2016 Iowa Department of Transportation’s Driver Education Conference

Join us April 23, 2016, for an excellent opportunity to network with both classroom and behind-the-wheel instructors from across the state.

Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP)

You will need a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) if you are:

• Applying for a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) for the first time.
• Upgrading your existing CDL and the upgrade requires a skills (driving) test.

You must hold a CLP for at least 14 days before you can complete the required skills (driving) test.

You are required to provide the following documents to obtain your CLP unless you already have a license marked as REAL-ID compliant (which means we already have this information verified). A REAL-ID has a gold star in the top right corner of your license.

• Proof of citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or employment authorization document (EAD) or I-94 document.
• Proof of your Iowa residency (your license showing your Iowa address will meet this requirement).
• All CDL Holders must certify how they use their commercial motor vehicles, which may require you to obtain a medical certificate.

Iowa driver education certification courses

University of Northern Iowa
UNI offers the full endorsement.
Contact: Kent Johnson at the Continuing Education Credit Programs
Telephone: 800-648-3864 or 319-273-7740
Email:  continuinged@uni.edu
Website

Grand View University, Des Moines
Grand View offers the full endorsement as well as behind-the-wheel certification.
Contact: Shannon Tuhn
Telephone: 515-263-6183
Email:  stuhn@grandview.edu
Website

Western Iowa Tech, Sioux City
WIT offers behind the wheel classes as well as refresher courses online.
Contact: Dar Raye Hunwardsen
Instructor:  John Torno
Telephone: 800-352-4649 or 712-274-6400, ext. 1475

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Course work must be coordinated with the Iowa Department of Education, Board of Educational Examiners

You cannot teach driver education in the classroom without first obtaining a full endorsement.

You cannot teach the behind-the-wheel portion of driver education without first obtaining a BTW certification from the Iowa Department of Transportation and the authorization from the Iowa DED, Board of Educational Examiners

Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP)

You will need a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) if you are:

• Applying for a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) for the first time.
• Upgrading your existing CDL and the upgrade requires a skills (driving) test.

You must hold a CLP for at least 14 days before you can complete the required skills (driving) test.

You are required to provide the following documents to obtain your CLP unless you already have a license marked as REAL-ID compliant (which means we already have this information verified). A REAL-ID has a gold star in the top right corner of your license.

• Proof of citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or employment authorization document (EAD) or I-94 document.
• Proof of your Iowa residency (your license showing your Iowa address will meet this requirement).
• All CDL Holders must certify how they use their commercial motor vehicles, which may require you to obtain a medical certificate.

Iowa Driver Education Course Requirements

Iowa Code section 321.178 mandates thirty clock hours of classroom instruction and six or more clock hours of laboratory instruction. This Code section also mandates that the classroom instruction include all of the following:

• A minimum of four hours of instruction concerning substance abuse
• A minimum of twenty minutes of instruction concerning railroad crossing safety
• Instruction relating to becoming an organ donor under the revised uniform anatomical gift Act as provided in chapter 142C
• Instruction providing awareness about sharing the road with bicycles and motorcycles. The instruction course shall be first approved by the state department of transportation. Instructional materials creating awareness about sharing the road with bicycles and motorcycles shall also be distributed during the course of instruction.

Instructional materials for sharing the road with bicycles and motorcycles may be obtained by contacting jim.nervig@dot.iowa.gov

Most Iowa Driver Education providers use their textbook and related tests and materials to establish their curriculum.  There are many professional curriculums, such as the American Driver & Traffic Safety Education Association (ADTSEA), available to assist providers in the development of their curriculum.        

Each Iowa driver education provider is encouraged to contact the Office of Driver Services to schedule a DOT sponsored presentation designed specifically for young drivers.  This presentation provides valuable information concerning highway safety and Iowa’s Graduated Drivers License (GDL) program.

