Continuing Ed at Driver Education Schools

I am a licensed driver education instructor.  How much driver education continuing education am I required to obtain each year?

The annual requirement for a licensed DE instructor's continuing education is four (4) clock hours.  Evidence of that four hours of training must be submitted along with your annual renewal application.

Are the continuing education requirements the same for public school driver education teachers?

No, those requirements are listed at www.tea.state.tx.us/safedriver/continue-ed.html

May I take a DADAP, driving safety, or the Specialized driving safety ("Seat Belt") 6-hour course for my continuing education credit this year?

Yes, you may take one of these courses for DE continuing education once every three years.

If I complete four (4) hours of one of the six-hour DADAP, driving safety, or the Specialized driving safety ("Seat Belt") courses, will that count as my continuing education credit for this year?

No, you must complete all six hours of one of those courses in order to gain the four hours of continuing education credit.

I am only a DE teaching assistant.  When I upgrade to a Driver Education Teacher (DET), will I need to obtain the same amount of continuing education each year?

Yes.  The annual requirement of four (4) clock hours of continuing education is the same for all licensed driver education instructors.

May I receive driving safety or driver education continuing education credit for having attended a TEA "Rules" Conference?

No, the conferences held by TEA to receive comments from the industry concerning proposed rule changes are not designed nor approved for continuing education.

I hold both a driver education instructor license and a driving safety instructor license, but not for the "Seat Belt" course.  May I take the seat belt course for my DE continuing education credit?

Yes, if you are not endorsed as a "Specialized" DS instructor, you may receive credit for successful completion of the approved "Seat Belt" course only once each three years.

Is an "online" DS course acceptable for my annual driver education continuing education requirement?

Yes.

May I use some of my public school "In-Service" training for this requirement?

Yes, credit may be given for successful completion of national, state, or regionally sponsored in-service workshops, seminars, or conferences if the training was received within the 12 months prior to the expiration of your instructor license.  You may use "In-service" public school training if it pertains to subject matters that relate to the practice of driver education or teaching techniques and if that training is approved for continuing education by the driver training division.

If I take a course to obtain a higher DE endorsement, will that course count as continuing education?

Yes, continuing education credit may be given for successful completion of an approved driver education instructor development course (IDC) or a TEA-approved alternative certification program for driver education if the course was completed during the last 12 months.

Is it possible to use college credits for DE continuing education requirements?

Yes, it is possible to do so.  Credit may be given for successful completion of a postsecondary course that pertains to instruction techniques or instruction related to driver education as provided by an accredited college or university.  Evidence of completion shall be verifiable records of successful completion of the course within the last 12 months.

I allowed my DE license to expire, and I plan to submit an application to re-establish that license.  Do I also need to submit evidence of DE continuing education?

Yes.  You need to submit an "original" instructor application plus evidence of DE continuing education completed within the last 12 months.

I have several questions: