Get a driving instructor's licence

Find out how to apply for a driving instructor's licence in Western Australia, what you need to do to maintain your licence, and how to renew or cancel your licence.

It is your responsibility to know your expiry date and arrange your renewal. If you do not renew your licence by the expiry date you must reapply.

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Become a licensed driving instructor in WA

Anyone who is paid to teach another person how to drive a motor vehicle must hold a driving instructor's licence, including:

Professional driving instructors.
Employees who give driving instruction as part of their job (including government employees).

The Motor Vehicle Drivers Instructors Act 1963 (WA) sets out the requirements for a driving instructor's licence, including:

A current Western Australian driver's licence.
Minimum of 3 continuous years experience driving the vehicle class you wish to teach.
Medical fitness standards.
Police character checks.
Minimum age of 21 years old.

Please download the fact sheet below, which provides details on being a driving instructor in Western Australia, such as:

How and when to renew your instructor's licence.
How to add additional classes to your driving instructor's licence.
Legal requirements.
Maintaining your driving instructor's licence your obligations.
Prerequisites (eligibility).
Recognition of prior learning.
Step by step instructions on how to obtain your driving instructor's licence.

	Department of Justice: Motor Vehicle Drivers Instructors Act 1963

	How to become a licensed driving instructor in Western Australia (Fact sheet)	Kb

Step 1:Complete a police check - driving instructor's licence

National Police Certificate (NPC)

Application for your National Police Certificate (NPC) can be made at Australia Post, or an accredited organisation. A list of accredited organisations is available on the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission website.

The NPC must be no older than three months and remain valid for the duration of the application process (approximately 10 working days from when a completed application is received).

You will also need to provide contact information for at least 2 character references who:

Have known you personally for at least 1 year, and
Are not a relative.

	Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission: Information for individuals

Step 2:Provide proof of identity

You will be required to submit sufficient proof of your identity for the application.

Please go to Proof of identity for more information.


	Your Secure Identity: Meeting proof of identity requirements (Fact sheet)	Kb

Step 3:Submit the application in person (Form E175)

Please download and complete the application form E175 and submit it to the Department of Transport along with:

Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics (Road Transport Driving Instruction), or equivalent if applicable.
National Police Certificate.
Character references (if required).
Proof of identity documents.
Application fee.


	Application for Instructors Licence (Form E175)	Kb

Step 4:Complete the theory assessment

If you have a nationally-recognised qualification from a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), you may be exempt from both the theory and practical assessments.

To be a licensed driving instructor, you must complete theory and practical assessments conducted by the WA Department of Transport.

Theory assessment

There are several theory tests you may be required to complete:

General driving instruction theory (all vehicle classes) must get 140 out of 150 questions correct to pass.
Motorcycle driving instruction theory.
Heavy vehicle driving instruction theory (by class).

Nationally-recognised qualifications

Under the Motor Vehicle Drivers Instructor Regulations 1964 the following are deemed sufficient training for driving instructors in WA:

Certificate III in Motor Vehicle Driver Instruction.
Certificate IV in Driving Instruction.
Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics (Road Transport Driving Instruction).

Applicants who hold these certificates do not need to take the tests.

Schedule 2 of above regulations provides more information on the Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) allowed to award these certificates.

	Department of Justice: Motor Vehicle Drivers Instructors Regulations 1964

Step 5:Go for a medical check-up: Driving instructors

Once your application has been submitted, you will be issued with a medical form.

Take this form for a medical check-up with your health professional. He or she will need to complete the form and submit it directly to the Department of Transport.

Step 6:Complete the Practical Driving Assessment

Once the form has been received, it should take about 10 working days to process the rest of your application. Once completed, the Department of Transport will contact you to arrange for a Practical Driving Assessment and Instructor's Practical Test if required.

The practical driving assessment is the same test taken by learner drivers, but you will be tested to a higher standard.

The instructor's practical test will also assess your ability to teach a learner driver.

Note:

If you hold a Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics (Road Transport: Driving Instruction) or similar nationally-recognised certificate, you will be exempted from the Practical Driving Assessment.

Step 7:Pay the licence fee

Successful applicants will need to pay the annual licence fee.

Please go to Driver licence fees for information on the current fee rates.

Once you have paid the licence fee, you will be sent your Driving Instructor's Licence.

You will only be allowed to provide driving instruction after you have received your driving instructor's licence.

Note:

Make sure you have signed your name in the driving instructor's licence booklet when providing driving instruction, and notify the Department of Transport immediately if your booklet is lost or destroyed.

Driving Instructor fees

Fee type	Fee
Driving instructor's application fee	$101.40
Driving instructor's testing fee	$161.80
Annual driving instructor's licence fee	$5.35
Driving instructor's duplicate licence fee	$7.80

What to do after you obtain your driving instructor's licence

Once you have been issued with your driving instructor's licence, you must carry it on you whenever you are teaching a learner driver.

