The questions and answers provided below relate to certifying a school and/or instructor to teach the Driver Education Program for the first time drivers (also known as the 30/6 program).  Note that the school and its instructors must also be licensed if the school plans to charge students for taking the Driver Education Program, which is usually the case.  The requirements related to licensing and certifying both a school and its instructors are essentially the same.  One significant difference is that there are fees associated with the licensing transactions, while there are no fees associated with the certification, except when the school changes its name.  Also, an instructor certification requires the instructor to pass additional examinations.  The school or instructor may apply for both licensing and certification simultaneously by following the appropriate licensing procedure described in Driver Instruction - School and Instructor Licensing.

The requirements mentioned in these processes are more fully discussed in various sections of the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) and should be carefully reviewed prior to applying for a drivers' school license. 

Each of the following licensing-related procedures is separately discussed below in answer to commonly asked questions.  Either scroll down to the appropriate question and answer, or click on the procedure in which you are interested.

• Certify a New Drivers' School
• Add a New Site
• Close a Site
• Add a New Vehicle
• Delete a Vehicle
• Renew a School's Certification
• Change information on the certification
• • Name Change
  • Address Change
  • Add or Delete an Officer
• Request a Duplicate Certification
• Temporarily Close a Site
• Suspend School Operations
• Permanently Close School
• Certify an Instructor
• Renew an Instructor's Certification
• Disqualify an Instructor

Fees:

• There is a fee to change the school's name, however, there are no other fees associated with the certification process.

Contact Information:

MVA
Driver Instructional Services Division
6601 Ritchie Highway, N.E.
Glen Burnie, MD 21062

For telephone questions:

Procedural Information:

How do I obtain a certification for a new drivers' school?

To obtain a certification application packet, contact the MVA's Driver Instructional Services Division.  Then, complete and return the forms to the Division.  Any vehicles that you plan to use in your instructional programs must be safety inspected prior to submitting your application.

The Division will review your completed application materials to verify that everything is present and properly completed.  As part of this process, they will conduct a background check of all school owners, partners or corporate officers.

The Division's  Quality Assurance Supervisor will then schedule an appointment to inspect your school's offices and classrooms.  During the inspection, the Quality Assurance Supervisor will inform you of any problems that may need to be resolved.

The drivers' school license will be mailed to you upon receipt of the fee, after which you may obtain the materials needed to open your drivers' school from the MVA's warehouse.

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How do I add a new site to my existing driver education school?

Contact the MVA's Driver Instructional Services Division to request an application packet.  Then, complete and return the forms to the Division.  Note that any vehicles that you plan to use at your added site must be safety inspected prior to submitting your application.

The Division will review your application materials to verify that everything is present and properly completed.  Then, the Division's Quality Assurance Supervisor will schedule an appointment to inspect your additional office and/or classroom.  During the inspection, the Quality Assurance Supervisor will inform you of any problems that may need to be resolved.  When you application has been approved, the driver education program certification for the new site will be mailed to you. 

For more detailed information, please refer to the appropriate sections of the Code of Maryland Regulations.

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How do I close one site of my driver education school?

Notify the MVA's Driver Instructional Services Division, in writing, thirty (30) days prior to the closing date.  The Division will update its database records on your school to reflect the closing of the site.  For more detailed information, please refer to the appropriate sections of the Code of Maryland Regulations.

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How do I add a new vehicle to my driver education school?

Contact the MVA's Driver Instructional Services Division to obtain an Add New Vehicle Form.  Then complete and return the form to the Division.  The Division will update its database records on your school to reflect the addition of the vehicle.  Your added vehicle must be less than six (6) years old and must be safety inspected prior to submitting the form.  For more detailed information, please refer to the appropriate sections of the Code of Maryland Regulations.

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How do I delete a vehicle from my driver education school?

Contact the MVA's Driver Instructional Services Division to obtain a Delete Vehicle Form.  Then complete and return the form to the Division.  The Division will update its database records on your school to reflect the deletion of the vehicle.

