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 (basic and experienced). Individuals that successfully complete the IP may be hired by the MVA or one of the 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.
The IP includes both classroom and range (riding) sessions. The typical IP includes approximately 65 hours of formal instruction scheduled during evening and weekend hours over an 8 to 10 week period. The schedule usually includes one three hour evening session and one eight hour session on either a Saturday or Sunday per week. Attendance at each course session is mandatory. Instructor Candidates 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.
During the student teaching portion of the IP, candidates will demonstrate their knowledge and skill by teaching a group of new riders enrolled in a basic rider education course. 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.
To apply for enrollment in an IP, interested individuals must: - Complete and submit to the MVA an Instructor Applicant Information sheet;
- Provide a certified copy of a driving record, if from out of state; and
- Commit to the IP schedule
The Instructor Applicant Information sheet is available online at Instructor Application or by contacting the Motorcycle Safety Program office. Applicants accepted into the IP will be notified and required to sign an Authority for Release of Information form so a background check can be completed.
Certified 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.
Program Office:
Motor Vehicle Administration
Motorcycle Safety Program
6601 Ritchie Hwy, N.E. Room 208
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 | 
