Instructors Wanted!

The MVA is looking for experienced motorcyclists to be part-time instructors.

Teaching rider-training courses part-time can be exciting, add a new dimension to your life, expose you to people with similar interests, and keep your motorcycling skills sharp while earning money. If you have a passion for motorcycling, are patient, encouraging, a good communicator and friendly, you may want to become a certified Motorcycle Safety Instructor for the MVA's Motorcycle Safety Program. Following is a description of the Instructor Preparation Course.

The Motor Vehicle Administration’s (MVA) Motorcycle Safety Instructor Preparation Course (IP) prepares individuals to teach the approved Motorcycle Safety Program rider education courses Individuals that successfully complete the IP will be hired by the MVA or one of the Program's Independent training centers in the state to teach these approved rider education courses. These individuals will also qualify to become Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) RiderCoaches.

Instructor Preparation (IP) Course

The IP includes both classroom and range (riding) sessions. The typical IP includes approximately 49 to 56 hours of formal instruction scheduled primarily on weekends over an 8 to 10 week period. The schedule usually includes one three hour evening orientation session and one eight hour session on Saturday and Sunday every other weekend. Attendance at each course session is mandatory. Instructor Candidates arriving late to, or missing a scheduled session will be dropped from the course. Candidates will also average approximately six hours of at home preparation and study per week. The required instructional materials are provided by the MVA and remain the property of the MVA until the candidates successfully complete the course. Candidates electing to drop or who are counseled out of the course will be required to return the materials to the MVA.

Throughout the course candidate performance is evaluated. Candidates not achieving the minimum performance standards will be counseled out of the course. To successfully complete this course, a candidate must:

Attend all scheduled course sessions;
Complete and submit all assignments;
Demonstrate the ability to use learner centered teaching activities in the classroom;
Demonstrate correctly all the riding exercises;
Demonstrate the ability to evaluate, coach and correct student performance;
Pass a riding skill evaluation;
Pass all the knowledge tests; and
Pass student teaching.

The final phase of the IP is Student Teaching during which candidates will demonstrate their knowledge and skill by teaching a group of new riders enrolled in a basic rider education course. Student Teaching adds about 22 hours to the IP.

Minimum Qualifications for an Instructor Applicant

To enroll in the IP and qualify for instructor certification, applicants shall:

Be at least 21 years old;
Be a high school graduate or equivalent;
Hold a valid motorcycle license (Class M) for at least one calendar year;
Have held a valid driver’s license for at least three previous consecutive years;
Have a satisfactory driving record for the previous three consecutive years – no more than 3 points, no suspensions, revocations or a series of citations or convictions that indicate poor driving behavior;
Be in good health and be reasonably physically fit; and
Have not been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude (accepted applicants will be required to sign an Authority of Release of Information from so a background check can be completed).

Applying to Enroll in an IP

Our training centers hire Instructors to work at their locations. To apply for enrollment in an IP, interested individuals should first contact a training center near them, or one where they want to work, and inquires as to whether the center is looking to hire any new Instructors. Our training centers conduct the initial interview of potential applicants and then sponsor the individuals they select in the MVA IP courses. Selected individuals will submit a complete application through their sponsoring training center. A complete application must include:

A letter of sponsorship from a licensed training center;
An Instructor Applicant Information sheet;
A complete certified copy of a driving record, and
Commitment to the IP schedule.

The Instructor Applicant Information sheet is available from the sponsoring training center. The Motorcycle Safety Program will only consider applications from individuals sponsored by one of its training centers.

There is a three-step qualification process to be accepted as an IP candidate. Applicants accepted by the Motorcycle Safety Program will be notified and invited to participate in a special Experienced Rider Course. An applicant must pass the on-cycle skill test administered at the end of the course to continue in the qualification process.

At the orientation session applicants will be given a pre-course assignment. The intent of the assignment is to prepare the applicant for the Instructor Candidate Knowledge Test. This assignment must be completed and turned in before moving on the final step of the qualification process.

To be accepted into the IP as an Instructor Candidate (IC) an applicant must pass the Instructor Candidate Knowledge Test administered at the start of the first IP session.

Instructor Work Schedule

Certified Motorcycle Safety Instructors are required to be available to teach a minimum of one course (approximately 7 to 22 hours depending on course) per month throughout the training season (March through November) and to attend all required professional development workshops and meetings. Work schedules are assigned by the training centers. Individuals unable to complete work assignments will be released.

Training centers have a variety of course schedules, but most rider education courses are taught during evening (Thursday and Friday 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM) and weekend hours (Saturday and Sunday 8:00 AM to 5:00PM). The instructor hourly pay rate may vary from $19 per hour to $25 per hour depending on the training center.

Additional Information

Program Office:
Motor Vehicle Administration
Motorcycle Safety Program
6601 Ritchie Hwy, N.E. Room 207
Glen Burnie, MD 21062

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

(800)638-1722 (inside MD)
(443)572-8236 (outside MD)
Fax: (410)508-2444

Motorcyclesafety@mdot.state.md.us