The federal government published new rules this week for driver training . The entire process has been streamlined to make obtaining a National Driver’s License ( CNH ) more accessible, drastically reducing the number of practical lessons and eliminating the mandatory requirement for driving schools. Now, it’s possible to use independent driving instructors. In just one hour, I managed to become one—or almost.
The new Digital Driver’s License app, renamed CNH do Brasil , allows any citizen to take the “Brazilian Traffic Instructor Course,” provided they meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 21 years old;
- To have a valid driver’s license for at least 2 years;
- Not having committed any very serious traffic violations in the last 60 days;
- To have completed high school;
- Possess a certificate from a specific course conducted by the traffic enforcement agency;
- Not having suffered the penalty of having one’s driver’s license revoked.
With everything validated, it’s possible to start the course immediately, using a computer or smartphone — as I did.
18 days in one hour
I started the course on my way to work. During the 20-minute ride in a ride-sharing car , I completed the five steps of the first module and the five of the second.
The initial module, “Fundamentals of Education,” presents the pedagogical principles expected of an instructor. The content reinforces the importance of kindness and tolerance towards students, highlights the instructor’s motivational role, and addresses psychological and feedback techniques.
The second module deals directly with the teaching methods necessary for training new drivers. The course provides guidance on lesson planning, recommended approaches, practical examples, and methods for evaluating the learner’s progress.
To complete these modules quickly, I didn’t delve deeply into each point presented—I only read the topics and a few specific lessons. But even if I had studied every detail, I wouldn’t have the same theoretical foundation as an instructor trained in the traditional method.
According to the rules of the old Contran Resolution 789/20 , the instructor course stipulated 16 class hours for “Fundamentals of Education” and 20 class hours for “Didactics,” with a limit of 10 class hours per day. In 20 minutes, I covered content that would represent at least two and a half days of in-person classes.
The most extensive module of the online course is “Fundamentals of Safety and Behavior in Traffic,” with 17 steps that condense the traditional driver training curriculum—from safety principles and applied physics to preventive maintenance , road signs, and first aid. This module took about 30 minutes to complete on the subway.
