Curriculum Standards for Driver Education Providers
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Driver education providers must offer curriculum and instructional materials that complies with all requirements of Texas Education Code 1001, Subchapter C and 16 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 84, Subchapter M.
Curriculum must include all required topics and minimum time requirements outlined in the Program of Organized Instruction (see below).
Courses You Can Offer
At each main-location, providers may apply for endorsements to deliver instruction in one of the following settings:
- In-Person
- Online
- Parent-Taught
For the online and in-person endorsement methods, providers may apply to offer both a 32-hour teen course and a 6-hour adult course.
Parent-taught driver education courses can be offered either by selling physical media (books, CD, DVD, etc.) or in-person without additional endorsements.
The result is that providers may offer a total of five (5) course-types, as listed above, that may be offered at each location.
An additional provider license is required to offer more courses than is described above. For example, offering two separate courses of the same type will require an additional provider license (e.g offering two different in-person 6-hour adult courses).
Branch Locations
A branch location may only offer the same in-person courses offered under the in-person endorsement for the provider’s main-location license.
Endorsement Types
To add a new endorsement to an existing license, log into your Online Licensing Services account.
Under "Manage Your License Information," use the drop-down menu and select "Add Endorsement."
The Add Endorsement in Versa Guide (PDF) will guide you through the steps for this process.
A Driver Education Provider can teach up to three endorsements (Online, In-person, Parent Taught). An initial provider license is $500.00 with one endorsement included at no additional charge. Each endorsement added after is $300.00 each.
American Sign Language Course
TDLR has created a driver education course in American Sign Language that you may offer to students.
This course is completely optional and is available for students who wish to use it. Providers are not required to offer this course to students, and no student is required to use this course.
Curriculum in Other Languages
You may offer courses in languages other than English, however, the driver license knowledge test must be taken in English or Spanish. The student must be able to understand road signs written in English to pass the tests. All course curriculum, regardless of whether it is in English or Spanish, must meet the same educational standards and objectives established in Texas law, administrative rules, and the Program of Organized Instruction (POI). Providers needing further clarification on testing in other languages will need to contact the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Curriculum Sources
Providers may either independently develop their own curriculum, or obtain curriculum from third-party sources. In either case, the coursework must meet or exceed all requirements of Texas Education Code 1001, Subchapter C and the administrative rules and include all required topics and minimum time requirements outlined in the Program of Organized Instruction.
Providers are responsible for ensuring that all required topics and minimum time requirements included in the Program of Organized Instruction are covered in each driver education course phase taught.
Program of Organized Instruction
The Program of Organized instruction is a document created by TDLR that establishes the course objectives, designates educational materials to be used, and prescribes the minimum number of hours required for each type of instruction.
The course types are listed below:
| Course Type | Program of Organized Instruction |
| 32-Hour Teen | Program of Organized Instruction (POI) for Driver Education and Traffic Safety (PDF) |
| 6-Hour Adult | Program of Organized Instruction (POI) for Driver Education and Traffic Safety (Adult Six-Hour) (PDF) |
Required Content
Texas Education Code, Chapter 1001, §102–1101 contain specific infomation on topics that must be included in driver education curriculum:
- Alcohol Awareness Information
- Information Relating to Street Racing
- Human Trafficking Prevention Information
- Motorcycle Awareness Information
- Drug and Alcohol Driving Awareness Programs
- Hospital and Rehabilitation Facilities
- Texas Department of Insurance
- Information Relating to Railroad and Highway Grade Crossing Safety
- Information Relating to Litter Prevention
- Information Relating to Anatomical Gifts
- Information Relating to Traffic Stops
- Information Relating to Child Passenger Safety Seat Systems
- Information Relating to Oversize and Overweight Vehicles
- Information Relating to Driving Distractions
- Information Relating to Passing Certain Vehicles
To assist with these requirements, TDLR offers some supporting materials. See the curriculum resources page for more information.
The Statement of Assurance forms, are located under the Driver Education Provider forms page.
Fee Schedule
When you apply for a driver education provider license, the first endorsement is included with your license application fee.
Subsequent endorsements require an additional fee of $300/each.
| Endorsements (Regardless of Type) | Fee |
|---|---|
| First Endorsement | Included with application fee |
| Second Endorsement | $300 |
| Third Endorsement | $300 |
Educational Materials
Each classroom student must have a driver education textbook or access to instructional materials that are in compliance with the Program of Organized Instruction.
Instructional materials, including textbooks, must be in a condition that is legible and free of obscenities.
All driver education students must have access to a current edition of the Texas Driver Handbook, available online in English and Spanish.