Certification Process

Clinical Tier I Driving Evaluator Certification Guide:

Objective of Certification:

The goal of the certification process is to safeguard and benefit the community by granting certification solely to clinicians who fully meet all eligibility criteria and specified requirements, ensuring they can safely conduct driving evaluations for the public.

The Clinical Evaluator Certification recognizes generalist practitioners, such as occupational or physical therapists, who have shown proficiency in completing Steps 1 and 2 of a comprehensive driver’s evaluation, including administering health questionnaires and conducting the clinical assessment.

Important note: The applicant must complete and obtain certification for Steps 1 and 2 before advancing to Step 3, which certifies the ability to conduct both the clinical and on-road portions of the evaluation. Please note that Steps 1 and 2 of the certification process do NOT include the on-road portion.

Types of Clinical Certifications offered:

1. Driver Evaluation Specialist- Clinical Tier I (DES-Clinical Tier I)

● Must meet all eligibility criteria.
● Must complete all modules in the 10-hour Clinical Driver Evaluation Course for Tier I and achieve a score of over 70% on both exams.

2. Certified Driver Evaluation Specialist- Clinical Tier I (CDES-Clinical Tier I)

● Must first obtain the DES credential before proceeding. See requirements above.
● Complete a minimum of 20 clinical driver evaluations, with at least 5 documentation reports reviewed by the certification team to ensure compliance with established standards.

• For further details on the passing score, refer to the documentation grading rubric form.
• Ensure that all documentation adheres to HIPAA compliance standards and contains no protected health information.

Functional Tier I Driver Evaluator Certification Guide:

Objective of Certification:

The certification process is designed to promote public safety by ensuring that only qualified individuals who meet all eligibility criteria and requirements are certified. This guarantees that driving evaluations are conducted by professionals who are skilled in accurately assessing the driving abilities of older adults and individuals with medical conditions. Certified evaluators will focus exclusively on conducting on-road assessments and will not be responsible for clinical evaluations. However, they are expected to work collaboratively with clinicians who perform the clinical components of the driver evaluation process.

Types of Certifications offered:

1. Driver Evaluation Specialist- Functional Tier I (DES- Functional Tier I)

●  Must meet all eligibility criteria.
●  Complete all modules in the 10-hour Driver Evaluation Course for Tier I, and score above 70% on both exams.

2. Certified Driver Evaluation Specialist- Functional Tier I (CDES- Functional Tier I)

●  Must already have DES- Functional Tier I credential to qualify
●  Proof of 20 completed in car driving evaluations, including dates and signatures from the clinic manager/supervisor, school director, or school owner.

• The 20 evaluations can be observed either in person or via video recording. Each evaluation must include the date, time, and outcome. Video recordings must contain clear audio and GPS location tracking.
• A written verification from the applicant’s school or clinical director is required, confirming that the evaluations were both administered and completed by the applicant.
• To ensure HIPAA compliance, all submitted documentation must exclude any protected health information (PHI).
• A minimum of five evaluation reports, randomly selected from the submitted set, will be reviewed alongside the corresponding in-car video recordings. This is to verify the accuracy and fairness of scoring and assessment practices.