The Island Traffic Authority (ITA) is now accepting applications for the certification of driving instructors, in keeping with the provisions of the Road Traffic Act, 2018 and attendant regulations.
Applicants must be at least 24 years of age and the holder of a driver’s licence in the class they are instructing for at least 2 years prior to applying. They must successfully complete a driving instructor’s training programme approved by the ITA.
Upon applying to the ITA, applicants should submit the completed driving instructor’s application form, a police report, two character references, a medical report (Form MC1) from a registered medical practitioner, and an application fee of $15,000 to be paid at any Tax Administration of Jamaica (TAJ) office.
Driving instructors are also required to provide proof of motor vehicle insurance policy which includes coverage for the provision of driving instructions for the vehicle used to instruct students.
The requisite documents should be submitted to the ITA’s Head Office located at 145 Maxfield Avenue in Kingston or at any of the ITA’s Service Hubs across the island. Documents submitted to the service hubs will then be forwarded to the ITA’s head office for processing.
Upon assessment and approval of the submitted documents, the applicant will receive a driving instructor’s certificate, valid for five years. In cases where the certification requirements are not fully met, a provisional certificate may be issued. This provisional certificate allows the instructor to operate for a specified period until the full certification requirements are fulfilled.
Regulation 168 (1) of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2022, states that a person shall not provide services as a driving instructor without being certified by the ITA. Exceptions are made for certain circumstances, for example, persons offering the services of an instructor without the requirement for a fee or payment.