(a) A driving school operator shall meet all of the following requirements:
(1) Within three attempts, pass an examination that the department requires on traffic laws, safe driving practices, operation of motor vehicles, teaching methods and techniques, driving school statutes and regulations, and office procedures and recordkeeping.
(2) Pay the department a fee of one hundred dollars ($100), which shall entitle the applicant to three examinations.
(3) Be 21 years of age or older.
(4) Have worked for an established licensed California driving school as a driving instructor for a period of not less than 2,000 hours of actual behind-the-wheel teaching and, on and after July 1, 1973, have satisfactorily completed a course in the teaching of driver education and driver training acceptable to the department, except that the operator, including an owner who is also the operator, of a driving school that exclusively teaches motorcycle driving may, in lieu of the behind-the-wheel teaching requirement, have worked for an established licensed California driving school as a motorcycle driving instructor for not less than 300 hours of actual motorcycle range and street teaching, have taught 300 hours of actual motorcycle range and street instruction under the guidance of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, or have given comparable training instruction that is acceptable to the department. This paragraph does not apply to any person who is certified by the State Department of Education as fully qualified to teach driver education and driver training and has taught those subjects in the public school system for not less than 1,000 hours.
(b) The qualifying requirements referred to in this section shall be met within one year from the date of application for a license, or a new application, examination, and a fee shall be required.
(Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 243, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2001.)