Driving instructor licence - applying for a candidate licence

Training to become a driving instructor can only take place at a recognised driving instructor training centre. This requires not only theoretical training, but also practical training in a driving instructor training centre.

The duration of driving instructor training is

• at least 12 months for applicants for a category BE driving instructor licence and includes lessons in a driving instructor training centre and additionally in a training driving school
• for applicants for a category A driving instructor licence, at least one additional month at a driving instructor training centre
• for applicants for a category CE or DE driving instructor licence, at least two additional months at a driving instructor training centre
  (If the applicant for category DE holds a category CE driving instructor licence, the training period is reduced by one month; this also applies to the issue of a category CE driving instructor licence if the applicant previously held a category DE licence).

Driving instructor training takes place in closed courses at a recognised training centre. An interruption is generally not permitted, with the exception of a maximum one-month period without lessons, which is not counted towards the total duration of the training.

The training is a "phased training programme". In the basic level, the driving instructor licence for category BE is acquired first. This requires a two-stage application procedure, first for a candidate licence and later for the driving instructor licence. Building on the category BE driving instructor licence, category A, CE and DE driving instructor licences can be obtained.

To obtain a driving instructor licence, a candidate licence must first be applied for.

• In order for the candidate driving instructor to be able to apply the knowledge freshly acquired at the officially recognised training centre in the training driving school, he or she is granted a "candidate licence" with limited training rights if he or she has previously passed the practical driving test and the specialist knowledge test with flying colours.
• The candidate licence expires either when the driving instructor licence is issued (after successfully completing the training and passing the theory and practical driving test) or after three unsuccessful theory or practical driving tests or after two years from the date of issue.

After completing the driving instructor training and successfully passing the driving instructor examinations, the applicant will receive an unlimited driving instructor licence for category BE upon application.

You must submit the application to the competent authority for your place of residence in writing or, if offered by the competent authority, as an online application. To apply online, please use the link on this page. You can upload the required evidence and documents as file attachments as part of the online application.