About the Endorsement
Designed for certified Illinois teachers holding a secondary Professional Educator License (PEL), NLU's Safety and Driver's Education endorsement provides the opportunity to gain a subsequent endorsement to instruct driver education at the high school level.
The Safety and Driver's Education endorsement will increase your marketability and has the potential to increase your income. This 18-semester hour endorsement is offered by a limited number of institutions, and online programs have waiting lists. NLU's program provides secondary educators with an accessible pathway to earn this valuable credential through online asynchronous coursework.
What You'll Learn
The Safety and Driver's Education endorsement is aligned to the ISBE Illinois Driver Education Standards. The coursework will prepare you to effectively teach both classroom and behind-the-wheel driver education, covering essential areas including:
- Injury prevention and safety evaluation and mitigation
- Historical perspective and effective planning of driver education programs
- Classroom instruction techniques for responsible motorist development
- Behind-the-wheel instruction and safe in-vehicle teaching strategies
- Administrative and procedural requirements per Illinois state law
Program Format and Course Information
This 18-semester hour endorsement includes four core driver education courses (12 SH) plus additional endorsement requirements (6 SH). All courses are offered online in asynchronous formats:
Core Driver Education Courses (12 SH):
SDE 500: Injury Prevention & Safety (3 SH)
Designed to provide professionals with the ability to effectively evaluate and mitigate safety and injury prevention concerns within personal, professional and environmental settings. Focus is specific to motor vehicle, residential, educational, personal, occupational and naturally occurring hazards with emphasis on cause and prevention.
SDE 501: Driver Task Analysis (3 SH)
Centers on a historical perspective of driver education in Illinois with specific focus on effective planning and design. Students examine the need for effective driver education programs as they relate to highway traffic safety as well as administrative and procedural requirements per state law.
SDE 502: Technique & Theory of Driver Education: Classroom (3 SH)
Provides students with expertise required to instruct the classroom phase of driver education. Students gain exposure to effective curriculum building and implementation techniques necessary to produce responsible and informed motorists.
SDE 503: Technique & Theory of Driver Education: Behind-the-Wheel (3 SH)
Provides students with expertise required to instruct the behind-the-wheel phase of driver education. Students gain exposure to effective teaching techniques and implementation procedures for safe and effective in-vehicle experiences.
Additional Endorsement Requirements (6 SH):
Students need an additional 6 semester hours from at least 2 of the following areas: First Aid, Psychology, Driver Education Safety, Advanced Driver Education: Range/Simulator, Health & Wellness, Care and prevention of injuries, Issues related to alcohol or drug abuse, or Driver Education for students with disabilities.
Tuition and Fees
Candidates may be eligible for financial aid. Contact the Financial Aid office for more information. For more information about the Safety and Driver's Education Endorsement, including program details and tuition, please contact our enrollment team.
Information and Registration
To register, please complete NLU's Admissions Application.
This endorsement program begins Summer 2025 and courses are offered fully online.
For questions about the Safety and Driver's Education Endorsement or the registration process, please contact our enrollment team.
