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Driver Training & Assessment Standards |
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| The list of questions and answers provided below represents a number of common questions that we receive. If this page does not provide you with the information you need, send us an email and we will provide you with an answer as soon as possible. Please advise us if there are any questions you feel should be included on this FAQ page. |
Choose a Category:
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Instructor Licensing |
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Instructor Training |
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Air Brake Instructors |
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Driver Training Schools |
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Driver Training |
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Driver Licensing |
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Road Test Cancellation Fee |
Instructor Licensing
Q: Can I begin conducting driver training once I receive my British Columbia Driver Training Instructor's Licence?
A: You may begin conducting driver training as long as the training is conducted under the umbrella of a Licensing Driver Training School. Visit our School Licensing page for information on becoming a licensed Driver Training School.
Q: The recent Criminal Record Search I had completed indicated that a record may or may not exist on a local police index. Why am I showing up on a police index if I do not have a criminal record?
A: Local police indices contain all information where some form of police involvement has taken place. This includes any charges or complaints from and/to an individual. In order to confirm the identity of the person listed on the Consent for Criminal Record Search form, it is necessary for the person to undergo a fingerprint check. The results are then forwarded to Canadian Criminal Identification Services in Ottawa for verification and any charges or conviction information is released.
As long as the criminal record search indicates that a record may or may not exist, Canadian Criminal Record Services must be contacted to obtain further details.
Instructor Training
Q: Can I challenge the Instructor Training Course?
A: A challenge process does exist to waive the requisite instructor training; however, an individual must first make application to Driver Training & Assessment Standards and meet certain prerequisites. Each application is reviewed for challenge eligibility.
Q: Where can I obtain information on the challenge process?
A: Contact Driver Training & Assessment Standards in Victoria to obtain information on the challenge process.
Q: Can I use a translator in a GLP Instructor Training Course?
A: No, all course work must be completed in English and students must do their own work. If a student used a translator, the course facilitators would be unable to determine whether an assignment completed by the student was original work or whether the translator contributed to its content. Students are allowed to use paper translation dictionaries and course facilitators do all they can to assist students with language barriers.
Air Brake Instructor
Q: Can I begin conducting Air Brake theory courses once I receive my Air Brake Certificate of Qualification?
A: You may begin offering Air Brake theory courses as long as the courses are conducted under the umbrella of a Licensed Driver Training School or an authorized Driver Certification Facility. A school or authorized Facility conducting an Approved Air Brake Course must also be registered with the Private Post Secondary Education Commission (PPSEC) unless otherwise exempted. (Note: PPSEC is currently under review by the BC Government). Visit our School Licensing page for information on becoming a licensed Driver Training School or Certification Program page for information on becoming an authorized Driver Certification Facility.
Driver Training Schools
Q: I brought a student to a Driver Licensing Office for his road test and was told by the Driver Examiner that the driver training school vehicle required an "L" sign during the road test. I was under the impression that Driver Training School Vehicles were exempt from this requirement?
A: It is true that Driver Training School Vehicles are not required to display the "L" sign; however, this exemption only applies during the conduct of practical training by a Licensed Driver Training Instructor. It is ICBC policy that during a road test, Driver Training School vehicles must display the "L" sign while an ICBC Driver Examiner is conducting the road test.
Q: When I close my Driver Training School, is it true that my Driver Training School Security Bond will be held for 2 years before it will be released to me?
A: Yes, security bonds must be held for 2 years (limitation period) until the limitation period for bringing actions against the bond ends and the minister is satisfied that no valid claim against the bond exists. This is defined in Section 7 of the British Columbia Bonding Act.
Driver Training
Q: Where can I go to receive training on the operation of heavy-duty equipment such as a backhoe?
A: Contact the Industry Training and Apprenticeship Commission at (604) 660-0263 or the BC Trucking Association at (604) 888-5319 to obtain information on where training is available for heavy-duty equipment (i.e., tractors, backhoes, bulldozers etc.)
Q: My school offers a co-pilot session as part of my ICBC-Approved Driver Education Course. Is it mandatory for students to attend?
The minimum instructional time required for an ICBC-Approved course is 32 hours.
If the co-pilot session is conducted within the
32 course hours (fulfilling part of the 4 discretionary hours) then
students must attend. Similarly, if an instructor wants to include
individual/periodic co-pilot consultations within the 32 hours,
then the student must be present at these consultations.
If the co-pilot session is conducted in addition to the 32 course hours then students can be excluded. Similarly, the instructor can conduct individual/periodic co-pilot consultations without the student if done in addition to the 32 hours.
Driver Licensing
Q: Can the holder of a Class 7L or a 7N driver's licence obtain an air brake endorsement?
A: Yes.
Q: Recently, I was certified by a Driver Certification Facility to obtain an Air Brake endorsement on my driver's licence. I then attended a Driver Licensing Office to complete the Air Brake Knowledge test and was unsuccessful on my first attempt. My friend told me that if I am unsuccessful on my 3rd attempt, I will have to repeat the entire Air Brake course. Is this true?
