Effective January 1, 2025, Transportation and Economic Corridors is temporarily pausing the intake and review of applications for new driver training schools, driving instructors, and senior driving instructors. The pause is in effect until June 30, 2025.
To learn more, review the Licensing and Training bulletin.
Overview
You must be approved to get a driver training school licence to provide the following services as a driver training school in Alberta:
- driver training for any class of driver’s licence, including training for Class 1 driver’s licence
- Professional Driver Improvement Course
- Defensive Driving Course
- endorsement training, for example Q endorsement and S endorsement – a driver training school licence will not be issued until the approval process has been fulfilled.
How to apply
Step 1. Confirm eligibility and complete application form
To be eligible, the driver training provider must employ a Senior Driving Instructor to guide, assist and monitor its staff in providing quality education and meeting standards. For more information see Become a licensed driving instructor.
Download and complete the Driver Training School Licence Application form. Pay the licensing fee of $175 (if applicable) at any Alberta registry agent.
Provide the following legal documents to Transportation and Economic Corridors:
- Surety Bond or Guarantee (not less than $10,000)
- a Surety Bond is not applicable to school boards, government agencies, or organizations that provide training for no compensation.
- Certificate of Incorporation or Certificate of Amalgamation
- Business Driver Training School Licence
You must complete both the Record of Licensed Instructors and the Record of Driver Training Vehicles.
Step 2. Get a Criminal Record Check
You must provide an original Criminal Record Check from an approved police agency for each school owner, director or partner. It must be dated within 90 days of the date Transportation and Economic Corridors receives the Driver Training School Licence Application.
See Section 4(1)(d), Driver Training Regulation and Driver Examination in the Traffic Safety Act for more information.
Step 3. Print, sign and submit the Terms and Conditions
Print a copy of the Driver Training School Licence Code of Conduct and Ethics. Make sure you read and understand the document before you sign it. Mail the hard copies to us.
Important: Ensure you have the required curriculum materials
Pending the type of training you plan to offer, you will also need to submit the training curriculum you will be using.
Class 5 curriculum
You have the option of using the government’s standardized Class 5 curriculum or you can submit a curriculum proposal. The Government of Alberta’s Class 5 classroom curriculum is included in the Class 5 Driver Education Instructor Guide. The Class 5 Driver Education Instructor Guide will be provided to all driver training schools licensed to deliver Class 5 classroom curriculum.
To use your own Class 5 classroom curriculum, see the Class 5 curriculum criteria and Definitions of Class 5 Curriculum Components.
- You must complete the Classroom Curriculum Outline and Approval Checklist and submit it with your proposed curriculum.
Note: You are only permitted to submit a maximum of 3 versions for approval.
If we do not approve the third version of the curriculum, you must use the standardized Government of Alberta’s Class 5 Curriculum.
- For more information, see Delivering Class 5 Driver Training.
Professional Driver Improvement Course
- Requirements for approval of a Professional Driver Improvement Course
- Requirements for approval: light vehicle - Professional Driver Improvement Course
Defensive Driving Course
Class 1 Training
You must follow the government’s standardized curriculum for Class 1 using the Class 1 Learning Pathway.
Air Brake Program
School Bus Driver Improvement Program
Licensed S-endorsement instructors will receive a copy of the instructor’s manual for the School Bus Driver Improvement Program.
Resources
Fillable PDF forms may not open properly on some mobile devices and web browsers. See the step-by-step guide or contact PDF form technical support.
Contact
Connect with Examinations and Licensing:
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-8230
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]
Address:
Examinations and Licensing
1st Floor, Twin Atria Building
4999 98 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T6B 2X3