Driver Education Instructor Requirements and Responsibilities

Provisions of the Education Act and Regulations

Section 53(b) of the Regulations states:

Section 55(2) provides:

SIAST is responsible for conducting this program. Contact SIAST for further information:

Driver education is a unique program requiring special training. As a consequence, Section 55(1) of the Regulations states:

Section 55(3) of the Regulations states:

In order to obtain the first (initial) Saskatchewan Education high school instructor's certificate, instructors must submit to the Driver Education Assessment Coordinator, Saskatchewan Education, the following documents:

• a copy of the certificate issued upon successful completion of a basic instructor preparatory course
• a copy of their current, valid driver instructor's licence issued by Saskatchewan Government Insurance, and
• a completed Driver Education Instructor Update Form (available from Saskatchewan Education).

Upon receipt of the above documents, a High School Driver Education Instructor Certificate may be issued.

Certificates presently held by driver education instructors conducting high school programs are issued at the pleasure of the Minister and shall be for a period of three years only. Thereafter, certificates shall be renewed subject to terms and conditions established by the department. These departmental certificates are intended to be issued only to those instructors involved in conducting high school driver education programs. Instructors of other programs, such as commercial, motorcycle, truck, snowmobile, etc., should obtain certificates from the appropriate agency or organization responsible for conducting/supervising their respective programs including Saskatchewan Government Insurance.

Section 55(4) of the Regulation states:

Driver education is a constantly changing program. It is of the utmost importance, therefore, that every driver education instructor attend seminars, conferences, institutes, and workshops, that will improve her/his abilities and professional status. The department and many other organizations offer workshops at various points throughout the province during the school year. In addition, special courses in teaching techniques and related skills are offered by universities, community colleges, institutes, and professional organizations.

Renewal is conditional upon the instructor providing evidence to Saskatchewan Education, that he/she has undertaken and completed successfully a program of continuing professional development over the previous three years since the Saskatchewan Education High School Driver Education Instructor Certificate was last issued. Such evidence shall include documentation attesting to participation in at least one course, workshop, or institute in each year of the three year period.

Workshops, courses, and institutes deemed acceptable include any offered by, but not necessarily restricted to, the following agencies, organizations or institutions:

• Saskatchewan Driver Educators Association (SDEA) Workshops

• Saskatchewan Safety Council (Traffic Safety related)

• Driving Without Impairment (DWI) Course

• Driver Improvement Training (DIT) Course

• Saskatchewan Education workshop(s)

• Courses from SIAST, University or School Boards relative to:
• Effective Presentation Skills
• Communication Skills
• Behaviour of Middle Level Students

• St. John Ambulance/Canadian Red Cross Society (Emergency First Aid).

The expectation is that any workshops, institutes or courses taken by instructors as a part of their personal program of continuing professional development, shall be directly or indirectly related to driver and traffic safety, pedagogy, skill enhancement, or service provision. Should instructors intend to participate in a specific workshop, and wish clarification as to whether it falls within the criteria above, please contact Saskatchewan Education.

Any driver instructor not actively involved in the conduct of a high school driver education program for at least two consecutive school years will be subject to a review of his/her qualification and abilities prior to re-certification to teach the high school program. The driver instructor should contact the manager of Driver Control, Saskatchewan Government Insurance for the upgrading process. This policy is a result of the many changes occurring in traffic safety, which clearly demonstrate that continuous instructor upgrading and refresher courses are a vital part of the high school driver instructor personal development program. Failure to participate in the execution of this policy could, conceivably, result in an instructor's exclusion from the high school program should the instructor not arrange to satisfy the requirements.

If a commercial instructor wishes to conduct a high school driver education program, the following procedure applies:

• submit to Saskatchewan Education, the following documents:
• a copy of the certificate received upon completion of a basic instructor preparatory course
• a copy of the current Saskatchewan Government Insurance Driver Instructor's Certificate, and
• a completed driver education instructor "update" form, available from the Driver Education Assessment Coordinator, Saskatchewan Education.

