Traffic Violator School Operator Information

A Traffic Violator School (TVS) operator is a person licensed by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) under California Vehicle Code §11202 to direct and manage the day-to-day operations of a licensed traffic violator school. The operator may be the school owner or a designated employee.

Note

Every DMV-licensed traffic violator school must have a designated, licensed operator. Directing or managing a TVS without a valid operator license is prohibited under California Vehicle Code §11202 and is subject to enforcement action by the DMV.

About the Operator License

Every DMV-licensed traffic violator school is required to have a designated, licensed operator. The operator is responsible for the day-to-day management of the school, including:

Ensuring all instruction meets the curriculum standards in OL 613.
Maintaining student records, attendance logs, and final examination scores.
Submitting course completions to the DMV through the Traffic Violator Course Completion (TVCC) database within the time required by CVC §11208.5.
Distributing and submitting course evaluations (OL 767).
Supervising any licensed instructors employed by the school.
Maintaining the school's compliance with California Code of Regulations, Title 13, Articles 2.5, 4, and 4.7.

An operator may serve more than one TVS only when all of the schools share a common owner, share an established business address, and the operator holds a valid operator license issued for each school (CVC §11202(b)).

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for an original TVS operator license, an applicant must meet all of the following requirements established by CVC §§11202–11206:

Be at least 21 years of age.
Hold a valid California driver license.
Not have had a TVS owner, operator, or instructor license refused, canceled, suspended, or revoked within the previous two years.
Submit a complete set of fingerprints to the DMV using the Request for Live Scan Clearance (DMV 8016) for a background check by the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Complete a DMV-approved 8-hour TVS operator educational training program.
Pass the TVS Operator Examination administered by a DMV inspector. The applicant is allowed up to three attempts within one year of application.

Application Process

All occupational license applicants must create an online account and apply through the DMV's online occupational licensing portal. Applications are typically processed within 120 days of submission. The process consists of the following steps:

Complete the 8-hour operator training program. Enroll in a DMV-approved TVS Operator Educational Training Program. A current list of approved providers is available on the DMV website. Retain the certificate of completion to upload with your application.
Obtain Live Scan fingerprint clearance. Submit the Request for Live Scan Clearance (DMV 8016) at an authorized fingerprinting location. The Live Scan vendor will collect the state and federal background check fees in addition to its own rolling fee.
Submit the online application. Complete the original Occupational License Application (OL 600) through the DMV online occupational licensing portal. Upload the operator training certificate, the Live Scan receipt, proof of age, and any required disclosures of conviction or prior license history.
Pay the application fees. Pay the original application fee, the examination fee, and the family support program fee at the time of submission. Fees are nonrefundable.
Pass the TVS Operator Examination. After application approval, schedule and pass the written examination at a DMV inspector's office. The examination covers traffic laws, safe driving practices, safe operation of motor vehicles, teaching methods and techniques, and TVS statutes, regulations, office procedures, and recordkeeping.
Receive the operator license. Upon passing the examination and final review of the application, the DMV issues the operator license. The license is valid for one year from the date of issuance.

Renewal

The TVS operator license must be renewed annually. Renewal applicants must:

Complete a DMV-approved 4-hour TVS operator continuing education program in lieu of retaking the original 8-hour course.
Submit the renewal application (OL 601) through the DMV online occupational licensing portal before the current license expiration date.
Pay the renewal fee at the time of submission.
Renewal applicants may submit the certificate of completion for a department-approved 4-hour continuing education program in lieu of passing the TVS Operator Examination.

An operator who fails to renew the license before its expiration date may not lawfully direct or manage a TVS until a new application has been filed and approved.

Fees

Fees are paid directly to the California DMV at the time of application or renewal. All fees are nonrefundable. Live Scan fingerprint rolling fees are paid separately to the Live Scan vendor.

TVS Operator License Fee Schedule
Fee Type	Amount	Notes
Original Application Fee	$100	Nonrefundable. Required at the time of original application.
TVS Operator Examination Fee	$16	Nonrefundable. Charged for each examination attempt.
Family Support Program Fee	$1	Statutory fee required at the time of original application (Family Code §17520).
Annual Renewal Fee	$50	Required at the time of renewal application.
Modification Fee	$25	Required when modifying license information (e.g., name or employer).
Live Scan Fingerprint Fees	Varies	State and federal background check fees plus the Live Scan vendor's rolling fee.

Current fees are published by the California DMV and are subject to change. Confirm the current fee schedule with the DMV before submitting your application.

Required Forms

The following forms are used in the operator licensing process. All forms are available from the California DMV website.

Related Resources

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