More driving schools are starting to apply for accreditation from the Land Transportation Office (LTO), thanks to the addition of the different driving course completion certificates as requirements for new driver’s and conductor’s license applications. Now, new student permit applicants must take a mandatory 15-hour Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) while non-professional drivers are required to take an additional Practical Driving Course (PDC) before they receive their license from the LTO. Even renewals require one to complete courses, giving the driving schools its moment of fame.
This change in the LTO made it inevitable for more driving schools to pop up in the country, allowing more Filipinos to apply and learn how to drive. The agency has even extended an invitation for individuals who wish to put up their own accredited driving schools to apply for accreditation at the LTO. That said, more schools have responded to this call and started opening, creating more slots for students. With this, Filipinos will have more schools and times to choose from should they wish to take up a driving course on the road to a license in the Philippines.
What is an LTO-Accredited Driving School
An LTO-accredited driving school is a steering and driving learning institution, usually a private one, that has received the authority from the LTO to engage in the conduct of lectures on Theoretical and Practical Driving Courses. These private driving institutions have passed the stringent screening and inspection procedures for LTO accreditation, allowing it to operate and offer “quality training” with the help of impressive facilities and extensive experience and expertise in steering cars and all the legal aspects associated with it.
Classification of Driving Schools Accreditation Applicants
There are different classes of LTO-accredited driving schools. These are:
New Driving Schools
New Driving Schools refers to any person or group of persons, natural or juridical, who intends to establish and operate a driving school. This type is required to file an application for accreditation with the Office of the Regional Director through the Regional Accreditation Committee (RAC) concerned to prove that they do have what it takes to contain the prescribed information and to show compliance with the standard requirements of the agency.
Currently Accredited Driving Schools
Currently accredited driving schools are those institutions that have already been established and operating, and which have previously been issued a
certificate to operate. These schools are already LTO-accredited, though some may operate on a provisional permit. Currently accredited driving schools are, in essence, existing driving schools with LTO accreditation.
Practical Driving Education and Examination Center (PDEEC) – Driving
A PDEEC is a facility owned or operated by an individual or group of individuals or entities duly authorized and accredited by the LTO. It was designed and established as a venue for the conduct of practical driving courses and practical driving examination usually administered by an accredited driving school instructor and Driving Skills Rater (DSR), respectively. PDEEC are usually driving schools that are of good standing or have no record of violations and suspensions for the last accreditation period. These schools are highly rated and only become PDEEC with the recommendation of the RAC.
Purpose of LTO Accreditation for Driving Schools
LTO accreditation refers to the procedures by which LTO authorizes a juridical entity in accordance with the standards and procedures set forth by the agency. The accreditation serves the following purposes:
- To ensure compliance of driving institutions with the prescribed standards on driving instructor’s qualifications, physical sites and facilities, equipment, materials, and other similar requirements;
- To ensure uniformity of the education course components, including topics of instruction and minimum time requirements, in all accredited driving institutions;
- To raise the standard of instruction to a specific level of quality and to develop safety consciousness and positive driving attitudes with the aim of minimizing the incidence of road crashes;
- To issue the authority to offer driver and conductor education programs;
- To roll out recently issued rules and regulations in relation to the operation of driving institutions;
- To ensure the efficient implementation of rules and regulations in relation to the operation of driving institutions.
Eligibility for LTO Accreditation for Driving Schools
The LTO accreditation for driving schools is available to any person or group of persons, natural or juridical, who intends to establish and operate a driving school in the Philippines.
