In Arizona, you can go to defensive driving school to get out of a ticket in some cases. During this course, you’ll learn all about safe driving in order to prepare you for a state-mandated test. This is a better option than paying large fines and possibly losing your license, right? Someone has to teach those defensive driving school classes, as well as other kinds of traffic school classes, so if you are committed to on-the-road safety, this might be a good career option for you.

About Defensive Driving Instruction

The state government employs Arizona driving instructors for defensive driving school. In addition, they also employee traffic school instructors for traffic survival school, which is a different course that you are ordered to take should you commit certain driving offenses.

As an Arizona traffic school instructor, you’ll be responsible for covering all of the material that goes along with the course, including helping students prepare for the exam at the end of the class. As an Arizona defensive driving school instructor, you’ll be required to devote one day for a class and then administer the test to your students. You’ll go over material such as traffic signs, law, drinking and driving, speeding, road conditions, vehicle maintenance and more to help your students become better drivers.

What State Agency Regulates Instructors?

Officially, you’ll be employed by the state of Arizona should you become a driving instructor. As an Arizona traffic school teacher, you’ll be hired and regulated by the Arizona Supreme Court, which is the judicial system for the state. The Arizona Supreme Court is made up of a number of official employees, and it also has a volunteer board, which includes both official and public members.

Steps for Becoming an Instructor

Becoming an Arizona defensive driving teacher isn’t hard as long as you follow the correct process. First, you must pass a certification test, administered by the state of Arizona. This test will make sure that that you are knowledgeable enough to teach driving to students and that you have the skills to actually instruct others about what you know. Prior to November of 2007, the rules about becoming an instructor were a bit different, but from that point forth, tests were – and still are – required in Arizona.

Next, you have to apply for the job. The Arizona Supreme Court isn’t always hiring new instructors. You can check out the state’s website to find out if they are hiring. Once you apply with all of the required documentation, if they are interested in hiring you, you’ll be required to attend a pre-service seminar and two actual defensive driving school classes to learn more about the job. If you’re still interested, you’ll teach a class under supervision of someone who is already an Arizona defensive driving school instructor. If you do well, you’ll be give your certificate in order to teach. All of this must be done within 90 days of the testing.

Requirements to Become an Instructor

Beyond passing the initial test, attending traffic school classes, and teaching a class under supervision, there are a number of requirements you must satisfy if you want to be a defensive driving school instructor in Arizona. These include the following:

• You must be at least 21 years old.

• You must be a citizen of the United States or a legal resident of the United States.

• Your driving record over the past 5 years must be clean.

If you are currently an active law enforcement officer with the ability to issue tickets, you have to be issued a waiver in order to be eligible. This waiver can be obtained from the Presiding Judge of your county’s Superior Court.

Continuing Education Requirements

Your certification, once issued, is valid until the expiration date, unless you surrender it or have it suspended or revoked (a the discretion of the Arizona Supreme Court). If you intend to leave the profession, you must surrender your certificate to the board, who will accept it unless you have pending complaints against you.

You may also ask that you be place on the inactive list. If you do this, you’ll have to pay a reactivation fee, and you may have to retake tests and attend continuing education classes to become active once again. Renewing your license is easy – all you have to do is apply. There are no continuing education classes in most cases. However, the Arizona Supreme Court’s defensive driving board determines if and when continuing education classes are necessary for an Arizona traffic school instructor.

Job Opportunities and Income Potential

Being a driving school instructor is not a volunteer position, as board member positions are. You’ll be compensated for your work just as you would with any other job. Income potential varies from county to county and is often based on experience. Keep in mind that this may or may not be a full time job, since driving school classes are usually not held every day.

With the court system in Arizona overloaded with cases, more and more judges are being lenient in their decisions about defensive driving school and allowing offenders to attend. That means there is a higher demand for traffic school instructors now than every before. Of course, keep in mind that these positions are still hard to get, as spots fill quickly and tend to stay filled, but if you get your foot in the door as soon as a position opens up, the potential for a long career as an Arizona defensive driving instructor is great.