Driver Improvement Regulated Program FAQs

The Department of Driver Services (DDS) regulates Driver Improvement Clinics (DI) also referred to as Defensive Driving Clinics (DDC). All clinics must provide standard instructions from one of the DDS approved curriculums. Currently, five curriculums have been approved for use in Georgia DDC clinics. Instructors must successfully complete a comprehensive training class from one of the five approved curriculums prior to being licensed by DDS.

1. How do I become certified as a driver improvement instructor and/or a driver improvement clinic?
   Download the Driver Improvement Instructor Application from our website. Download the Driver Improvement Clinic Application from our website. Please include all required documents on the application checklist when you submit it to DDS.
2. I was fingerprinted when I initially became certified. Why do I need to be fingerprinted again for recertification?
   Fingerprints that are used for non-criminal justice purposes are only retained by the Georgia and Federal Bureaus of Investigation for a matter of days and then purged, hence the need to be re-fingerprinted. In addition, the decision to recertify an individual or entity must be based on current criminal history results.
3. I am currently certified as a driver improvement instructor and/or a driver improvement clinic. When and how do I recertify?
   Instructor certifications are certified for a four period. Expiration dates can be found on wallet size certification (instructors) or wall certification (clinics) you received from DDS. Download the Driver Improvement Instructor Application from our website. to download the Driver Improvement Clinic Application from our website. Please include all required documents on the application checklist when you submit it to DDS.
4. Who are the approved curriculum providers for driver improvement clinics?
   There are currently five approved curriculum providers for driver improvement clinics. They include: American Safety Council, Driving Educators of Georgia (DEOG), Georgia Association for Risk Reduction & Defensive Driver Education (GARDE), National Safety Council and USA Training, Inc.