A vehicle six (6) years old and older cannot be used in a a driver education program and must be deleted from your fleet.

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How do I renew the certification for my driver education school?

You should receive a renewal application packet from the Driver Instructional Services Division approximately two months prior to the certification expiration date.  Mail your completed application to the Driver Instructional Services Division.  The application should be returned as soon as possible, but no later than ten (10) days prior to the certification expiration date.

The Division will review your renewal application and conduct a new background check of all business owners, partners and/or corporate officers.  If approved, a new drivers' school license will be mailed to you.  For more detailed information, please refer to the appropriate sections of the Code of Maryland Regulations.

Note: If you need to change information on the certification, the changes should be made prior to renewing your certification.

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What should I do if my schools' business or corporate name has changed?

Contact the Driver Instructional Services Division.  The Division will send you an application packet that must be completed and returned, with the fee to change a school name.  Once your application has been reviewed and approved, a new drivers' school license will be mailed to you reflecting the new business/corporate name.

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What should I do if I am planning to move my school to a new site?

Before relocating your school, contact the Driver Instructional Services Division.  The Division will send you an application packet that must be completed and returned.

The Division will review your application materials to verify that everything is present and properly completed.  Then, the Division's Quality Assurance Supervisor will schedule an appointment to inspect your new site.  During the inspection, the Quality Assurance Supervisor will inform you of any problems that may need to be resolved.  When your application has been reviewed and approved, the Driver Instructional Services Division will mail you a new drivers' school certification, reflecting the new address.

For more detailed information, please refer to the appropriate sections of the Code of Maryland Regulations.

Note: You may not open your new school site before receiving approval from the Driver Instructional Service Division.

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What should I do if there is a change in the school's officers?

Contact the MVA's Driver Instructional Services Division to request an application packet.  Then, complete and return the forms to the Division.

The Division first reviews your application materials to verify that everything is present and properly completed.  If a new officer is being added, the Division must conduct a criminal background check of the officer.  If approved, a new drivers' school license will be mailed to you, reflecting the changed officers.

For more detailed information, please refer to the appropriate sections of the Code of Maryland Regulations.

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How do I request a duplicate drivers' school certification?

Submit your request for a duplicate drivers' school certification, in writing, to the Driver Instructional Services Division.  The written notification must explain how and when (date) your certification was lost, destroyed, or mutilated.  The Driver Instructional Services Division reviews the written request and if approved, mails the duplicate drivers' school certification to you.

For more detailed information, please refer to the appropriate sections of the Code of Maryland Regulations.

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What should I do if I want to temporarily close a drivers' school site?

You must notify the Driver Instructional Services Division, in writing, that you will be temporarily suspending instruction at a site.  The written notification must include:

• Your reason(s) for temporarily suspending the instruction;
• The date when the temporary suspension of instruction will begin; and
• The date when the school intends to re-start the instruction.

The following items must be returned to the Driver Instructional Services Division within seven (7) calendar days after submitting the written notification:

• All certifications; and
• Properties issued by the MVA.

The Driver Instructional Services Division holds the certification and other property in abeyance until resumption of operations or until the certification expires.  These materials may be returned upon resumption of school operations.  Note that if a drivers' school temporarily suspends instruction, it may not resume instruction before receiving approval from the Driver Instructional Services Division.

For more detailed information, please refer to the appropriate sections of the Code of Maryland Regulations.

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What should I do if my drivers' school certification has been refused, suspended, revoked, or canceled?

The Driver Instructional Services Division will notify you in writing of any of these actions.  If your certification is refused, suspended, revoked, or canceled you may not give or teach the driver education program.

Within seven (7) calendar days after being notified of the MVA's action, you must return the following items to the Driver Instructional Services Division:

• All certifications; and
• Properties issued by the MVA.

Within thirty (30) days after the school's closure, you must also take the following actions:

• For individuals who were unable to finish instruction before the school closed:
• • Send a letter identifying the amount of instruction provided; and
  • Provide a pro-rated refund of the individual's instructional fee paid to the school.
• For individuals who had not yet started instruction, provide a full refund of all fees paid.

