Become a licensed driving instructor

All new applicants for a driving instructor’s licence must:

• have the required Class of driver’s licence and endorsement(s) for the type of training to be delivered
• meet the driver experience requirements
• successfully pass all testing and training requirements

For more detailed information, see the Eligibility Chart. Applicants must also meet the requirements described in the How to apply section, below.

Further detail about all requirements are in section 3.00.01 of the Licensed Driver Training School Procedures Manual.

Under the Labour Mobility Act, you can convert your out-of-province driving instructor’s credential to obtain an Alberta driving instructor’s licence.

Once you have received your Alberta driving instructor’s licence, you will need to establish an affiliation with a driver training school and follow all steps to prove the local knowledge requirement before you can legally provide driving instruction.

For further information about converting your credential, see the ‘How to apply’ section, below.

To obtain your driving instructor’s licence, you must complete all the following and submit it as one package.

Step 1. Obtain supporting documents and requirements

• Have a valid Alberta driver’s licence and required endorsement(s) for the type of training to be delivered (see Licence-specific eligibility requirements, above).
• Submit a driver’s abstract covering the previous 2 years, showing no suspensions or cancellations, and less than 7 demerit points.
• Have no outstanding fines, account balances or restriction of services on your motor vehicle record.
• Successfully complete all training and testing required (see Licence-specific eligibility requirements, above).
• Provide an original Criminal Record Check (CRC) or a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) dated within 90 days of the instructor application being received. A VSC is required for any instructor that may train vulnerable Albertans (such as individuals under 18 years of age).
  • The CRC or VSC are obtained from a municipal police service or RCMP detachment.
  • The original CRC and VSC may be in either digital or hard copy format. Digital Criminal Record Checks will be permitted if the results of are directly released to Transportation and Economic Corridors. Hard copies must be mailed in.

Step 2. Fill out forms

• Complete a Driving Instructor Licence Application.
• Submit a signed Code of Conduct form.

Step 3. Payment

Pay the instructor licence fee, plus applicable service charges, at any Alberta registry agent. Proof of payment must be submitted prior to a licence being issued.

Step 4. Submit completed package

Submit your completed package to trans.driver.prog@gov.ab.ca in one email with all required documents in PDF format.

There are various requirements to earn the status of senior driving instructor:

• Be in good standing with the Registrar.
• Provide a letter of recommendation from a driver training school.
• Provide the necessary monitoring reports from the driver training school.
• Have successfully passed a senior driving instructor’s knowledge test.
• Have at least 2 years of experience, immediately prior to the application, as a driving instructor in the Class of driver’s licence for which the applicant is seeking to be designated as a senior driving instructor.
• Have the required minimum number of hours of instruction experience within the previous 24 months.

For further details about requirements, see section 3.00.03 of the Licensed Driver Training School Procedures Manual.

Step 1. Fill out application

Complete the Driving Instructor Licence Application.

Step 2. Obtain supporting documents

Provide proof of your valid driving instructor credential issued in another Canadian jurisdiction. Accepted documents for proof of credential include:

• A copy of a valid unexpired instructor licence from your previous jurisdiction that shows date of licence issue, date of expiry, and type of instruction licensed to provide, or
• An official letter or email from the driving instructor licensing body in your previous jurisdiction, dated within 90 days of your application. The letter must include a contact name, contact phone number, and email address. The document must clearly show date of licence issue, date of expiry, and type of instruction that you are authorized to provide.
• Provide an original CRC or a VSC dated within 90 days of the instructor application being received. A VSC is required for any instructor that may train vulnerable Albertans (such as individuals under 18 years of age).
  • The CRC or VSC are obtained from a municipal police service or RCMP detachment.
  • The original CRC and VSC may be in either digital or hard copy format. Digital Criminal Record Checks will be permitted if the results are directly released to the department. Hard copies must be mailed in.

Step 3. Submit the application and supporting documents

Submit your application to trans.driver.prog@gov.ab.ca by attaching all documents as PDFs to one email. Only complete applications will be accepted.

Applications are only accepted by email. You must provide a valid email address. All correspondence regarding your application will be done through email.

Step 4. After you apply

Within 10 business days of having received your complete application package, we will provide a written acknowledgement of receipt of your application.

Within 20 business days of having received your complete application, we will notify you of our decision.

If your application is refused, you may appeal the decision by emailing trans.driver.prog@gov.ab.ca, or mailing your appeal to:

MELT & Licensing Standards
1st Floor, Twin Atria Building
4999 98 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta  T6B 2X3

You must provide your reason for appealing the decision.

Important: Even after you have your driving instructor’s licence, you will not be able to provide instruction until you have completed Steps 4 and 5, below.

Step 5. After receiving your driving instructor’s licence

You will need to complete the following before you can legally provide driving instruction:

• Have a valid Alberta driver’s licence for the Class that you will be instructing. The Class of driver’s licence required is dependent on the Class of instruction you will be providing.
• If applicable, have the Alberta endorsement for the Class of instruction you will be providing. For example: an Air Brake (Q endorsement) or School Bus Endorsement (S endorsement).
• Have evidence of successful completion of the applicable knowledge test and practical test. To complete these tests, you must be affiliated with a Licensed Driver Training School. See Licensing Driver Training Schools for more information. The licensed Driver Training school arranges testing with the department.
• Submit a driver’s abstract covering the previous 2 years, showing no suspensions or cancellations, and less than 7 demerit points.
• Submit a signed Code of Conduct form.
• Pay a non-refundable instructor licence fee, plus applicable service charges at an Alberta Registry Agent location. You will then need to submit your receipt.

Submit our completed package trans.driver.prog@gov.ab.ca in one email with all required documents in PDF format.

Step 6. After completing Step 5

We will send you an email notifying you that you can provide driver training. The driver training school will require confirmation of this letter.

Download the Driving Instructor Licence Application form.

The form must be signed by the senior driving instructor or authorized representative from the licensed driver training school.

Note: If you are a senior driving instructor, you should have an authorized representative sign on your behalf. If you are also the school owner and there is no applicable individual to sign, you may sign on your own behalf, but will be subject to a monitoring session with a Driver Program Administrator.

• Provide a record of exact hours of instruction completed during the 24 months before the renewal date.
• Complete the Licensed Driving Instructor Record of Instruction form.
• Provide a signed Driving Instructor Code of Conduct and Ethics applicable to your role.
  • Driving Instructor Code of Conduct and Ethics
  • Senior Driving Instructor Code of Conduct and Ethics
• Get an original CRC or a VSC from an approved police agency dated within 90 days of the instructor application. A VSC is required for any instructor that may train vulnerable Albertans (such as individuals under 18 years of age).
• Proof of payment for the licence renewal fee.

You must complete a minimum number of hours of instruction in the 24 months before the renewal date. Refer to the respective sections of the Licensed Driver Training School Procedures Manual for more information:

• Section 3.00.02 for driver instructors.
• Section 3.00.04 for senior driver instructors.

Your completed package must be submitted to trans.driver.prog@gov.ab.ca in one email with all required documents in PDF format.