Chapters and sections of particular interest to Driver Education teachers and classes may be:

• 321.174 Operators licensed
• 321.178 Driver education – Iowa Code
• 761-634 Driver Education – Iowa Administrative Code
• 321.180B Graduated driver's licenses
• 321.194 Special minor's licenses
• 321.276 Use of electronic communication device while driving  - text messaging
  • States in part….A person shall not use a hand-held electronic communication device to write, send, or read a text message while driving a motor vehicle unless the motor vehicle is at a complete stop off the traveled portion of the roadway. Refer to the Code section for the complete version of this law.
• 321.446 – Child restraint devices. 
  • States in part….A child at least six years of age but under eighteen years of age who is being transported in a motor vehicle subject to registration, except a school bus or motorcycle, shall be secured during transit by a child restraint system that is used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions or by a safety belt or safety harness of a type approved under section 321.445.   Refer to the Code section for the complete version of this law.
• 321A Financial Responsibility
• 321J Operating While Intoxicated

Use of electronic devices or equipment

A person issued an instruction permit, intermediate driver’s license, minor school license or special restricted license shall not use an electronic communication device or an electronic entertainment device while driving a motor vehicle unless the motor vehicle is at a complete stop off the traveled portion of the roadway.

Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP)

You will need a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) if you are:

• Applying for a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) for the first time.
• Upgrading your existing CDL and the upgrade requires a skills (driving) test.

You must hold a CLP for at least 14 days before you can complete the required skills (driving) test.

You are required to provide the following documents to obtain your CLP unless you already have a license marked as REAL-ID compliant (which means we already have this information verified). A REAL-ID has a gold star in the top right corner of your license.

• Proof of citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or employment authorization document (EAD) or I-94 document.
• Proof of your Iowa residency (your license showing your Iowa address will meet this requirement).
• All CDL Holders must certify how they use their commercial motor vehicles, which may require you to obtain a medical certificate.

Lane changes: Head check versus mirror settings

At the Iowa Conference of Traffic Safety, jointly sponsored by the Iowa Traffic Control and Safety Association and the Iowa Association of Safety Education, held in Des Moines on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, 2002, Dr. Terry Kline of the Traffic Safety Institute at Eastern Kentucky University presented a number of interesting topics of which one related to the setting of rear view mirrors. His studies show that on recently produced cars, all three mirrors (left outside, inside and right outside) may be set in such a way that the blind spot is eliminated. Eliminating the blind spot with mirrors would negate the need to do head checks prior to changing lanes. This office has since learned that some drivers education teachers are teaching their students about this "mirrors only" method of checking blind spots.

When students use only mirror adjustment to check for blind spots during their driving tests at the Iowa DOT driver's license stations or county treasurer's offices points have been deducted because the students did not do the head check prior to changing lanes. This has apparently caused some confusion. After consideration, the Iowa DOT has determined it will continue to require head checks prior to lane changes and deduct points if the head check is not used.

Mirror adjustment only to cover a blind spot is a good practice and teachers should continue to introduce it and head checks to their students. However, it is not universally understood by all applicants for licenses, it may not work in the variety of vehicles seen at licensing stations and treasurer's offices, and it is hard for the examiner to determine if the applicant is using the mirrors only method or the driver just forgot to do a very important step in the action of changing lanes.

Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP)

You will need a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) if you are:

• Applying for a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) for the first time.
• Upgrading your existing CDL and the upgrade requires a skills (driving) test.

You must hold a CLP for at least 14 days before you can complete the required skills (driving) test.

You are required to provide the following documents to obtain your CLP unless you already have a license marked as REAL-ID compliant (which means we already have this information verified). A REAL-ID has a gold star in the top right corner of your license.

• Proof of citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or employment authorization document (EAD) or I-94 document.
• Proof of your Iowa residency (your license showing your Iowa address will meet this requirement).
• All CDL Holders must certify how they use their commercial motor vehicles, which may require you to obtain a medical certificate.

Proprietary driver education schools application instructions

There are specific, legal steps that must be taken by individuals seeking approval to conduct proprietary schools of instruction, including driver’s education courses in Iowa. The process involves four separate state agencies (1) the Iowa Secretary of State's Office, (2) the Iowa Department of Transportation, (3) the Iowa Department of Education, and (4) the Iowa College Student Aid Commission. It is the responsibility of the private driving school applicant to contact each of these agencies to obtain the necessary documents and approvals before any instruction may begin.

You must first contact the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office to obtain a certificate of organization to do business in Iowa. This is the certificate that all businesses need to operate in the state. This must be completed before going farther with this process. You can obtain information on the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office website or by calling its customer service section at 515-242-6303. 

After obtaining the necessary documents from the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office, you will need to complete the “Proprietary Driver Education Program Approval” and “Proprietary Driver Education Teacher Approval” forms and return them to the Iowa Department of Transportation for review with a copy of the Certificate of Organization. At the same time, you must register with the Iowa Colleges Student Aid Commission. This registration requires you to show evidence of financial responsibility, including either a letter of credit or a bond. The Iowa College Student Aid Commission forms are available by calling 877-272-4456. When all steps are completed, the Commission will issue a letter of registration to you.

