Virginia Administrative Code › Title 24 - TRANSPORTATION AND MOTOR VEHICLES › Agency 20 - DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES › Chapter 121 - VIRGINIA DRIVER TRAINING SCHOOLS REGULATIONS › Part II - Specific Requirements Related to Class A Licensure › Section 24VAC20-121-180 - Class A instructor license requirements

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
A. Applicants for a Class A instructor's
				  license shall possess a valid Virginia nonrestricted interstate commercial
				  driver's license, with the appropriate vehicle classes and endorsements for the
				  type of instruction they intend to provide, and that has been held by the
				  applicant for at least three years.
Applicants for a Class A instructor's license who do not
					 have a high school diploma may nevertheless be licensed if they provide
					 evidence in a format prescribed by the department that they (i) have at least
					 one year of previous Class A instructing experience or (ii) have successfully
					 completed a Class A driver training course and a minimum of 160 hours of Class
					 A instructor training provided by the hiring school.
Instructor applicants shall provide with their applications
					 certifications that they meet the physical requirements, and any alcohol and
					 drug screening requirements for commercial drivers as specified in the federal
					 motor carrier safety regulations. A copy of such certification shall be kept in
					 the instructor's file maintained by the driver training school employing the
					 instructor.
If applicants for a Class A instructor's license hold a
					 valid commercial driver's license (CDL) from a state other than Virginia at the
					 time of licensing, they shall maintain a valid CDL throughout the entire
					 licensure period and shall provide to the department a copy of their driving
					 record from that other state or states upon application and, if licensed as a
					 Class A instructor by the department, on a quarterly basis thereafter.
Those applicants for and holders of a Class A instructor's
					 license shall also provide notice to the department in a format prescribed by
					 the department of any conviction of traffic infractions, misdemeanors, or
					 felonies, any administrative actions relating to driving or any driver's
					 license revocation, suspension, cancellation, disqualification or other loss of
					 driving privilege within 15 calendar days of the conviction or administrative
					 action, or within 15 calendar days of the imposition of the revocation,
					 suspension, cancellation, disqualification or other loss of driving
					 privilege.
B. Instructors
				  shall complete in-service instructor training provided by the school prior to
				  offering student instruction. The requirements of such in-service instructor
				  training shall be established and made available to licensed Class A schools by
				  the department and shall include, but not be limited to, the following topic
				  areas:
1. Basic instructional
				  skills;
2. Student teaching with a
				  mentor;
3. Background in federal,
				  state and local laws and ordinances;
4. Basic skills for operating commercial
				  motor vehicles;
5. Safe operating
				  practices;
6. Maintenance of
				  commercial motor vehicles; and
7.
				  Safe trip planning.