Requirements for LTO Accreditation for Driving Schools
To secure an LTO accreditation for driving schools, you must first prepare the following documentary requirements:
- Duly accomplished Application Form
- Certified True Copy of the Certificate of Business Name Registration
- If applicable, document specifying the name of authorized representatives who must be an officer of the partnership / corporation / cooperative, like
- Articles of Incorporation
- Partnership
- Cooperative and Board Resolution issued by the Board Secretary
- Valid Business Permit
- BIR Certificate of Registration and Taxpayer’s Identification Number (TIN)
- Pre-operating Financial Statement showing that the owner-applicant shall be in such financial condition as to reasonably expect it to operate for at least one (1) year
- Bank Certificate or Credit Line in the name of the proprietor of the driving school in case of sole proprietorship, or in the name of partnership or corporation, whichever is applicable
- Three Million Pesos (P3,000,000) for the main office
- One Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P1,500,000) for every additional driving school
- Applications of at least one (1) Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) instructor and one (1) Practical Driving Course (PDC) instructor with their documentary requirements
- Location plan and a sketch of maneuvering site
- Official Receipt (OR) and Certificate of Registration (CR) of the vehicles
Facilities and Equipment Requirement for Driving School
Other than the documentary requirements, the driving school must have the following facilities and equipment:
Classroom (Main Office and Branches)
- Must have a minimum classroom dimension of twenty-four (24) square meters with a space of not less than one and a half square meters (1 .5 sq. m) for every student for a maximum class size of forty (40) students
- Must ensure that ergonomics, anthropometry, thermal comfort, ventilation, illumination, and acoustics are considered in the overall layout and design
- Must have audio-visual materials and display with a lateral dimension of not be less than six (6) inches
- Must have an updated set of traffic signs, signals, and pavement markings as described in the manual of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other land transportation regulatory agencies. The.
- Must have automotive components and parts assemblies to be used as aids in teaching basic automotive servicing (for students intending to apply for a light vehicle professional driver’s license)
- Must be equipped with a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system connected with built-in date and time recording features with a graphic resolution of at least 5MP.
- Must have an external hard drive or similar storage devices for the recording
- Must have a well-maintained database of student records for monitoring and evaluation
- Must have attendance sheets available
Facilities and Equipment for Driving Schools Seeking PDEEC Accreditation
The facility requirements for PDEEC operations are as follows:
PDEEC for Motorcycle
- Must have authorized test vehicles for both DL Codes A and A1 for the practical driving examination by the Driving Skill Rater (DSR).
- With at least 300 square meters of space with a minimum width of 20 meters.
- The PDEEC shall comply with the parking requirement as provided under Presidential Decree No. 1096 or the National Building Code of the Philippines, as amended.
- Must have enough area, signage, equipment, and facilities to perform the following maneuvers:
- Serpentine Maneuver
- Left Turn
- Stop in the Box
- Cone Weave
- U-turn
- Acceleration
- Sudden Braking
PDEEC for Light Vehicles
- Must have authorized test vehicles for DL Codes B, 81 and B2 for the conduct of practical driving examination by the Driving Skill Rater (DSR).
- With at least 2,800 square meters is required with a minimum width of 40 meters and a minimum length of 70 meters. The 2,800 sq. m shall be inclusive of the 300 sq. m requirement if they offer PDEEC for motorcycles.
- The PDEEC shall comply with the parking requirement as provided under Presidential Decree No. 1096 or the National Building Code of the Philippines, as amended.
- Must have enough area, signage, equipment, and facilities to perform the following maneuvers:
- Starting and Stopping
- Gear Shifting;
- Left turn;
- Right Turn;
- Traffic Light;
- Intersection (4-way crossing);
- U-Turn;
- Backing;
- Parallel Parking;
- Perpendicular Parking;
- Reverse Parking;
- Diagonal Parking;
- Uphill Hanging (elevated gradient);
- Downhill hanging (declined gradient);
- 2-point turn;
- 3-point turn ;
- Overtaking;
- Roundabout;
- Pedestrian Crossing; and
- Yield (merging lanes).
PDEEC for Heavy Vehicles
- Must have authorized test vehicles for C, D, and CE DL codes for the conduct of practical driving examination by the Driving Skill Rater (DSR).
- With at least 3,000 square meters with a minimum width of 50 meters.
- The PDEEC must comply with the parking requirement as provided under Presidential Decree No. 1096 or the National Building Code of the Philippines, as amended.
