The International Driver Examiner Certification (IDEC) program was designed as a result of the growing responsibilities placed on driver exam personnel. AAMVA's membership, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) determined it was necessary to create programs that encourage driver examiners to increase their knowledge and competence, upgrade the level of training, and provide an avenue for both state and third-party examiners to meet the same level of requirements. The IDEC training materials provide standardized unit lesson plans for all areas, instructor guides and visuals, quizzes, videos, student workbooks and activities for teaching the training courses and end-of-course exams.

The certification program includes the following areas:

• Certified Driver Examiner (CDE)
• Certified Commercial Examiner (CCE)
• Certified Third Party Tester (CTT)
• Certified Commercial Knowledge Examiner (CCKE)

Program Benefits and Requirements

Accreditation Requirements 

• Must be a member jurisdiction in good standing with AAMVA
• Must successfully complete accreditation requirements 
• Must meet all requirements of the core checklist 
• Must provide all examiners with refresher training

Jurisdictional/Examiner Benefits 

• National recognition/accreditation of jurisdictional training programs and could assist in reducing jurisdictional examiner liability
• The Certified Commercial Examiner (CCE) and Certified Commercial Knowledge Examiner programs meet both the state and third-party training requirements defined by FMCSA in 49 CFR s384.228
• Higher training/continuing education standards
• Protects public interest by providing consistent examiner training
• Provides support in fraud reduction
• Provides jurisdictions with standards of qualification for third-party deliverers
• Enhances reciprocal recognition of licensing and training programs
• Increases operational efficiency through the use of better trained examiners 
• Training materials are updated annually by the AAMVA IDEC Board

Examiner Requirements 

• Must meet jurisdictional education requirements
• Hold a valid driver license
• Have no loss of driving privileges within one (1) year prior to application
• Satisfactorily complete forty (40) hours of an approved training program
• Successfully administer the skills/road test(s)
• Pass an end-of-course examination with 80% or better
• Complete the application

Note: AAMVA does not certify examiners directly. AAMVA provides the certification avenue for jurisdictions to certify their jurisdictional and third-party testers.

Certified Driver Examiner (CDE) Program

The Certified Driver Examiner (CDE) Program was finalized and approved in 1982 and is the basic component of the International Driver Examiner Certification (IDEC) Program. The testing and licensing of drivers requires a high quality of excellence and uniformity among driver license examiners. The IDEC CDE program assists in ensuring that examiners have met the minimum knowledge and skills training requirements for conducting licensing tests. Quality training and education contributes to the safety of individual drivers on the nation's highways. The IDEC training materials were developed to assist jurisdictions in meeting these goals.   

Jurisdictions who wish to participate in the CDE program, must first complete an Application for Accreditation, which can be found in the CDE Program Overview. The jurisdiction will need to provide documentation that supports their driver examiner training program. This information is necessary for the International Driver Examiner Certification Board to make a decision as to whether a jurisdiction’s training program will be accredited. If your jurisdiction does not have training materials available, please contact us below.

The CDE materials contain an Instructor Guide and Student Workbook in both PDF and Microsoft Word formats. Jurisdictions are free to add in their specific information to the guide. If you are interested in receiving the CDE guide, please contact us below.

Please enclose the following information when applying for accreditation: 

• Cover letter
• Application form
• Contact person for the program
• Course syllabus/agenda (outlining all topics covered and hours of instruction)
• Copy of training materials if different from the AAMVA model
• Description or outline of all refresher training conducted over a 4-year period (includes any training that applies to testing, i.e., conferences, workshops, dealing with the public, sensitivity training, monitoring, etc.)

Annually, all active participating jurisdictions are asked to recognize one outstanding driver examiner/tester from their jurisdictions by nominating them for the IDEC Examiner of the Year award. For more information, visit our awards program. 

Certified Commercial Examiner (CCE) Program

The Certified Commercial Examiner (CCE) program was first offered in 1997 to assists member jurisdictions with training their commercial driver's license (CDL) examiners. The testing and licensing of commercial drivers, those licensed for the first time and those whose commercial licenses are being renewed or reinstated, requires a high degree of quality, uniformity and reliability. Instructors have a responsibility to provide CCE examiners with the tools to become safety professionals. 

If your jurisdiction does not currently have training materials available, please contact us below. Jurisdictions are free to add in their specific information to the guide. For more information, review our Certified Commercial Examiner (CCE) Program Overview. 

Please enclose the following information when applying for accreditation  

• Cover letter
• Application form
• Contact person for the program
• Course syllabus (outlining all topics covered and hours of instruction)
• Copy of training manual if different from the AAMVA model
• Description or outline of all refresher training conducted over a 4-year certification period (includes any training that applies to testing, i.e., update sessions, dealing with the public, sensitivity training, monitoring, etc.)  

Certified Third-Party Tester (CTT) Program

The Certified Third-Party Examiner/Tester (CTT) Program was developed to ensure the integrity, reliability, and validity of the driver licensing process of third-party testers and to provide as administered by the jurisdiction or their approved contractor, the necessary level of training and professionalism to those third-party testers entrusted with the responsibility of administering jurisdictional licensing examinations. For more information, review our Certified Third Party Examiner/Tester Overview.

Certified Commercial Knowledge Examiner (CCKE) Program

The Certified Commercial Knowledge Examiner (CCKE) program was developed to assist member jurisdictions with training their examiners on how to administer commercial driver's license (CDL) tests to applicants.  The testing and licensing of commercial drivers, those licensed for the first time and those whose commercial licenses are being renewed or reinstated, requires a high degree of knowledge, uniformity and reliability. Instructors have a responsibility to provide CCKE examiners with the tools to become safety professionals. 

If your jurisdiction does not currently have training materials available, please contact us below. Jurisdictions are free to add in their specific information to the guide. 

Please enclose the following information when applying for accreditation  

• Cover letter
• Application form
• Contact person for the CCKE program
• Course syllabus (outlining all topics covered and hours of instruction)
• Copy of training manual if different from the AAMVA model
• Description or outline of all refresher training conducted over a 4-year certification period (includes any training that applies to testing, i.e., update sessions, dealing with the public, sensitivity training, monitoring, etc.)