eCertificates for Operator/Instructor Courses

As your traffic safety education curriculum/training provider, Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc., (TSC) is pleased to announce that, with the move by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to an occupational licensing Web portal, we are transitioning to emailed electronic completion certificates for our online Traffic Violator Instructor Continuing Education Seminar and Traffic School Operator Programs. The new PDF certificates are securely generated and meet the latest industry standards, and will enable school officials to easily upload documents when renewing their occupational licenses.

Some advantages of an electronic certificate include:

• Convenience: Electronic certificates can be stored, managed, and shared online, making them easily accessible for traffic violator school officials and regulators.
• Efficiency: You'll no longer have to wait for—or pick up from our offices—or digitally scan a paper certificate. Save time and money by having your electronic documents delivered straight to your email inbox!
• Security: Advanced encryption protects against counterfeiting and ensures authenticity, and you'll still be issued a certificate number that can be traced back to you and your instructor/operator account.
• Environmentally Friendly: Electronic documents reduce paper use, making them a sustainable option for institutions.

(We'll continue to issue paper certificates, if that format better meets your needs, for a small fee.)

New Florida Laws for Late 2024

Curriculum Updates

As your traffic safety education curriculum provider, Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc. (TSC) is always committed to providing the finest and most up-to-date instructional materials available.

Earlier this year, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) issued a notice of required curriculum updates (the "CY2024 Update Letter to Providers"). Most of these had been added proactively prior to notification from DHSMV. We were required, though, to resubmit all curricula for reapproval. Official approval has been issued and materials have been translated, as necessary, and are now ready for use.

Changes, as appropriate for the type of course, include:

• Latest Driving-Without-a-License Laws
• License Required for Under 18 to Operate a Golf Cart on Roads
• Enforcement of School Zone Speed Limits
• Enforcement of School But Passing Infractions
• Latest "'Move Over' Act" Information
• Latest Racing and Exhibition Driving Laws
• Serious Bodily Injury/Death to Vulnerable Road Users Penalties

Internet Curricula Updated

TSC has already updated all internet-based programs, and your students are using them now. No further action is required for this modality.

Classroom Curricula

Those of you who are delivering classroom instruction must ensure that you teach students the updated curriculum. You can access all of the latest curriculum materials for download via the Classroom Materials page on your affiliate administrative Web portal (login required). The files are available now, and you should begin using the updated materials immediately.

Please make sure that you and/or any instructors you employ are explaining the new laws to students and distributing the latest versions of the classroom materials, as you will be responsible for teaching/testing students on this new material!

Booklet Curriculum

Those of you who are delivering 4-Hour BDI booklet instruction must ensure that you provide students the updated curriculum. You can access all of the latest curriculum materials for download via the Classroom Materials page on your affiliate administrative Web portal (login required). The files are available now, and you should begin using the updated materials immediately.

Please make sure that you mail students materials that explain the new laws to students, as you will be responsible for teaching/testing students on this new material!

California Driver Ed Video Updates

As your traffic safety education curriculum provider, Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc., (TSC) is constantly working to improve the content of the instructional materials that we present to students. We always want to share the latest traffic laws and safe-driving best practices to ensure the safety of those who take our courses and the other motorists who encounter them on the road.

We have been trying for some time to modernize some of the videos presented in our courses. Unfortunately, it has proven very difficult to find high-quality productions that are similar but with updated content.

Working in conjunction with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), we have replaced some of the most dated course materials with a series of shorter, more frequent video presentations that are not only functionally/thematically similar to the originals, but which replace certain obsolete information with the latest guidance from the DMV. Moreover, the new clips provide an additional 26 minutes of video content to better engage students and thoroughly explain the subject matter by providing greater exposure to multi-modal content delivery.

These revisions have already been implemented for the instructional content of the internet-based driver education course (TeenDrivingOnline.com for our referral affiliates), and are being presented to your students now; no further action is required for this modality. We will roll out similar enhancements to the classroom lesson plan over the next few months, and will notify you when need to swap out your classroom materials.

As always, we appreciate our affiliate family. And we encourage you to reach out to us with any other suggestions for improvement.

Virginia Curriculum Update

A change to a longstanding law will take effect soon and, as a consequence, the Basic Driver Improvement Course curricula from Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc., (TSC) have been updated. Previously, drivers could pay a fee when registering their vehicles and would be able to drive without having auto insurance coverage. Effective July 1, 2024, every driver on the road will be required to have insurance (or be able to demonstrate financial responsibility with alternate methods) in order to register a vehicle in Virginia.

