. Information on these requirements can be obtained from Transport by emailing:

• HVCBA - hvtraining@transport.nsw.gov.au
• Older Driver Assessor - olderdriverassessor@transport.nsw.gov.au
• Safer Driver - saferdriverscourse@transport.nsw.gov.au

• Applicants for the HVCBA or Older Driver Assessor courses must hold prior to enrolment onto the course, the relevant instructor licence and certificates for:

• TAEASS401 Plan assessment activities and processes, and TAEASS402 Assess competence or an approved equivalent

For more information see Heavy Vehicle Competency Based Assessment (HVCBA) Scheme

Application fees

Fees are payable to Service NSW for:

• Driver Knowledge Test
• Driving test / Motorcycle Operator Skills Test (MOST)
• Pre-learner rider training course (motorcycle instructors only)
• Working With Children Check (collected on behalf of Office of the Children's Guardian)
• Issue of a five-year Driving Instructor licence.

Fees for the instructor training course, including the final assessment, are determined by the course providers and paid directly to them.

Other fees, such as those payable to medical practitioners for the Fitness to Drive medical assessment, are your responsibility

Approved course providers

The following organisations are Transport-approved providers of driving instructor training for car, heavy vehicle and motorcycle instructors.

Qualifications issued by non-approved course providers are not recognised as the courses may not have been conducted to the standard required by Transport.

Car instructors NSW

• 121 Driver Training, 1300 810 510
• ACT (Australian Construction and Transport) Training, 07 5541 2929 
• DARE (Driver and Rider Education), 1800 111 424
• Further Education Training and Assessment, 0412 772 203
• PVET Institute, (02) 9418 8953
• RLI Training P/L, 1300 938 506
• Trent Education, (02) 8748 4555
• Intelligent Training Solutions 1300 585 866
• Academy of Road Safety (02) 9863 7999
• Watto Training, 0459 840 006
• New Teach Training Centre, 0402 576 393

Heavy Vehicle instructors

• ACT (Australian Construction and Transport) Training, 07 5541 2929 
• Applied Training Solutions, (02) 8787 5870
• DARE (Driver and Rider Education), 1800 111 424
• Further Education Training and Assessment, 0412 772 203
• Lewelmo, T/A United Transport Solutions, 0412 411 404
• RLI Training P/L, 1300 938 506
• Into Training Australia Pty Ltd, 0417 202 950
• Intelligent Training Solutions, 1300 585 866
• Intertrain Pty Ltd, 1300 222 776
• Watto Training, 0459 840 006
• New Teach Training Centre, 0402 576 393

Motorcycle instructors

• HART (Honda Australia Roadcraft Training), (02) 9391 5110
• Stay Upright Motorcycle Techniques, (02) 8824 9980
• Wheel-Skills, (02) 6687 9222

Interstate training providers

Transport will only recognise the required certificates issued by interstate Recognised Training Organisations (RTOs) who hold a current service provider deed with the driver licensing regulator in that state:

• ACT: Transport Industry Skill Centre (TISC), (02) 6297 7187
• Queensland: See the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads website
• Northern Territory:
  • Industries Services Australia, (08) 8942 7000
  • RLI Training P/L, 1300 938 506
• South Australia: See the Government of South Australia website
  • Into Training Australia Pty Ltd, 0417 202 950
• Western Australia: Jasmonie trading as Miro Training Centre, 0422 461 180
• Victoria: Intelligent Training Solutions, 1300 585 866

Interstate instructors

Mutual Recognition

Under the Mutual Recognition Act, driving instructors moving to NSW who hold a driving instructor licence in another Australian state or territory can apply for a NSW instructor licence without the need for additional training. Applicants need to:

• Pass an Instructor knowledge test on road rules (90 questions) for the relevant class of vehicle you are applying for. The test must be in English and without interpreter assistance
• Supply a current interstate driving instructor's licence
• Supply a copy of your interstate driver’s traffic history and traffic offence history. You will need to contact the state or territory government office where your past driver licence was held
• Complete and submit both the Driving Instructor licence application form and the Driving Instructor Mutual Recognition form
• Provide two colour passport-sized photos. Your photograph(s) should be approximately 5cm by 4cm in size. It should be front facing, with your head and shoulders visible. No headgear should be worn unless it is worn for religious purposes.
   
  

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• Attend a Service NSW service centre, pay the non-refundable application fee and submit your application.

Automatic Mutual Recognition

AMR enables holders of occupational licences, including driving instructors, to work in a second state or territory without having to get a licence, or pay fees, in that second state or territory.

From 1 December 2022 all states and territories will be participating in the AMR scheme except for Queensland.

Driving instructors will be added to the AMR scheme on this date.

If a worker is eligible for AMR, they work under an Automatic Deemed Registration (ADR).

To work in a second state under ADR, workers must hold a valid and current licence in their home jurisdiction. For most people, this is where they live and carry out most of their work.

Transport for NSW (Transport) will recognise all AMR participating state and territory licensed driving instructors.

They will also recognise a NSW driving instructor licence.

While working in NSW, workers can:

• only undertake activities they are allowed to perform under their home state licence, and
• must comply with local regulations.

• A driving instructor working in NSW with ADR is not automatically entitled to work in other driver/rider testing and assessment programs in NSW. 

All AMR participating states will also recognise a NSW licensed driving instructor.

How interstate driving instructors notify Transport

From the AMR page on nsw.gov.au, driving instructors will access a list of all the occupations included in the AMR scheme from 1 December 2022.

Driving instructors can find their occupation on the list and notify the regulator using the link to the notification platform.

The driving instructor will begin notification by creating a MyServiceNSW account.

Driving instructors need to provide basic information such as name, address, home state and occupational number and expiry date. They also need to confirm that they are not subject of criminal, civil or disciplinary proceedings in any state in relation to the occupation that they are notifying for. Driving instructors must also provide a valid NSW Working With Children Check if intending to instruct C Class or R Class.

Transport will verify the information the driving instructor has provided with their home state. Once a notification has been submitted, a driving instructor can start working in NSW unless Transport advises otherwise.

Information for driving instructors will be available from 1 December 2022 on the NSW Government website.

Regulating driving instructors working under ADR

Driving instructors working under ADR in NSW will need to be able to hand over their driving instructor licence for inspection at the request of:

• an authorised officer
• an NSW Police officer
• any person who wishes to receive or is receiving driving instruction from the driving instructor.

Driving instructors working under ADR in NSW will be able to use their home state driving instructor licence (or equivalent) for this purpose.

All interstate workers must comply with NSW regulations while working in NSW.

Failure to comply with relevant state or territory legislation or regulation could impact a worker’s eligibility to continue to work under AMR and may also affect the status of their home state driving instructor licence.

Frequently asked questions