You must obtain the appropriate Iowa teaching credentials to conduct classroom or behind-the-wheel driver’s education instruction. If you need assistance in obtaining the required driver’s education teaching credentials for Iowa, call 515-281-3605 at the Practitioner Preparation and Licensure Bureau of the Iowa Department of Education.

Upon approval of your program, as per Iowa Code and Iowa Administrative Rules, and verification that each instructor listed has obtained the required teacher certification and endorsement, the forms will be signed and returned with a letter that serves as your license to offer driver education courses and will include a course identification number. A copy will be sent to the Iowa College Student Aid Commission.  These forms are available for printing from this website.

This entire process must be completed before conducting driver education courses in Iowa.

For new proprietary driver education schools

• Print and complete the following two forms in their entirety.
• Proprietary Driver Education Program Approval Form 431180

• Proprietary Driver Education Teacher Approval/Update Form 431184

• Sign and date both forms.

• Include a check for $25 made payable to the Iowa Department of Transportation.

• Mail both forms, check and proof of authority to do business in Iowa to:

  Iowa DOT
  Jim Nervig
  Office of Driver Services
  P.O. Box 9204
  Des Moines, IA 50306

For renewal proprietary driver education schools

• Print and complete the following three forms in their entirety (Due December 24 annually).

• Proprietary Driver Education Annual Report form

• Proprietary Driver Education Program Approval form

• Proprietary Driver Education Teacher Approval/Update form

• Sign and date forms.

• Include a check for $25 made payable to the Iowa Department of Transportation.

• Mail forms and check to:

  Iowa DOT
  Jim Nervig
  Office of Driver Services
  P.O. Box 9204
  Des Moines, IA 50306

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If you are unable to get these forms from this website or for more information regarding proprietary driver education schools, contact:

Iowa DOT
Jim Nervig
Office of Driver Services
P.O. Box 9204
Des Moines, IA 50306
Telephone: 515-237-3220
Email: jim.nervig@dot.iowa.gov

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Related websites:

Minor restricted license (MSL) questions and answers

Public school district driver education program application instructions

Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP)

You will need a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) if you are:

• Applying for a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) for the first time.
• Upgrading your existing CDL and the upgrade requires a skills (driving) test.

You must hold a CLP for at least 14 days before you can complete the required skills (driving) test.

You are required to provide the following documents to obtain your CLP unless you already have a license marked as REAL-ID compliant (which means we already have this information verified). A REAL-ID has a gold star in the top right corner of your license.

• Proof of citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or employment authorization document (EAD) or I-94 document.
• Proof of your Iowa residency (your license showing your Iowa address will meet this requirement).
• All CDL Holders must certify how they use their commercial motor vehicles, which may require you to obtain a medical certificate.

Public school district driver education annual report

• Print and complete the following form in its entirety (Due Dec. 24 annually):
  Driver Education Annual Report

• Sign (by school superintendent or principal) and date forms.

• Mail forms to:

  Jim Nervig, Driver Education
  Iowa DOT
  P.O. Box 9204
  Des Moines, IA 50306

If you are unable to get this form from this website or for more information regarding public school driver education programs, contact:

Iowa DOT
Jim Nervig
Office of Driver Services
P.O. Box 9204
Des Moines, IA 50306
Telephone: 515-237-3220
Email: jim.nervig@dot.iowa.gov

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Related websites

Minor Restricted License (MSL) Questions & Answers

Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP)

You will need a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) if you are:

• Applying for a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) for the first time.
• Upgrading your existing CDL and the upgrade requires a skills (driving) test.

You must hold a CLP for at least 14 days before you can complete the required skills (driving) test.

You are required to provide the following documents to obtain your CLP unless you already have a license marked as REAL-ID compliant (which means we already have this information verified). A REAL-ID has a gold star in the top right corner of your license.

• Proof of citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or employment authorization document (EAD) or I-94 document.
• Proof of your Iowa residency (your license showing your Iowa address will meet this requirement).
• All CDL Holders must certify how they use their commercial motor vehicles, which may require you to obtain a medical certificate.

Parent-taught (home-school) driver education

Parent-taught (home-school) driver education was created and authorized by the Iowa legislature for parents that home-school their children. The information below contains the requirements, process, and Iowa DOT approved courses.