- Must have enough area, signage, equipment, and facilities to perform the following maneuvers:
- Starting and Stopping;
- Gear Shifting;
- Left turn;
- Right Turn;
- Traffic Light;
- Intersection (4-way crossing);
- U-Turn;
- Backing;
- Parallel Parking;
- Perpendicular Parking;
- Reverse Parking;
- Diagonal Parking;
- Uphill Hanging (elevated gradient);
- Downhill hanging (declined gradient);
- 2-point turn;
- 3-point turn;
- Overtaking;
- Roundabout;
- Pedestrian Crossing;
- Yield (merging lanes)
Reportorial Requirements
As far as reportorial requirements, the driving school is also required to submit the following reports to the RAC within five (5) days after the end of each month:
- List of graduates for the month and the dates of their attendance;
- Summary of transactions for the month:
- TDC
- PDC per DL Code;
- List of scholarship recipients for the month;
- Semestral report on drug tests conducted; and
- All other reports as may be required by the RAC.
- A Consolidated Report to the CODIAC every 15th of the succeeding month using the template provided by the LTO.
Procedures for LTO Accreditation for Driving Schools
For a complete guide on how to get LTO accreditation as a driving school, please check the following steps:
Step 1: Visit the Regional Accreditation Committee (RACs) at the LTO Regional Office with jurisdiction over the location of the driving school.
Step 2: Proceed to the RAC Secretariat and secure the application form for the accreditation of driving schools. You may also download the form from the LTO website (www.lto.gov.ph).
Step 3: Submit the application form and the documentary requirements to the designated officer at the RAC Secretariat in the LTO Regional Office for completeness and verification.
Step 4: Once the documents are evaluated and verified by the designated personnel from the RAC Secretariat Regional Office, you will be issued a Payment Order Slip (POS).
Step 5: Upon issuance of your Payment Order Slip (POS), proceed to the cashier for the payment of non-refundable application fee.
Step 6: Once paid, wait for the OR to be issued.
Step 7: Once your OR for the payment of the application fees is released, proceed to the RAC and submit a copy of the Application Fee OR.
Step 8: Wait for the RAC Secretariat to complete the evaluation of the submitted documents.
- Step 8a: If found non-compliant, you will be notified in writing of any deficiency or nonconformity in the submitted requirements as well as recorded findings after the inspection.
- Step 8b: You will be given a non-extendible period of ten (10) working days from receipt of the notice to comply with the findings.
- Step 8c: Within five (5) days, the RAC will conduct an ocular inspection and disapprove the application or endorse the same together with the approved Inspection Report to the Central Office Driving Institutions Accreditation Committee (CODIAC).
Step 9: The CODIAC and the Inspection Team will conduct an inspection of the driving school’s facilities, equipment, motor vehicles, and other requirements as prescribed.
- Step 9a: Otherwise, the CODIAC, within a period of five (5) working days, shall either disapprove the application or endorse the same together with the approved Inspection Report.
- If found non-compliant: In case the CODIAC finds a deficiency or nonconformity in the submitted requirements, the CODIAC Vice Chairperson shall immediately notify in writing the applicant, through the RAC, stating the grounds for disapproval.
- If approved: The CODIAC Secretariat shall prepare a Certificate of Accreditation
- Step 9b: The CODIAC Vice Chairperson shall then recommend the approval of the same to the Assistant Secretary.
- Step 9c: The Assistant Secretary, within fifteen (15) working days upon receipt in his office, shall approve or disapprove the applications for accreditation as endorsed by the CODIAC.
Step 10: Wait for the Payment Order Slip (POS) to be issued.
Step 11: Upon issuance of your Payment Order Slip (POS), proceed to the cashier for the payment of the accreditation fee and other related fees.
Step 12: Once paid, wait for the OR to be issued.
Step 13: Once your OR for the payment of the accreditation and other fees is released, submit a copy of OR to the RAC Secretariat.
Step 14: Once the CODIAC Secretariat receives the register the driving school details to the LTMS immediately upon receipt of the approved Certificate of Accreditation.
Step 15: Wait for the approved Certificate of Accreditation to be released after the RAC disseminates it to the accredited driving school.
