Driving instructor

You can obtain a qualification as a driving instructor at an institution of professional higher education or a university that provides such training. Instructor training consists of a basic course of 750 academic hours to acquire a category B instructor qualification and a specific course of 75 academic hours to acquire a category A, BE, C, CE, D, DE or T instructor qualification.

Yes, there are. The awarding body has the right to accredit instructors under the Professions Act. Therefore, the applicant may study on their own initiative and then submit an application to the awarding body, after which the awarding body will assess the applicant's competences in accordance with the requirements of clause 2 of subsection 1 of § 118 of the Road Traffic Act.

A person who has obtained a qualification in a foreign country may also work as a driving instructor if their qualification has been recognised in accordance with the Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications Act.

In order to obtain an instructor's licence, the application must either be submitted in person at the Service Bureau of the Transport Administration or sent in digital format to [email protected]. The application will be processed as soon as possible and the licence will be issued within 10 working days of receipt of all the documents.

To apply, you must submit:

• an identification document;
• a certificate of qualification as an instructor or details of completion of the training course or the professional certificate;
• a valid health certificate if the data in the health register are not valid or your state of health has changed;
• the payment of the state fee.

Once all the requirements have been met, the Transport Administration will issue a licence valid for five years.

If you intend to continue working as a driving instructor and your licence is about to expire, we recommend that you complete a continuing training course as a driving instructor at an institution of professional higher education or university before your licence expires. The continuing training course is 40 academic hours and is designed to ensure the professional development of an instructor. Continuing training may also be completed in parts. Continuing training may also be replaced by a special course if the curriculum of the special course includes subjects and activities similar to those of the continuing training curriculum of an instructor, which deepen and develop the instructor's knowledge and skills.

Continuing training can be replaced by a revalidation of the qualification with the awarding body.

In order to apply for an instructor’s licence, the following must be submitted:

• an identification document;
• a certificate of qualification as an instructor or details of completion of the training course or details of professional revalidation;
• a valid health certificate if the data in the motor register are not valid or your state of health has changed;
• the payment of the state fee.

Once all the requirements have been met, the Transport Administration will issue a licence valid for five years.

A licence to instruct is revoked if:

1. the right to drive of the holder of the licence is revoked as the right to drive has been obtained by fraud or the right to drive has been issued on the basis of a falsified or false document;
2. the instructor's licence has been forged or fraudulently obtained;
3. the holder of the licence has been penalised for driving a motor vehicle in a state of intoxication or in a state exceeding the maximum permitted level of alcohol in the bloodstream or for violating traffic requirements for which the penalty provided by the Road Traffic Act is the withdrawal of the right to drive motor vehicles or for an intentionally committed criminal offence;
4. inaccurate information has been submitted upon application for the licence;
5. the holder of the licence is dead; or
6. a new instructor's licence is issued.

• Road Traffic Act
• Requirements for the qualification of driving instructors, requirements for the organisation of instructor training and continuing training of instructors, and procedures for applying for, issuing and withdrawing the licence to instruct as a driving instructor

Can I apply for the licence to instruct if my health certificate is valid?

According to subsection 4 of § 101 of the Road Traffic Act, driving instructors must undergo a medical examination every five years. Provided your health certificate is valid at the time of applying for the instructor’s licence, you can apply for it. Driving instructors must hold a valid Group 2 health certificate. You can check the validity of your health certificate using the e-service of the Transport Administration.

Can I apply for the licence using the e-service?

Currently not, but we hope the possibility will arise in the future. You can send your application, together with additional information (the school where you trained as a driving instructor, payment of fees, etc.) in digital format to [email protected].

How much is the state fee for applying for an instructor’s licence?

The current fee is 33 euros. Click here for payment details.

If I had a penalty and it has been paid, can I can still work as an instructor?

If you had an offence that resulted in your driving licence being revoked, you cannot continue to work as a driver until the penalty is cleared. You can check the status of your penalty here.

I hold a category B instructor’s licence. Can I also be a category BE instructor?

No you cannot. In order to obtain a BE category instructor’s licence, you need to complete a specific BE or CE category course at an institution of professional higher education or university. If you pass a specific course to qualify as a CE category instructor, for example, you can obtain a DE category instructor’s licence in addition to the BE qualification. The requirement includes holding a category D instructor’s licence.

If I have a category B instructor's licence, can I also train category AM?

No you cannot. Drivers of motor vehicles of category AM may be trained by a driving instructor who has an instructor’s licence of category A.

I obtained a category A driving licence a year ago and have completed a special course for category A instructors. Can I train category A drivers?

No you cannot. Although you have a driving licence for the relevant category and you have completed a specific course, you can only start instructing once you have had a valid driving licence for the relevant category for at least three years.

What should I do if my instructor’s licence expires in a month?

To continue working as driving instructor, you must apply for a new instructor's licence from the Transport Agency. This involves submitting an application and paying a state fee. In order to obtain a new instructor's licence, you must have previously completed a continuing training course as a driving instructor at a higher education institution or university, have no current penalties, hold a valid Group 2 health certificate and pay a state fee.

Can I continue to work as a traffic theory instructor if my state of health no longer allows me to drive the category of motor vehicle I am training?

You can continue to work as a traffic theory instructor if you have a licence to drive a motor vehicle in the relevant category and have at least three years' experience and a valid instructor's licence in the relevant category.