Maintaining Valid Instructor Credentials
The California Department of Education (CDE), Office of School Transportation (OST) continues to receive inquiries on the status of instructors who have been delinquent in their required training hours (Education Code Section 40089). Additionally, there has been a significant increase in the number of instructors that have allowed the following to expire:
- Medical examination (Vehicle Code [VC] Section 12517.2) - including the DL-51 medical card)
- California Special Driver Certification (VC Section 2517)
- First aid qualification (VC Section 12522)
- Commercial Driver License (VC Section 15210)
If it is determined that a State Certified Instructor is delinquent in any of the training periods, the CDE/OST will require the instructor to complete make up training within 30 days. If the instructor fails to complete the required make up training, the instructor will become "invalid". This bulletin supersedes the previous 60 days make-up period.
The Department's policy will help to ensure there are no lapses in certificates or delinquencies in training. CDE/OST policy states, when an instructor permits any one of their credentials to lapse they become "invalid" immediately and shall remain "invalid" until they recertify through CDE/OST. There is no grace period for instructors.
It is important to know that during the time that an instructor is "invalid" all Education Code required classroom instruction, behind-the-wheel training, or training documentation on a State Department of Education form T-01 will also be invalid and rejected by the California Highway Patrol.
An "invalid" instructor must complete the following steps to recertify with CDE/OST. The instructor must fill out the most current instructor application posted on the OST Website (only those portions that pertain to recertification). Submit the completed application with a $35.00 application fee to CDE/OST. Upon approval of the application by the OST supervisor, the OST area coordinator will contact the applicant and coordinate the recertification process. An instructor will not become valid and therefore cannot participate in Education Code required classroom instruction, behind-the-wheel training, or perform any required documentation until the instructor recertification process has been successfully completed.
Questions regarding this instructor bulletin can be directed to the Department of Education's Office of School Transportation at 916-375-7100.