Cost of LTO Accreditation for Driving Schools
When applying for LTO accreditation for a driving school, you may want to prepare to pay the following LTO fees:
- Application Fee – P 1,000.00
- Legal Research Fee – P 10.00
- Accreditation Fee – P 5,000.00
- Legal Research Fee – P 10.00
Where to Apply for LTO Accreditation for Driving Schools
When applying for LTO accreditation for your driving school, you would need to visit the Regional Accreditation Committee (RACs) at the LTO Regional Office with jurisdiction over the area where the driving school is located.
Processing Time
Accreditation of Driving School is under multi-stage processing. That said, each process may be done within the day or two, depending on the availability or compliance of the applicant. The total processing time, however, is estimated to be within 40 working days.
Important Reminders
For your reference, here are some important tips and reminders you’d want to remember when applying for LTO accreditation for a driving school.
- No driving school shall operate without having a valid certificate of accreditation.
- Accreditation of Driving School is under multi-stage processing.
- Processing time includes waiting time and starts upon the submission of complete requirements, and excludes the time for shipping of the certificates and other documents from Regional Office to Central Office and vice versa.
- In the event of findings of deficiency or nonconformity in the submitted requirements and inspection, the applicant shall be notified in writing and shall be given a non-extendible period of ten (10) working days from receipt of the notice to comply.
- The Assistant Secretary, within fifteen (15) working days upon receipt in his office, shall approve or disapprove the applications for accreditation as endorsed by the CODIAC. If the Assistant Secretary failed to do so, the said application shall be deemed approved provided that all required documents have been submitted and all required fees and charges have been paid (Sec. 10 of R.A. No. 11032, otherwise known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018)
- The applicant for accreditation as a driving school shall file an application with the Office of the Regional Director through the Regional Accreditation Committee (RAC) having jurisdiction over the location of the driving school.
- Applications with incomplete requirements shall not be accepted.
- Certificate of Accreditation shall be valid for one (1) year reckoned from the date of payment of accreditation fee.
- Driving School Kiosks in malls or registration offices may be established for marketing purposes only. The driving schools are required to inform the RAC about the existence or establishment of a kiosk. In no case shall any course of instruction of the L TO be conducted in the kiosk.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For more information, here are some common questions and answers regarding LTO accreditation for driving schools:
1. What is RAC?
RAC stands for Regional Accreditation Committee. This committee is constituted in the Regional Office level to receive and evaluate new and renewal applications for accreditation of driving institutions and their instructors, and for recommendation to the Central Office Driving Institutions Accreditation Committee (CODIAC) for final evaluation prior to the recommendation to the Assistant Secretary for approval and issuance of Certificate of Accreditation.
2. What is CODIAC?
CODIAC refers to the Central Office Driving Institutions Accreditation Committee, an LTO committee responsible for the review and evaluation of the submitted application for new and renewal of accreditation of driving institutions and instructors for the approval of the Assistant Secretary.
3. Why do driving schools need to get LTO accreditation?
The LTO accreditation is necessary in order to improve the quality of driver’s education and to ensure that driver’s licenses are issued only to deserving applicants with sufficient driving skills and knowledge on road safety and proper road courtesy.
4. Can I visit any LTO office to secure an LTO accreditation for my driving school?
No. You can only visit the RAC at the LTO Regional Office with jurisdiction over the location of the driving school.
5. How much does it cost to become an LTO-accredited driving school?
LTO accreditation for driving school takes about forty (40) days and at leasts P6,020.00.
6. How long is the accreditation for driving schools valid?
The Certificate of Accreditation is only valid for one (1) year from the date of payment of accreditation fee.
7. What does a DSR do?
A DSR or Driving Skills Rater is an employee of the LTO who administers theoretical examination and practical driving examination to applicant-driver prior to the issuance of an appropriate driver’s license.
Summary
With the increase in courses required by the LTO from drivers, and conductors, a driving school business is, indeed, a good business idea. In case you decide to delve into the business, you can prepare yourself for the legal procedures, including securing an LTO accreditation to be able to operate legally in the Philippines. It’s mandatory and securing an accreditation ensures that you won’t be facing legal liabilities and paying hefty fines as an LTO-accredited driving school later on.