You must also ensure that any advertisements you might have for your driving instruction services must include information on what vehicle classes you are allowed to teach.

If you use a vehicle with dual controls to provide instruction, you will need to ensure that its licence is also current and that the vehicle is roadworthy.

Please go to License a driving instructor vehicle for more information.

Please also notify the Department of Transport if you change your name or address.

Adding additional classes to your driving instructor's licence

If you wish to instruct in additional classes of vehicles you will need to sit the required tests in that class or obtain a nationally-recognised qualification for that class.

Apply for recognition of your non-WA Driving Instructor authorisation

If you are paid or receive other remuneration to teach another person to drive a motor vehicle in WA, you must hold a driving instructor’s licence. You can apply for mutual recognition of your interstate or New Zealand equivalent driving instructor’s (DI) authorisation in WA.

What is mutual recognition?

If you hold the equivalent of a DI authorisation from another Australian State, Territory or from New Zealand, you can apply for the mutual recognition of your authorisation in WA.

The mutual recognition of occupational licences and authorisations allows a person who holds an occupational licence or authorisation in one Australian jurisdiction or in New Zealand, to receive the equivalent licence or authorisation in another jurisdiction. The Department of Transport (DoT) must consider applications to recognise commercial driving authorisations issued in other Australian jurisdictions and New Zealand and, if considered to be equivalent, issue you with a WA authorisation for the same activity.

Applying for a DI authorisation through mutual recognition

Are you eligible?

You are eligible to apply for mutual recognition if you:

hold an equivalent DI authorisation from another Australian State or Territory, or in New Zealand that is current, valid, and unrestricted;
are not subject to (or have pending) any licence suspension or cancellation;
have not been disqualified from driving; and,
you are usually resident in WA.

How to apply

You are required to lodge an Application for Mutual Recognition of Passenger Transport Driver or Driving Instructor Registration (Form E33) with your application which includes the following information:

In which other State or Territory you are a licensed driving instructor.
That you are seeking to be registered in Western Australia under the mutual recognition principle.
That you are not currently subject to any disciplinary proceedings in relation to your driving instructor’s licence.
That any driving instructor’s licence you hold is not cancelled or suspended.
You are not prohibited from being a driving instructor in any State or Territory nor have special conditions on your licence because of disciplinary proceedings.
Any other conditions that your driving instructor’s licence is subject to; and
That you give consent for DoT to make enquiries with another State or Territory regarding matters relevant to the notice.

What you need to do

Attend a DVS Centre or Agent with primary and secondary identification.
Complete an Application for Mutual Recognition of Passenger Transport Driver or Driving Instructor Registration (Form E33), and in the case of MVDI’s a Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics if relevant.
Complete an Application for Instructors Licence (Form E175).
Pay the required fee.
Once approved, attend a DVS Centre or Agent, and complete a PDA or pay the annual renewal fee (whichever is relevant).
On receipt of payment (if a PDA is required then on receipt of payment after successfully completing a PDA), your driving instructor’s licence will be posted to you within approximately five (5) working days. Upon receiving your driving instructor’s licence by post, you will be a qualified to commence instructing clients for reward.

Automatic Mutual Recognition

Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) is an intergovernmental initiative that allows eligible interstate driving instructors to work in Western Australia.

Eligibility

You must not be a resident in WA.
You must hold a current interstate MDVI licence.
You must not be subject to (or have pending) any licence suspension or cancellation.
You must not be disqualified from driving.

If you are eligible for AMR you will not be required to apply for mutual recognition and pay for a second licence, provided you are already licensed to perform the same activities in your home State.

You will be required to notify the Department of Transport (DoT) if you intend to use your interstate Motor Vehicle Driving Instructor (MVDI) licence for the purpose of providing driver instruction in Western Australia.

You must:

Provide a completed Application for Mutual Recognition of Passenger Transport Driver or Driving Instructor Registration (Form E33) indicating you are notifying DoT you intend to operate under AMR;
Provide a current interstate MDVI licence; and
Submit them in person at any DVS centre, regional DoT office or agent.

Note: If you are in WA to live here permanently, or intend to take up permanent residence, you are no longer considered to be a visitor. You must apply for a WA driving instructor’s licence within 3 months of becoming usually resident in WA.

After this period, you must hold a WA DI authorisation if you are paid or receive any remuneration to teach another person to drive a motor vehicle in WA. It is advised that you apply for the mutual recognition of your interstate authorisation before the three-month period ends.


	Application for Mutual Recognition of Passenger Transport Driver or Driving Instructor Registration (Form E33)	Kb

Renew or replace your driving instructor's licence

Renewal

A Driving Instructor's licence is valid for 1 year from date of issue, after which it must be renewed annually.

A renewal advice letter will be mailed to you 2 months before your licence expires.

To renew your licence you will need to:

Pay the annual fee at a Driver and Vehicle Services centre or regional agent
Undertake regular medical examinations.
Resit theory and practical assessments every 3 years; unless you hold a nationally recognised certificate.