Internet Curriculum Updated

As your curriculum provider, TSC has already updated the internet-based program, and your students are being presented the new material now. No further action is required for this modality.

Classroom Curriculum

Those of you who are delivering classroom instruction must ensure that you teach students the updated curriculum. You can access all of the latest curriculum materials for download via the Classroom Materials page on your affiliate administrative Web portal (login required). The files are available now, and you should begin using the updated materials immediately.

Please make sure that you and/or any instructors you employ are explaining the new laws to students and distributing the latest versions of the classroom materials, as you will be responsible for teaching/testing students on this new material!

New California Laws for 2024

A new year brings new traffic laws to California. Several new laws will take effect in 2024. As a provider of traffic safety and driver education in the state, you should familiarize yourself with these changes so you can provide proper education and assistance to your students.

Internet Curriculum Updated

As your curriculum provider, Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc., (TSC) has already updated the instructional content of internet-based courses, and it is being presented to your students now. No further action is required for this modality.

Booklet Curriculum

Those of you who are offering the home study booklet must ensure that you provide students with updated curriculum materials. Download from the CA Course Provider administrative website (login required) the latest final exam forms and answer keys, available now, and begin using those immediately.

The copyright notice is at the
bottom of the Table of Contents page.

The next order of books that you receive from TSC will be the latest edition. You may continue to use "old" booklets from your inventory. However, if the bottom of the Table of Contents page of a book that you are issuing to a student does not have a 2024 copyright (see example picture), you must include a "booklet insert" (available for download from the CA Course Provider Administration website) with that student's materials.

Make sure that you ship the latest versions of the home study booklet (or include an insert) and testing materials, as you will be responsible for teaching/testing students on this new material!

Classroom Curriculum

Those of you who deliver classroom instruction must ensure that you teach students the updated curriculum. Download the electronic files from the CA Course Provider administrative website (login required) for the latest Lesson Plan updates, Safe Driving Journal (student and instructor versions), and final exam forms/answer keys. The files are available now, and you should begin using the updated materials immediately.

Make sure that you and/or any instructors you employ explain the new laws to students and distribute the latest versions of the classroom materials, as you will be responsible for teaching/testing students on this new material!

Classroom Video Downloads Available

For some time, traffic violator schools (TVSs) and driver education (driver ed) schools have been able to download classroom (and booklet) printed curriculum materials via their CA Course Provider administrative website (login required) account. As your curriculum provider, Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc., (TSC) is pleased to have made available in this manner regular curriculum updates and permanent access to the latest curriculum materials for convenient retrieval as needed.

Going forward, all videos for classroom presentation will similarly be available for download. Access them via the new "Classroom Videos" tab on your account home page. There are sections for TVS – English, TVS – Spanish, and Driver Education.

Note that some titles are duplicated across the courses, but the content is not always exactly the same due to regulatory requirements. If you are teaching multiple courses, please make sure that you download the correct videos for each course!

You'll never have to worry about contacting TSC to get a new video tape/disc again. Simply download these video files directly to your computer, and you're ready to screen them in class!

(If you have trouble playing the video files (e.g., you're using Windows Media Player), we recommend downloading and installing the free, powerful, and widely recommended VLC media player (also available via the Microsoft Store).)

New Florida Laws for 2024 andMaterials Download

Curriculum Materials Access

Note that, going forward, the latest files for all classroom and booklet materials will be available for download via the Classroom Materials page (accessible by a link in the site's top menu bar) on your affiliate administrative Web portal (login required). Should you ever need to update/replace your materials, you can go to this page and download the current versions.

---

Curriculum Updates

A new year brings new traffic laws to Florida. As a provider of traffic safety and driver education in the state, you should familiarize yourself with these changes so you can provide proper education and assistance to your students.

Internet Curriculum Updated

As your curriculum provider, Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc., (TSC) has already updated all internet-based programs, and your students are using them now. No further action is required for this modality.

Classroom Curriculum

Those of you who are delivering classroom instruction must ensure that you teach students the updated curriculum. You can access all of the latest curriculum materials for download via the Classroom Materials page on your affiliate administrative Web portal (login required). The files are available now, and you should begin using the updated materials immediately.

Please make sure that you and/or any instructors you employ are explaining the new laws to students and distributing the latest versions of the classroom materials, as you will be responsible for teaching/testing students on this new material!