For more detailed information, please refer to the appropriate sections of the Code of Maryland Regulations.

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How do I permanently close my drivers' school?

At least thirty (30) days prior to your planned closing date, you must send written notification of the school's permanent closing to:

• Driver Instructional Services Division; and,
• Individuals who have paid their required fees and have not completed the instruction.

For more detailed information, please refer to the appropriate sections of the Code of Maryland Regulations.

Within seven (7) calendar days after the school's closure, you must return the following items to the Driver Instructional Services Division:

• All certifications; and
• Properties issued by the MVA.

Within thirty (30) days after the school's closure, you must also take the following actions:

• For individuals who had started but were unable to finish instruction before the school closed:
• • Send a letter identifying the amount of instruction provided; and
  • Provide a pro-rated refund of the individual's instructional fee paid to the school.
• For individuals who had not yet started instruction, provide a full refund of all fees paid.

For more detailed information, please refer to the appropriate sections of the Code of Maryland Regulations.

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How do I become a certified instructor at a drivers' school?

First, you should review the instructor certification requirements found in the Code of Maryland Regulations.  You must also be associated with a certified driving school at the time of application.  Also, prior to receiving an instructor's certification, you must not teach the driver education program.

To obtain a certification application packet, contact the MVA's Driver Instructional Services Division.  Then complete and return the forms to the Division.  Among the instructor eligibility requirements, you must:

• Be at least 21 years of age or older;
• Possess a high school certificate of graduation or its equivalent - You may not use a transcript as a proof of your degree, unless it states that a degree was awarded; and,
• Have a valid driver's license issued by Maryland, or another state, to drive the class of vehicle you will be using in the program.
• If you have not lived in Maryland for at least one (1) year, you must also provide a certified copy of your driving record for at least the last three (3) years, and the results of a criminal background check from your previous home state/country.

The Division will review your application materials to verify that everything is present and properly completed.  The Division will then ask you to come into the Driver Instructional Services Division office located in the Glen Burnie MVA office.  While you are in the office, the following checks or reviews will be conducted:

• criminal background check; and
• review of your driving record.

You must also have a physical exam completed, but the results are to be kept at the school.  The Driver Instructional Services Division does not need a copy.

You will also be asked to:

• Complete the required driver education instructor certification courses;
• Demonstrate proficiency in teaching the standardized driver education program courses and learning activities in English;
• Provide documentation from a certified driver education school verifying your employment as an instructor.

If you have five (5) or more points on your Maryland driver record, of it you were convicted of a violation in another state that would have resulted in five points in Maryland, you will be disqualified.  Also, if you have been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude you will be disqualified.

For more detailed information, please refer to Code of Maryland Regulations.

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How do I renew my instructor certification?

You should receive a renewal application packet from the Driver Instructional Services Division approximately two months prior to the instructor certification expiration date.  Mail your completed application to the Driver Instructional Services Division.  The application should be returned as soon as possible, but no later than ten (10) days prior to the certification expiration date.  If you do not receive a renewal application, please contact the Driver Instructional Services Division.

The Division will review your renewal application and conduct a new criminal background check.  If approved, a new instructor certification will then be mailed to you.  For more detailed information, please refer to the appropriate sections of the Code of Maryland Regulations.

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What will disqualify me from obtaining or keeping an instructor's certification?

You will not qualify for an instructor's certification, or if you are an instructor already, you will be disqualified if you meet any of the following criteria:

• You have 5 or more points on your Maryland driving record; or,
• You have been convicted of a violation in another state that would have resulted in five (5) points or more if the conviction had been in Maryland; or,
• You have been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude.

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Appendix A

Driver Instruction Services
Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) Index

Content Accuracy Statement

The Maryland MVA website is proved as a public service.  While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented on this website, the user may wish to contact the Driver Instructional Services Division to ensure that the information is current and accurate.  The statutes and regulations that are referenced on the Maryland MVA website should be checked by the actual text of the law and/or regulation.

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