N.M. Admin. Code § 18.20.3.17

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 24, December 23, 2024

Section 18.20.3.17 - CERTIFICATION OF MID SCHOOL, JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL DRIVER EDUCATION INSTRUCTORS

A. Certification required. No teacher may serve as a driver education instructor in [a school] an educational institution without first having obtained a certificate from the bureau. The bureau may in its discretion temporarily waive this requirement upon request of the educational institution principal or superintendent, contingent on the teacher attending a driver education instructor training course offered by the bureau within twelve (12) months of the date of the waiver. A teacher certified pursuant to this section shall not be certified to teach driver education in a private driver education school unless the teacher obtains instructor certification pursuant to 18.20.3.18 NMAC.

B. Application requirements. A mid school, junior high school or high school teacher wishing to obtain approval from the bureau to teach driver education at an educational institution shall file an application with the bureau. A person may obtain an application by contacting the bureau at 1-800-541 -7952 or accessing the bureau's website at http://www.nmshtd.state.nm.us and clicking on "traffic safety".

C. Contents of application. The application shall be accompanied by:

(1) the name of the teacher;

(2) a copy of the teacher's state board of education teaching license or waiver to teach pending licensure or if a private educational institution, a statement from the institution's principal stating that the teacher is qualified to teach;

(3) a copy of the teacher's limited history driving record from the motor vehicle division, driver services bureau dated no earlier than sixty (60) days before the date the letter is filed with the bureau;

(4) the date the teacher will attend the bureau's driver education instructor training course; and

(5) the name of the school at which the teacher will be providing driver education instruction.

D. Completeness. When the bureau receives an application for certification as a driver education instructor, the bureau will check the application for completeness.

(1) If the application is incomplete, the bureau shall contact the applicant for additional information within fifteen (15) days of receipt. The applicant shall then have thirty (30) days from the date of contact to complete the application. If the applicant fails to complete the application within the thirty (30) days, the applicant's file shall be closed and the application shall be returned to the applicant.

(2) If the application is complete, the bureau shall review the application.

E. Standards for issuance of driver education instructor certificate. Prior to approving the teacher to attend training, the bureau shall consider whether:

(1) the information provided is accurate and valid;

(2) the teacher is at least twenty-one (21) years of age;

(3) the teacher holds a valid driver's license; and

(4) the teacher has a clean driving record which is free of any DWI conviction for the past five (5) years.

F. Approval for training. If the bureau determines that the teacher meets the standards in Subsection E of this section, the bureau shall grant approval for the teacher to attend the bureau's forty (40) hour driver education instructor training course.

G. Term of certification. A certificate of attendance from the classroom portion of the bureau's driver education instructor training course shall certify the teacher to teach in a mid school, junior high school or high school for three (3) years from the date of completion of training. If the mid school, junior high school or high school at which the teacher is teaching changes during the term of the certificate, the teacher shall notify the bureau within ten (10) days of such change.

H. Renewal of certification. A teacher may renew the teacher's certification to teach driver education in a school by taking the refresher driver education instructor training course before the teacher's diploma expires. A certificate of attendance from the bureau's refresher driver education instructor training course shall certify the teacher to teach in a mid school, junior high or high school for three (3) years from the date of completion of refresher training. If the teacher does not complete the refresher driver education instructor training course within the three (3) year period, the teacher's certification will lapse. A teacher teaching in a public educational institution shall provide the bureau with a copy of the teacher's current New Mexico public education department teaching license prior to the end of the three (3) year period.

N.M. Admin. Code § 18.20.3.17

18.20.3.17 NMAC - N, 1-1-03; A, 2-13-09