Booklet Curriculum

Those of you who are delivering booklet instruction must ensure that you provide students the updated curriculum. You can access all of the latest curriculum materials for download via the Classroom Materials page on your affiliate administrative Web portal (login required). The files are available now, and you should begin using the updated materials immediately.

Please make sure that you mail students materials that explain the new laws to students, as you will be responsible for teaching/testing students on this new material!

California Regulatory Update

This blog post will be the first of periodic updates about regulatory changes from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that could impact your traffic violator school (TVS).

Traffic School Renewals

Remember that, in order to keep your school open and maintain your business, you must remain current with your occupational licensing.

Your TVS school/owner license and your TVS operator license must be renewed annually, directly through your dashboard via the DMV's Occupational Licensing Portal. Note that, as a condition of renewing an operator license, you must complete a 4-hour professional continuing education program (available at DMVOperatorCourse.com).

Traffic violator instructor (TVI) licenses must be renewed every three years. Note that, as a condition of renewing an instructor license, you must submit proof of participation in at least 18 hours of traffic safety/professional continuing education seminars or courses or pass a DMV-administered written exam. (TrafficSchoolInstructorCourse.com presents 6-hour online seminars, updated annually. Completing three of these over the term of a license would fulfill the continuing education requirement.)

One person may serve in all three of those positions for a school (owner/operator/instructor), but must fulfill all of the renewal requirements for all positions.

Business Office Review of TVS Records

As your traffic safety education curriculum provider, Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc., (TSC) makes every effort to ensure that the materials we provide to you are accurate, up-to-date, and informative for you and your students.

As part of our ongoing efforts to assist you with your school's administrative needs, we strongly encourage you to continue checking the TSC Affiliate News blog and our email correspondence for helpful information.

With the subsidence of COVID and related restrictions, monitors from the California Traffic Safety Institute (CTSI), the DMV's designated regulatory agents, are out in the field conducting audits. Please make sure that you are in compliance with all regulations—including those updated by AB 708 (2019).

Especially remember:

• You must have your business hours posted at your school's office. The official traffic school business hours are (at a minimum) Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 4:00pm.
• Have your business hours posted on your website as well.
• Make sure that you have a knowledgeable person available in the office during business hours.
• Make sure that your classroom rosters, if you offer that modality, are in order.
• Please have the required records for the audit, including forms:
• TVCC 200X
• TVCC 201X
• OL 770
• OL 771
• If you must leave the office to run an errand, make sure that there is a sign posted with the date and time that you will return.

If you have any questions regarding TSC's affiliate program on the information above, please email Chris at chris@trafficeducation.net, or call 800 . 487 . 1699 from 7am – 2:30pm weekdays, for assistance.

Occupational Licensing Online Portal

Make sure to start your license
renewal application early—
especially if you're unfamiliar
with the new online system!

As your traffic safety education curriculum provider, Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc., (TSC) works constantly to make sure you're informed of the latest happenings in our industry. We've previously published blog posts (here, and in a follow-up) about the transition by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to improved online services for occupational licensees and applicants. The new system has been operational for a few months now, and you are strongly encouraged to use it for fast, secure processing of your renewals and any other services that are offered via that portal.

A recent Occupational Licensing Industry News (OLIN) bulletin from DMV (OLIN 2023-03) adds some further details. In particular, remember:

• Before using online services, users need to create a new or have an existing MyDMV account and must validate their identity to connect to their OL information. User tips and step-by-step instructions are available at dmv.ca.gov/olonline and through OL team members who are ready to assist you at 916 . 229 . 3126.
• Temporary OLs for original and renewal applications will be issued digitally.
• The DMV plans further upcoming additions to their online OL portal.

As always, when assembling your license renewal, make sure to get started early to allow for complications—especially if you're not familiar with the new process!

Transition to the Cloud

As your traffic safety education curriculum provider, Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc., (TSC) is constantly working to optimize the functionality and reliability of its information technology (IT) systems to ensure a premium experience for you and your students. In service of these efforts, we are currently transitioning our systems to a cloud computing service provider in the hopes of further improving access and availability.

The bulk of the transition has been completed, and we are anticipating finishing up the process in the next week or two. Our IT team performed extensive planning and testing prior to the start of this project, and we do not expect any service interruptions. However, should you experience any problems with your sites or services, from now through approximately March 17, please immediately alert us to the situation by calling 800-341-5554.

We thank you for your patience during this transition period, and look forward to delivering an improved traffic school experience!