Upon receipt and review of the above, and after an interview, a department certificate may be issued.

An instructor absent from the high school driver education program and not actively involved in any other traffic safety related field for a period between two to five years will be subject to a review at SIAST, and will be required to complete successfully a comprehensive battery of assessment exercises:

• a written, subjective examination, covering all aspects of the Saskatchewan Program

• an in-vehicle, micro-teaching assessment

• a classroom, micro-teaching assessment, if applicable

• a follow-up visit with the Driver Education Assessment Coordinator, and

• if more than 5 years since the last driver's licence examination, and if the licence is not of Class 4, then a complete re-examination including written, vision, sign, and road test to Class 4, administered by Saskatchewan Government Insurance. The battery of tests shall be equivalent to Class 4 and shall be at the applicant's expense.

The results of all the assessments and re-examination may result in the applicant:

• being denied a certificate and being required to attend a basic instructor preparatory course or elements thereof, or

• being required to undertake a supervised practicum arrangement in a high school program approved by the department, or

• being issued a Saskatchewan Education certificate.

If an instructor loses or misplaces his/her basic instructor preparatory course certificate, the following procedure will apply:

• if the certificate was issued by Saskatchewan Education, apply in writing to the office of the Driver Education Assessment Coordinator for a duplicate (indicate location and the year of graduation from the course).

• if one graduated from the program offered through SIAST Woodland Campus, contact that Prince Albert institution directly.

The requirements for a Class 4 driver's licence include a written test (basic and sign), a pre-trip, a road test and a current medical examination. For the purpose of seeking a Class 4 driver's licence, any medical examination remains current and acceptable up to one year from the date the examination was taken. For the Driver Instructor's certificate renewal, Saskatchewan Government Insurance requires a medical once every five years.

If the applicant does not meet the medical standards to hold a Class 4 driver's licence, SGI will not issue a Driver Instructor's Certificate.

Here are some suggestions for instructors to enrich and enhance the profile of the program and of themselves.

• Provide program progress reports regularly to the director, board, and parents.

• Recognize significant contributions to the program by auto dealers, police, and other resource speakers. At the very least, a personal letter of appreciation for their support and efforts should be prepared and presented.

• Arrange for a feature story in the school paper and local media outlets on significant elements of the program as well as other planned events.

• Take an active role in traffic safety programs and related initiatives in your community. Make a concerted effort to involve your students.

• Make a personal commitment to participate in professional development seminars and workshops offered by your school division and the various local and provincial traffic safety and educational organizations and institutions.

• Become a member of a professional organization or association such as the Saskatchewan Driver Educators Association (SDEA) or the Saskatchewan Safety Council.

The Vehicle Administration Act and Regulations govern the operation, certification, and licensing of driver training schools and driver instructors. Please contact:

Driver Control
Saskatchewan Government Insurance
2260 - llth Avenue
Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 3V7
Toll free: 1-800-667-9868
Regina Call Centre: (306) 775-6900

Individuals, who hold a certificate(s) attesting to his/her competence as a driver instructor issued by sources outside the province of Saskatchewan and who wish to obtain a certificate from the department in order to teach the high school program, must send a photocopy of the certificate(s) held. In addition, particulars about the preparatory course attended, including details regarding the following, should be forwarded to Saskatchewan Government Insurance:

• number of hours received during the theory portion of the instructor preparatory course

• number of hours received during in-car instruction

• total course length

• course content

• course sponsor and location

• year taken, and

• post-course experience.

Upon review of that material, as well as a comprehensive battery of assessment exercises, a departmental certificate may be issued. Should additional training be required before issuance of a certificate, applicants will be so advised.

This policy applies also to those persons who intend to obtain instructor certification through participation in instructor preparatory programs outside Saskatchewan. In order to avoid possible delays in certification upon return to Saskatchewan, candidates are encouraged to seek departmental sanction of the course prior to departure.