Traffic Safety Education
Do you teach classroom or behind-the-wheel components of a traffic safety education program?
Western Oregon University's Division of Extended Programs offers the necessary classes to fulfill the state's certification requirement.
Links
- How Do I Get Started?
- Calendar of Courses
- Registration Form
- Refund Policy
- Tuition Policy
- State Mandate
- College Credit is Possible!
- News
- Continuing Education and Recertification Policy
- WOU/ODOT Driver Education Mentor Program
- Need More Information?
If you need a duplicate certificate for courses that you or an employee previously completed, please fill out this order form.
Calendar of Courses for 2010
NOTE: Courses meet on all dates listed. Unless previously arranged with instructor, participants must attend all course meetings in order to pass the course.
| Foundations of Traffic Safety Education - 4 credits (approx. 40 hours) | ||
| September 11-12, 18-19 & 25-26 | Saturday - Sunday, 8:30am-5:00pm |
Clackamas CC Harmony/OIT Campus |
| Fundamentals of Classroom Traffic Safety Instruction - 4 credits (approx. 40 hours) | ||
| July 30 - Aug 1, 6-8 | Friday 6pm - 9pm Saturday - Sunday, 8:30am-5:00pm |
Clackamas CC Harmony/OIT Campus |
| October 9-10, 16-17 & 23-24 | Saturday - Sunday, 8:30am-5:00pm | Clackamas CC Harmony/OIT Campus |
| Fundamentals of Behind-the-Wheel Instruction - 4 credits (approx. 40 hours) | ||
| July 17-18, 24-25, 31 & Aug 1 | Saturday - Sunday, 8:30am-5:00pm | Rogue CC/Table Rock Campus, White City |
| Aug 20-22, 27-29 | Friday 6pm - 9pm Saturday - Sunday, 8:30am-5:00pm |
Clackamas CC Harmony/OIT Campus |
| November 6-7, 13-14 & 20-21 | Saturday - Sunday, 8:30am-5:00pm | Clackamas CC Harmony/OIT Campus |
IMPORTANT NOTE: The following items are required to participate in WOU’s Traffic Safety Education courses.
1). In order to participate in course activities, all participants in Foundations of Traffic Safety Education and Fundamentals of Behind-the-Wheel Instruction are required to bring on the first day of class:
- A copy of a current valid driver license
- A Certified Court Print abstract from the DMV
- According to OAR Division 15 Rules, Traffic Safety Instructors must have “(a) not more than one driver improvement violation within the preceding 12 months or more than two driver improvement violations in the preceding 24 months; (b) no alcohol or drug related traffic violation, conviction or infraction within the preceding five years; or (c) no driver’s license suspension, cancellation, revocation or denial within the preceding three years.
2). Participants must also have a USB Flash Drive storage device in order to access documents at home and in class. Flash drives can be purchased at most general merchandise stores, as well as electronics retailers.
Tuition Policy
The Traffic Safety Education Program through Western Oregon University (WOU) is funded by a grant from Oregon Department of Transportation. This grant pays tuition expense for residents of Oregon. Those who are not residents of Oregon have three options for taking WOU’s Traffic Safety Education courses:
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1. If you intend to work for an ODOT-approved Driver Education provider in Oregon, a representative from that company will need to verify that they intend to hire you upon successful completion of the training courses. The verification letter should be sent by email to Angela Hendrickson (hendrica@wou.edu), and should contain the following information:
- Full name of out-of-state participant the company intends to hire
- Portion(s) of Driver Education they will be hired to teach (BTW and/or Classroom)
- Approximate date the hiree will begin teaching
2. If you intend to open your own Driver Education school in Oregon, you will need to apply for a Commercial Driver Training School Certificate from DMV prior to taking the Traffic Safety Education courses. A copy of this certificate must be sent to Angela Hendrickson at Western Oregon University.
3. If you live outside Oregon and plan to work outside Oregon, you will be required to pay course tuition of $750 per class, as well as applicable materials expenses for each class.
Note: Registration priority for classes will be awarded to Oregon residents.
Every participant is required to purchase a set of materials ($95 for FTSE, $35 for BTW, and $35 for FOC). Materials from the Foundations course are used in each successive course.
These courses were designed for Oregon Driver Education instructors, and as such, all curriculum materials pertain to Oregon rules and regulations. Instructors will not adapt course material to meet the needs of participants from other states. All course participants, regardless of state of residence, are required to complete the same given assignments in order to earn a passing grade. A certificate of completion for these classes does not verify that a participant is qualified to teach in any other state than Oregon.
