The Traffic Safety courses at SCSU prepare driver and traffic safety educators for several states, all of which have slightly different requirements. The courses also prepare driver and traffic safety educators for private enterprises, who are licensed by the Department of Public Safety (DPS). These DPS-licensed candidates are not required to have a professional teaching license, and would thus not be eligible to be licensed through the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB). Please note that Sub, Tier II, & Administrator licenses alone do not allow one to be licensed through PELSB for the Driver and Traffic Safety endorsement. To apply for the Driver and Traffic Safety endorsement, Tier III or Tier IV Minnesota professional teaching licensure is required.
For more details, please see the information below to determine where you fall in the range of scenarios.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact:
Instructor Mark Lee, Driver Education Teacher Preparation
E-mail: mdlee@stcloudstate.edu
Assistant Registrar: Danielle Olson, Office of Records and Registration
Phone: 320-308-4933
Email: registrar@stcloudstate.edu
If you are a current Minnesota teacher and you currently hold a Tier III or Tier IV Minnesota Professional Teaching License, you must successfully pass all 13 credits in TSE to receive the complete Driver and Traffic Safety endorsement in Minnesota. You will then need to add the Driver and Traffic Safety endorsement onto your current Minnesota Tier III or Tier IV Professional Teaching License.
The Graduate Certificate program is for Tier III or Tier IV Minnesota professionally licensed teachers only, while other K-12 Minnesota pre-service teachers looking to add a driver education endorsement onto their initial license will be directed into the Undergraduate Certificate program.
If you do not currently hold a Tier III or Tier IV Minnesota Professional Teaching License but you are eligible to obtain a Tier III Minnesota Professional Teaching License, you must successfully pass all 13 credits in TSE to receive the complete Driver and Traffic Safety endorsement in Minnesota. You will need to wait until you receive your Tier III Professional Teaching License and then add the Driver and Traffic Safety endorsement onto your license.
Your courses must be taken at the Undergraduate Certificate level. The Graduate Certificate program is for Tier III or Tier IV Minnesota professionally licensed teachers only.
If you are an Administrator in Minnesota but do not possess a Tier III or Tier IV Minnesota Professional Teaching License, you may register and complete all 13 credits but must also follow Minnesota DPS Endorsement Rules. Administrator licenses alone do not allow one to be licensed through PELSB for the Driver and Traffic Safety endorsement. To apply for the Driver and Traffic Safety endorsement, Tier III or Tier IV Professional Minnesota Teaching Licensure is required.
If you are an out-of-state participant, you must complete licensing requirements for your particular state. Please contact your state’s DPS coordinator for information. You may also contact the instructor of St. Cloud State’s TSE courses for guidance. Out-of-state participants must apply as Non-degree seeking Undergraduates.
When it comes to requirements after completion of coursework at St. Cloud State, next steps will depend on if your district already has a driver education program or has to create a new one.
If you are already with a Minnesota public school that provides driver education, after completing coursework at St. Cloud State and the assessment with DPS, you must contact DPS once the Driver and Traffic Safety endorsement is on your teaching license.
Dustin Lacina, Driver Education Coordinator, Driver & Vehicle Services, 445 Minnesota St., Suite 176, St. Paul, MN 55101-5176
Phone: 651-201-7625
E-mail: Dustin.Lacina@state.mn.us
Mr. Lacina will then verify that the endorsement is on your license and re-check your driver’s license record. If all is good, then DPS will approve you for driver education at that particular school.
If you are starting a Minnesota public school program, you will need to meet the requirements in Minnesota rule. This would include:
Candidates not holding or eligible for a MN professional teaching license must apply as Non-degree seeking Undergraduates. If you complete TSE coursework at St. Cloud State but are not a teacher and plan to open your own commercial driving school, then you would have to do a bit more than outlined in the Starting a Minnesota Public School section. That includes all of the above for starting a public school program, in addition to: