How to Become a Driving Instructor in Minnesota
Every few weeks, someone asks me how I got into this - and whether they could do it too. Usually it's a teacher looking for meaningful summer or side work, a recent retiree who still loves working with young people, or a parent who taught their own kids to drive and found they were good at it. If that's you, this is the guide I wish I'd had when I started. Becoming a licensed driving instructor in Minnesota is very doable, but the process isn't advertised anywhere in one place. Here's exactly how it works, start to finish.
First, The Myth I have to Bust
You do not need a college degree to become a driving instructor in Minnesota. Minnesota law is clear on this - it even says applicants are not required to hold a teacher's certificate. What the state actually requires is:
A High School Diploma or Equivalent
Age 21 or older
A Valid Driver's License you've held for at least 3 years
Completion of State-Approved Driver and Traffic Safety Education Training
Passing the State's Instructor Evaluations (more on those below)
A degree - especially a background in Driver and Traffic Safety Education - is genuinely helpful, and it's the most common path. But it's a route, not a requirement.
Step 1: Complete Your Driver & Traffic Safety Education Training
This is the piece most people don't know how to find. In Minnesota, the go-to provider is St. Cloud State University's Traffic Safety Education program ("Driver Education Teacher Preparation"). It's offered online, and it's built specifically to meet the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's requirements - St. Cloud State even confirms that instructors licensed to work for private schools like ours are not required to hold a teaching license. The coursework covers exactly what you'd expect: classroom teaching methods (TSE 550, Methods of Classroom Instruction), in-car / behind-the-wheel technique (TSE 580, In-Car Instruction Practicum), and the bigger picture of drivers education (TSE 590, Issues in Driver Education).
Because the exact course list, schedule, and cost for the non-teacher route change from year to year, confirm the current requirements directly with St. Cloud State before you enroll - their program office can tell you precisely which courses you need and when they run. Application windows are generally August 15 (fall), January 2 (spring), and May 1 (summer).
Step 2: Apply for your Instruction License
Once your training is done, you apply to the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) Driver Educator Office in St. Paul using the Driver Training Instructor License application (Form PS36008). You'll include a $50 application fee payable to the Commissioner of Public Safety.
Step 3: Pass your Background Check
Minnesota requires a full criminal background check before your license is issued which includes a review of your driving, a fingerprint card, and a check for $32 to the BCA (Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension). Check with your local police department for fingerprint services. (Such as Apple Valley Police Department who offers fingerprint card services from 1 to 3 PM on Wednesdays for a nominal charge.
Step 4: Pass the State Tests
This is where you prove you can actually teach. Minnesota requires three things:
Pass a 100-question essay style, written Knowledge Test covering the Minnesota Driver's Manual, traffic laws, road signs, and instruction methods. In our experience, this exam is thorough - plan for anywhere from one to three hours depending on how well you've prepared. It's typically taken at one of the state's larger exam stations, such as Eagan or Arden Hills (confirm your location with DVS).
A Road Test - you'll demonstrate your own driving is sharp and correct.
An Instruction-Methods Evaluation, where you show you can teach behind the wheel. A key skill here is commentary driving - narrating the road out loud (what you see, what you're anticipating, what you're deciding) so a student can follow your thinking. It feels awkward the first time and becomes second nature fast and it’s extremely effective when teaching nervious and inexperienced students how to drive.
*A tip from us: that written test trips up a lot of well-qualified people simply because they underestimate it. At South Metro, we've built a study guide that walks our applicants through exactly what to expect. If you're preparing, reach out - we're happy to share it.
Step 5: Keep Your License Current
Your Instructor License is valid for one year and renews for another $50, along with periodic continuing education approved by DVS. You must also keep your Driving License up to date as well.
What is Actually Takes to Be Good At This
The license gets you in the car. Staying in it - and being great - takes more:
You stay calm, always. A student is going to do something that spikes your heart rate. Your job is to keep your voice even, your hands ready, and your foot ready to smash the passenger side brake. To be clear, this work is not for the faint of heart.
You communicate clearly. Teenagers tune out lectures. The best instructors explain things simply, in the moment, without overwhelming students with information.
You know your routes cold. You should know every lesson route well enough to anticipate the tricky intersection, the blind hill, the school-zone timing - before your student gets there.
You genuinely like young people. That comes through, and it's what turns a nervous 15-year-old into a confident, safe driver. It's a fun, challenging, deeply rewarding career. I've watched thousands of kids grow up in the driver's seat, and it never gets old.
What it Pays
Driving instructor pay in Minnesota typically ranges from $25 to $45 per hour, depending on experience. It's flexible, it's steady, and for a lot of our team it's some of the most satisfying work they've ever done.
Interested in Driving with South Metro?
We hire selectively - we love current and former teachers, and we grow our team primarily through referrals from people we trust. If that sounds like you and you're thinking about this path, we'd love to talk. Reach out through our website, and we'll help you understand the process and figure out if it's the right fit. Good schools guide their instructors through every step above - you should never feel like you're figuring this out alone.
Requirements and fees are current as of September 2026. Because state processes change, always confirm the latest details with Minnesota DVS (651-201-7626) and St. Cloud State University before you begin.
Enroll with South Metro Driving School
Written by Chris Scanlon, Program Director & Owner of South Metro Driving School
SouthMetroDrivingSchool.com — Info@SouthMetroDS.com — 612-552-1929
South Metro Driving School is a Minnesota State-Certified Driving School serving the south Twin Cities Metro — with core markets in Apple Valley, Rosemount, and Eagan, and growing service in Farmington, Lakeville, and Hastings.
This article reflects Chris's personal experience running a licensed Minnesota driving school and independent research from official Minnesota state and city sources, current as of September 2026. It's meant as a helpful starting point, not legal advice - rules change and cities differ, so always confirm the current requirements with Minnesota DVS (dps.mn.gov) and your local city before you ride or drive.
Did you find this information helpful? Explore our other guides on permits, road tests, and getting your license — and if we've earned it, we'd be grateful for a 5-Star Google Review.