A: If you are unsuccessul on your 3rd attempt,
you will be required to re-take the 16-hour Air Brake theory portion
only. It will not be necessary for you to re-take the 4-hour practical
portion or to re-qualify on the practical pre-trip assessment. Upon
successful completion of the Air Brake theory portion, the facility
will issue a 16-hour Air Brake theory course card as proof of completion.
Upon presenting the Air Brake Course Card to a Driver Licensing
Office, you will then be allowed 3 more attempts to pass the Air
Brake Knowledge Test.
Road Test Cancellation Fee
Q. What is the purpose of the Cancellation Fee?
A. It is an incentive for individuals to attend their scheduled road test appointment or provide adequate cancellation notice so that another client may use the time. Failing to show for a road test appointment means that other clients will have to wait longer to obtain an appointment and it contributes to road test backlogs at BC's Driver Licensing offices.
Q. Who does the fee apply to?
A. The $25 Cancellation Fee Only applies to drivers with scheduled road test appointments who fail to provide at least 48 hours cancellation notice or provide a reason (with proof) acceptable to ICBC, for not giving adequate notice of the appointment cancellation. The $25 fee applies to all missed road test appointments regardless of test type. (Motorcycle Skills Tests are excluded)
Q. When is it applied and how is it collected?
A. The fee is applied each time a client fails to provide at least 48 hours cancellation notice for their road test appointment or does not provide a reason (with proof) acceptable to ICBC for not giving notice of the appointment cancellation. The Cancellation Fee is collected along with the road test fee at a subsequent road test appointment. For example, if a person fails to cancel a road test appointment on two occasions and attends on the third occasion, $50 would be added to the road test fee collected on the third occasion.
Q. Under what circumstances can an exemption be obtained when 48 hours cancellation notice is not provided?
A. Exemption from the fee will only be accepted
in specific circumstances and proof documents must substantiate
the reason for missing the appointment. If the proof document is
not available at the time the individual attends for their road
test, they must pay the Cancellation Fee and submit the proof document
with a request for a late exemption. If accepted, a fee refund will
take from four to eight weeks.
Exemption applications may be submitted to a Driver Licensing office
either in person, by fax or by mail. Applications will need to include
the name, address, licence number, phone number, the date and time
of the appointment that was missed, and the reason for failing to
provide adequate cancellation notice (with proof). A form is available
at ICBC Points of Service for capturing this required information.
Without this information and a copy of the required proof document,
an exemption will not be considered.
If the driver training school student refuses to sign the consent form, then the school cannot book a road test on behalf of the student. The school must then inform the student they must book their own road test.
Acceptable reasons for missing appointments (and supporting proof documents) include:
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Illness or medical emergency - a note from a doctor or physician |
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Death of an immediate family member - a copy of the death certificate |
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Automobile accident - a copy of the accident or police report |
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Vehicle breakdown - a copy of the garage or towing receipt dated the day of the missed road test appointment |
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Severe inclement weather - confirmation of cancelled test with local Driver Licensing office |
Any questions regarding exemption processes and criteria may be directed to the local Driver Licensing office.
Q. What is the purpose of the Road Test Booking
Service Student Consent and Release Form (DTC205)?
A. The purpose of this form is to allow a student to provide permission to a driver training school to book a road test on their behalf. Without a signed permission form, the student must book their own road test appointment.
Students are responsible for paying any Cancellation Fees and driver training schools must ensure students are aware of the road tests made on their behalf.
Q. Will driver training schools still be allowed to block book road tests?
ICBC driver licensing offices that currently offer block booking of road tests may continue to offer this service.
Schools are to provide the ICBC driver licensing office with the name and driver's licence number of the student booked for the road test at least one week in advance. Any changes to the name tied to the appointment can still be made up to 48 hours prior to the road test appointment. The school is responsible for ensuring the student is properly notified of the date and time of their road test appointment.
The student attending the appointment is responsible for the $25 Cancellation Fee if the appointment is not kept.
Q. How long must the driver training school retain the completed Student Consent Form?
A. As with other driver training school records, the school must retain the form for 3 years. This form will be requested by ICBC if the student submits an appeal for being charged a Cancellation Fee based on the claim of not knowing an appointment was booked on their behalf.
Q. What if a dispute arises over paying the fee?
A. ICBC will not charge a Cancellation Fee where a person has a reason (with proof) acceptable to ICBC for not appearing for a road test or provides adequate cancellation notice.
If an exemption or late exemption from the Cancellation Fee has been rejected by the local Driver Licensing office, a client may continue to dispute the fee through an appeal process. To submit an appeal, the client must obtain an appeal form at their local Driver Licensing office, fill in their personal information including an explanation of why they missed their appointment, attach a copy of their proof document and send it to their local Regional Licensing Manager for further consideration.
Q. Do other jurisdictions have a similar fee?
A. Several other jurisdictions have Cancellation Fees or monetary incentives designed to encourage individuals to attend their road test appointment.
Ontario requires 24 hours cancellation notice and charges a $25.00 fee. Some jurisdictions, rather than charge a Cancellation Fee, collect the road test fee in advance of the test and retain it if the person does not attend their scheduled road test.