Get a driving instructor's licence

If you are paid or receive other remuneration to teach another person to drive a motor vehicle in WA, you must hold a driving instructor’s licence. You can apply for mutual recognition of your interstate or New Zealand equivalent driving instructor’s (DI) authorisation in WA.

What is mutual recognition?

If you hold the equivalent of a DI authorisation from another Australian State, Territory or from New Zealand, you can apply for the mutual recognition of your authorisation in WA.

The mutual recognition of occupational licences and authorisations allows a person who holds an occupational licence or authorisation in one Australian jurisdiction or in New Zealand, to receive the equivalent licence or authorisation in another jurisdiction. The Department of Transport (DoT) must consider applications to recognise commercial driving authorisations issued in other Australian jurisdictions and New Zealand and, if considered to be equivalent, issue you with a WA authorisation for the same activity.

Applying for a DI authorisation through mutual recognition

Are you eligible?

You are eligible to apply for mutual recognition if you:

• hold an equivalent DI authorisation from another Australian State or Territory, or in New Zealand that is current, valid, and unrestricted;
• are not subject to (or have pending) any licence suspension or cancellation;
• have not been disqualified from driving; and,
• you are usually resident in WA.

How to apply

You are required to lodge an Application for Mutual Recognition of Passenger Transport Driver or Driving Instructor Registration (Form E33) with your application which includes the following information:

• In which other State or Territory you are a licensed driving instructor.
• That you are seeking to be registered in Western Australia under the mutual recognition principle.
• That you are not currently subject to any disciplinary proceedings in relation to your driving instructor’s licence.
• That any driving instructor’s licence you hold is not cancelled or suspended.
• You are not prohibited from being a driving instructor in any State or Territory nor have special conditions on your licence because of disciplinary proceedings.
• Any other conditions that your driving instructor’s licence is subject to; and
• That you give consent for DoT to make enquiries with another State or Territory regarding matters relevant to the notice.

What you need to do

• Attend a DVS Centre or Agent with primary and secondary identification.
• Complete an Application for Mutual Recognition of Passenger Transport Driver or Driving Instructor Registration (Form E33), and in the case of MVDI’s a Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics if relevant.
• Complete an Application for Instructors Licence (Form E175).
• Pay the required fee.
• Once approved, attend a DVS Centre or Agent, and complete a PDA or pay the annual renewal fee (whichever is relevant).
• On receipt of payment (if a PDA is required then on receipt of payment after successfully completing a PDA), your driving instructor’s licence will be posted to you within approximately five (5) working days. Upon receiving your driving instructor’s licence by post, you will be a qualified to commence instructing clients for reward.

Automatic Mutual Recognition

Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) is an intergovernmental initiative that allows eligible interstate driving instructors to work in Western Australia.

Eligibility

• You must not be a resident in WA.
• You must hold a current interstate MDVI licence.
• You must not be subject to (or have pending) any licence suspension or cancellation.
• You must not be disqualified from driving.

If you are eligible for AMR you will not be required to apply for mutual recognition and pay for a second licence, provided you are already licensed to perform the same activities in your home State.

You will be required to notify the Department of Transport (DoT) if you intend to use your interstate Motor Vehicle Driving Instructor (MVDI) licence for the purpose of providing driver instruction in Western Australia.

You must:

• Provide a completed Application for Mutual Recognition of Passenger Transport Driver or Driving Instructor Registration (Form E33) indicating you are notifying DoT you intend to operate under AMR;
• Provide a current interstate MDVI licence; and
• Submit them in person at any DVS centre, regional DoT office or agent.

Note: If you are in WA to live here permanently, or intend to take up permanent residence, you are no longer considered to be a visitor. You must apply for a WA driving instructor’s licence within 3 months of becoming usually resident in WA.

After this period, you must hold a WA DI authorisation if you are paid or receive any remuneration to teach another person to drive a motor vehicle in WA. It is advised that you apply for the mutual recognition of your interstate authorisation before the three-month period ends.