Having your own defensive driving school is a nice little sideline business. There are a variety of routes to becoming a certified driver safety course instructor in the state of Texas. There are no prerequisite educational requirements for entering an instructor course, but there are requirements that you be of good character and reputation, and a criminal history background check prior to certification will be conducted before you begin the coursework.

Where Do I Get the Training?

There are more than 40 defensive driving courses that are recognized by the Texas Education Agency. Each offers a 36-hour training course for instructors using its curriculum, method and training materials. You will need to visit the Texas Education Agency website below to locate a course provider. Contact that provider to find out when its next instructor development course will take place, where it will be and how much it will cost.

Choosing a Course

You may be certified to teach as many of the 40 state-approved driver safety courses as you wish, but you must be trained for the specific course provider separately. You can't be trained by one course provider and then go teach another provider's classes without first taking its training course. Each trainer charges differently, teaches different methods and has different requirements beyond those set up by the state.

Application for State Certification

Once you have completed the instructor course for your particular school or course provider, you will need to apply for a certificate from the state. Go to the website link below to obtain the application, and then fill it out carefully. You will need to present documentation for having completed your coursework. There is a $75 fee payable to TEA that must be sent with the application.

Teaching

Some schools offer regular classes to which you will be assigned. Many course providers will not only provide you with training and course materials but will also help you set up your own defensive driving school wherever you want. In Texas there are a wide variety of choices, including traditional, classroom-based courses; "dinner" classes at which meals are served; computer-based courses; and "comedy" defensive driving schools. You provide the location and training, do the local advertising and turn in the course records, while the course provider turns in the legal paperwork and issues certificates.

Source:

Texas Driving Safety School FAQs

Texas Driver Safety Instructor Application

Texas Driver Safety Course Providers