Requirements to start a driver training school or become an instructor

Commercial (for-profit) driver training schools and instructors are licensed and regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. For information, forms and links to start a school or become an instructor, select from the boxes below.

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To start a school, you will need the following:

Use the Driver Training School Checklist MV3757 to ensure you complete all required documents and cover required curriculum topics prior to submitting to the Department.

Additional forms

  • Certification of Completion Driver Instructor Course MV3261
  • Driver Training Schools/Instructors Complaint MV3756
  • Driver Training School Checklist MV3757

To be an instructor, you will need the following:

  • Be employed by a driver training school prior to becoming a certified driver training instructor and fulfill one of the following training requirements:
    • Complete the 40-hour instructor training course at a driver training school that offers the course (a school showing type of instruction E or I offers the course), or
    • Be DPI certified, or
    • Have completed 9 college credits of driver education
  • Be 19 years of age or older
  • Hold a valid, regular (non-probationary) driver license valid for the training you will provide
  • Have 2 years of licensed driving experience
  • Have a satisfactory driving record
  • If you have ever been licensed outside of Wisconsin, submit a driver record abstract from each state in which you've been licensed
  • Pass all required tests which include instructor test, Class D knowledge test, highway signs test, oral test, brake reaction test and skills (road) test. Please note:
    • All tests are given on a walk-in basis at your local DMV Service Center.
    • The Instructor Guidelines the study guide for the driver instructor test. You must pass the test with a grade of 80% or higher. You may take the instructor test twice in one calendar year. If you fail both attempts, you must wait until the following calendar year to take the instructor test again.
    • The Practice Knowledge Test for Class D Driver Instructors will familiarize you with the various question types, what's being tested, how DMV scores the results and show you your score.
  • If you are a Veteran, please reference the Veteran Fee Waiver to see if you qualify to have your initial instructor application fee waived.

Driver instructor applications MV3112 must be mailed to the Department with the required payment of $50.00 for 24 months or the prorated fee of $2.00 per month.

To start a CDL school, you will need the following:

Use the Driver Training School Checklist MV3757 (Sections A-E) to ensure you complete all required documents and cover required curriculum topics prior to submitting to the Department.

The DMV is required to conduct a background check on every owner/manager and instructor of a CDL driver training school.

CDL instructors must pass tests for the CDL classes and endorsements they plan to teach, such as:

  • CDL general knowledge test (taken at DMV)
  • Highway signs test (taken at DMV)
  • Endorsements (air brakes, doubles/triples, etc., taken at DMV)
  • Hearing/vision tests (taken at DMV)
  • CDL skills tests (Will be arranged with a Third Party Auditor as their schedule allows)
  • Oral test (Make arrangements at the same time as the CDL skills test)

To start a school, you will need the following:

  • School name approval - School name must be approved prior to submitting application.
  • Driver school application and fee - Driver School Application form MV3110
  • Bond? - Driver School Bond form MV3764 or Driver Training School Bond Alternative form MV3755
  • Business liability insurance ($500,000 minimum coverage)
  • Customer contract
  • Fee schedule
  • Curriculums
  • Completed Failure to Yield/Right of Way Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU serves as the contract or agreement and must be signed and dated prior to operation.
  • Completed Driver Education Completion (DEC) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This MOU references and serves as an agreement for use of the online Driver Education Completion application.

The DMV is required to conduct a background check on every owner/manager of an online failure to yield/right of way driver training school.

Online course standards and requirements:

  • Consumer screening process - Schools must provide pre-course samples and specifications for consumers to determine whether they can use the functions and internet as required to complete the course.
  • Course outline - The online failure to yield course must, at a minimum, cover what is noted in Outline of Curriculum Right of Way found in Supplement A of the Driver Training School and Instructor Guidelines.
  • Contract and receipt - All contracts must be pre-approved by the Department prior to issuance and instruction. Consumers must receive an emailed, printable contract and receipt, as well as a completion certificate. If e-mail is not an option for a consumer, a physical copy must be mailed.
  • Additional standards:
    • School must provide a complete disclosure of fee structure, including any potential, additional fees.
    • The Department must approve all fees and changes to fees.
    • Testing must contain all multiple-choice questions, a minimum of 15 questions with 80% correct for a passing grade.
    • In the event of failure, consumers must be given the option to retake the test one time before being required to go through all course material again at no additional charge.
    • Test questions must be reshuffled with no more than 25% reused.
    • Help option (phone or e-mail) must be made available and standard hours must be documented within the consumer contract.
    • Non-course related content is not allowed during any portion of the pre-course, course or post-course program. This includes but is not limited to advertising, political content or any business solicitations.

The Driver Education Grant Program for Class D (Regular) driver license training was created by 2023 Wisconsin Act 86. Under the program, teens who qualify for free/reduced lunch can apply to Wisconsin DMV to have their 30-hour classroom, 6-hour observation and 6-hours of behind the wheel paid for by the state.

Students with grants may enroll in any driver education program offered by an authorized driver education provider (such as a public school, CESA program, tribal or private school, or DMV-licensed driver training school). The tuition will be paid directly to the driver training school.

Driving schools offering Class D (Regular) license instruction should take steps now to accept the state grant funds for reimbursement of the classroom and behind-the-wheel training for eligible students.

Driving schools should complete these required documents to be registered with WisDOT in PeopleSoft as a supplier to be reimbursed for the driver education grants:

  • State of Wisconsin New Supplier form DOA-6460
  • W-9
  • Scanned copy of a VOID check or signed letter from financial institution with account and routing number if you want to be paid by ACH (electronic direct deposit). Otherwise, you will be mailed a paper check.

If you need copies of the Department of Administration (DOA) forms listed above, please contact DOTExpenditureAccounting@dot.wi.gov.

If you are already enrolled as a vendor with the State of Wisconsin PeopleSoft system, you do not need to take the above steps. If you are unsure if you are already enrolled or have any additional questions about the program, email the Driver Training School Unit.

If you are running into trouble submitting grant coupon codes for reimbursement, please see the tips below:

  • Copy and paste the coupon code from the email that was sent to the student/parent to ensure the code is entered correctly. Note it should be in all CAPS as the coupon field is case sensitive.
  • If you do not have the option to copy the coupon code, make sure your CAPSLOCK is on when entering coupon code.
  • Student information entered in DEC must match the student information entered into the application exactly (date of birth, middle name, last name(s). If any part is hyphened, include this. We suggest asking the students to forward the confirmation email because the PDF that is attached includes student information.
  • Make sure no additional spaces or characters are entered into the fields (especially AFTER you copy/paste the info into fields).
  • After you have entered a coupon, tab or click out of the coupon field before hitting Submit. This will ensure a green check mark and the reimbursement amount the populates.
  • Be sure to hit Submit after you receive a green check mark to finalize your submission.
  • Classroom coupons must be entered before behind the wheel coupons. If behind the wheel coupons are redeemed first, classroom coupons will automatically cancel.
  • If entering both classroom and behind the wheel coupons, please enter them one at a time within Course 1 box. Once you redeem the classroom coupon, the coupon field will go blank for you to enter behind the wheel information.

Troubleshooting tips​​ [printable]

If you have tried all the items listed above and you are still not able to successfully submit a coupon, please contact us at: DOTDEGrantprogram@dot.wi.gov​

Reminder: The Driver Education Grant Program is not a refund program. Refunds should not be given to students who have paid or partially paid in exchange for grant funding.

Driver Training Schools
P.O. Box 7920
Madison WI 53707-7920

Email dotdrvrtrnschool@dot.wi.gov
Phone (608) 264-7495
Fax (608) 223-7705