* Tuition & Fees are subject to change.
MandateAccording to Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 737-015, all Approved ODOT-TSD Traffic Safety Education Instructors must complete a Division-approved course of study. All individuals who are interested in becoming involved in an ODOT-approved traffic safety education program OR individuals already involved in a traffic safety education program who wish to work toward the certification requirement must complete a minimum of two courses, as explained below:
| Foundations of Traffic Safety Education (FTSE) | ||
| This course is required and must be successfully completed prior to enrolling in either of the next two courses. | ||
| Fundamentals of Classroom Traffic Safety Instruction (FOC) | ||
| Successful completion certifies individual to be able to instruct in the classroom. | ||
| Fundamentals of Behind-the-Wheel Instruction (BTW) | ||
Successful completion certifies individual to be able to instruct in a vehicle. |
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How Do I Get Started?
Registration Information Those interested in registering for a course must fill out a registration form and submit it to the Division of Extended Programs (DEP) at Western Oregon University. (Adobe Reader is required to view and print the form). You should register at least one week prior to the class start date in order to be assured of your participation in the class.
You may also register by phone at (503) 838-8483 or 1-800-451-5767.
The instructor will NOT be able to register you at the class site.
College Credit Those wishing to take Traffic Safety Education classes for graduate credit can do so at a cost of $50 per credit. Each class is 4 quarter hour credits. Earning academic credit requires the completion of a graduate-level project within six weeks of the conclusion of the course. Participants must register and pay for the credits before the last class meeting.
Refunds To cancel registration and receive a refund of material fees paid, a cancellation notice must be faxed to 503-838-8473 or e-mailed to extend@wou.edu prior to the first class meeting. Your request must be in writing and signed.
There is no refund for credit tuition, but by dropping the credit option before the second class meeting, you will have no grade responsibility. Your request must be in writing and signed. Due to the time-sensitive nature, we recommend you fax (503-838-8473) your request to drop the credit option.
Need More Information?
Four options to contact us:
- Go to our easy-to-use web form
- Call us at 800 451-5767 or 503 838-8483
- Send an e-mail
- Stop by Terry House on the Western Oregon University campus...#11 on the map
2008 National Teacher of Excellence
William “Bill” A. Warner, a driver educator in the Bandon School District, has been named “2008 Teacher of Excellence” by the American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association and the American Automobile Association. Warner represented Oregon at ADTSEA’s annual conference held earlier this month in Fort Worth, Texas. The award recognizes integrity and excellence in teaching.
In accepting the award, Warner noted several people who have helped him in his efforts not only to educate young drivers and teach them important life skills, but to continue to raise the bar.
“Sometimes we feel helpless to affect the economy, but we are not helpless to improve the ‘economy of safety’ as we promote risk management driver education and safer teen drivers,” Warner said.
Photo: Bill Warner, right, with Dr. William Van Tassel, manager of Driver Training Operations, AAA National Office
Warner, involved in driver education activities at the local, state, regional and national level for the past seven years, started this process by being honored as the Oregon state Driver Education Teacher of the Year, before moving on to the national level. He was first nominated to represent the state by the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Transportation Safety Administrator, Troy E. Costales and Driver Education Program Manager, John L. Harvey. His nomination packet included a portfolio, a 5 minute videotape, and written essay questions.
At the local and state level, he has built a strong network of dedicated professionals and empowered them to share a high drive for academic excellence. He has created a sense of community within driver and traffic safety education that is based on consensus of purposes, and high standards of behavior and academic performance.
Warner has been a driver education instructor since 2001 and is the current Past-President of the Oregon Traffic Safety Education Association as well as the national Secondary Division Chairman for ADTSEA. According to Costales and Harvey, “Bill has brought honor and recognition to the Bandon School District through his hard work and leadership.
“When something needs to be accomplished, Bill Warner is the person who always gets the successful outcomes.”
2006 National Teacher of the Year
Rich Hanson, an adjunct instructor for WOU’s Traffic Safety Education program, was named “2006 Teacher of the Year” by the American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association(ADTSEA) and the American Automobile Association (AAA).
This award was presented at ADTSEA’s annual conference held in August in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The award recognizes integrity and excellence in teaching.
Rich has been a driver education instructor since 2002 and has been highly involved in further developing quality driver education programs throughout the state. He is a valuable asset to WOU’s Traffic Safety Education program and students who take his courses seem to agree!
Photo: Rich Hanson, left, with Dr. William Van Tassel,
manager of Driver Training Operations, AAA National Office.
To see the full ODOT press release, please click here.
Contact Information