According to the Road Traffic (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations, private driving instructor or driving school restricted driving instructor licence holders who are required to renew their licence on or after 1 December 2023 shall complete the refresher course (including passing the written assessment) within 3 years preceding to the date of licence renewal. Please find below the information and frequently asked questions relating to the course.

Target:

• Private Driving Instructors
• Restricted Driving Instructors of designated driving schools

Purpose:

• Keep driving instructors abreast of the latest development of traffic regulation, driving test, driving training and the latest development of the profession
• Improve the quality of driving instructors and professionalize the industry

Implementation Timeline:

There is a 24-month transitional period starting from the effective date of the Road Traffic (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulation 2021 on 1 December 2021. Private driving instructors or restricted driving instructors of designated driving schools who are required to renew their licence on or after 1 December 2023 shall complete the refresher course (including passing the written assessment) within 3 years preceding to the date of licence renewal. The Transport Department will provide refresher courses from November 2022 onwards. Eligible applicants may enroll the course in accordance with their own needs.

Course Application:

Private Driving Instructors

The course will be available for enrollment from 3 October 2022. Applicants can browse the course timetable (please click here) or call the hotline (2736 0665) to check the course date, and then email the completed application form (please click here) to pdicourse@td.gov.hk to enroll in the course.

Applicants can also make an appointment in person at Driving Services Section at 19 Pui Ching Road, Ho Man Tin. A confirmation letter, including the information of class location, will be sent to the applicant within 7 working days upon appointment.

Restricted Driving Instructors of Designated Driving Schools

Please contact your designated driving school to arrange an appointment for a driving instructor refresher course.

Course Fee:

Free of charge

Course Content:

• Generic Module (4 hours): Covering the general knowledge and skills related to driving instructors.
• Specific Module (4 hours): Designing for relevant vehicle types, and divided into two types (Group 1 to 3 and Group 4), which are mainly about the latest driving test and assessment requirements for relevant vehicle types.

The course modules are listed in the course schedule page (please click here).

Course Instructor:

Refresher course will be conducted by serving Driving Examiners of the Transport Department.

Course Hours:

The course takes 8 hours in total. Applicants are required to complete the course in 1 full-day or 2 half-days with completion of generic module before attending specific module. Applicants are required to complete the whole course within six months from the start of the first module. If an applicant cannot complete the course within six months, he/she is required to re-take all modules.

Course Assessment:

A written assessment will take place at the end of the refresher course. Applicants have to answer 25 multiple-choice questions in 30 minutes. The passing mark is 15 correct answers (i.e. 60%). 　If an applicant fails the written assessment, he/she will be given two chances to re-take the assessment. If an applicant fails the assessment after two re-takes, or is unable to complete the course within six months counting from the first module, he/she has to attend the whole refresher course again.

Course Certificate:

Applicants are required to complete two modules of a total of 8 hours, and pass the written assessment for issuing a course certificate.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q1: What are the target groups of the driving instructor refresher course? If I am interested in driving training but not a driving instructor, can I still apply for the course?

A1: Holders of a private driving instructor licence and a restricted driving instructor licence of a designated driving school are the only target groups of driving instructor refresher course, which will not accept enrolment of other unspecified persons.

Q2: When should I apply for the driving instructor refresher course?

A2: Holders of a private driving instructor licence or a restricted driving instructor licence of a designated driving school who are required to renew their licence on or after 1 December 2023 shall complete the refresher course (including passing the written assessment) within 3 years preceding to the date of licence renewal. The Transport Department will provide refresher courses from November 2022 onwards.

Q3: Can I renew my driving instructor licence without taking the driving instructor refresher course?

A3: You can renew your driving instructor licence without taking the driving instructor refresher course if you:

(i) renew the private driving instructor licence or restricted driving instructor licence of a designated driving school on or before 30 November 2023. Please refer to the following example:

or

(ii) have completed the respective driving instructor induction course within three years preceding to the renewal of the licence of private driving instructor or restricted driving instructor of designated driving schools. Please refer to the follow example:

Q4: Can I take the written assessment only without attending the course?

A4: No, applicants are required to attend the whole course (both generic and specific modules), and pass the assessment to complete the course.

Q5: Can I attend the course online?

A5: Only physical classes are available at present. Applicants are required to attend the course at designated locations.

Q6: What are the consequences of being late or absent from the course?

A6: Participants who are late or absent for more than 15 minutes will be considered as failed to complete the course. They are required to re-take the course.

Q7: Are there any differences on the course content among different driving instructor groups?

A7: The course is divided into generic and specific modules. The content of generic module is the same for all driving instructor groups. Given that there is fundamental differences on the driving skills, control, operation, mechanical system and driving test between Group 1 to 3 and Group 4, the contents of specific module for Group 1 to 3 and Group 4 are different.

Q8: Do I have to take the course again if I am holding more than one group of driving instructor licences?

A8: Holders of Group 1-3 driving instructor licences are only required to complete one generic module and one specific module of the course. If applicants are holding both Group 1-3 and Group 4 driving instructor licences, they are required to complete one generic module and two different specific modules of the course.

Q9: How can I apply for the driving instructor refresher course?

A9: If you are a private driving instructor, please note that the course will be open for enrollment from 3 October 2022. Applicants can browse the course timetable (please click here) or call the hotline (2736 0665) to check the course date, and then email the completed application form (please click here) to pdicourse@td.gov.hk to enroll in the course. Applicants can also make an appointment in person at Driving Service Section at 19 Pui Ching Road, Ho Man Tin.

If you are a restricted driving instructor of a designated driving school, please contact your designated driving school to arrange an appointment.

Q10: What documents will I receive after completing the refresher course?

A10: The Transport Department will issue a notification letter and course certificate by post to driving instructors who have completed the whole refresher course and passed the written assessment.

Q11: What should I do if I fail the assessment?

A11: If you fail the written assessment, you will be given two chances to re-take the assessment. If you fail the assessment after two re-takes, or are unable to complete the course within six months counting from the first session of the course, you have to attend the refresher course again.

Q12: When can I apply for the renewal of my driving instructor licence after completion of a refresher course?

A12: After completing and passing the refresher course, you may apply for the renewal of the driving instructor licence at least five working days after the Transport Department has issued the course certificate to you. Please bring along the course certificate and identification documents for the application.

Enquiry:

Please call 2804 2600 or email to tdenq@td.gov.hk for enquiries.

The above is a general guide. For relevant legislation, please visit the Road Traffic Ordinance for relevant legislation.