Top Driver driver education instructors must be state-licensed in the state they teach (Illinois Secretary of State license for IL, Ohio BMV instructor license for OH), pass a background check, and hold a clean driving record. Prior teaching experience is helpful but not required — Top Driver runs an Instructor Training Program that goes above and beyond state minimums and onboards new hires through classroom shadowing, behind-the-wheel co-teaching, and Driver Intelligence™ curriculum certification.

Top Driver instructor roles are part-time across all 42 classroom locations in Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Most instructors teach a mix of evening classroom sessions and weekend behind-the-wheel lessons, with scheduling flexibility to accommodate other careers, retirement, or family commitments. Customer service and market manager roles are full-time and based out of the Sterling Heights, MI service center or assigned market.

Top Driver hires instructors across 36 Illinois classroom locations, 6 Ohio classroom locations (Hilliard, North Canton, Olmsted, Sheffield Village, Stow, and Strongsville), and an expanding Wisconsin footprint. Indicate your preferred city or classroom location in your application email — assignment is typically to the location nearest your home so behind-the-wheel pickup routes stay efficient.

Top Driver’s customer service representatives work out of the company’s customer service center in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The team handles inbound and outbound communication with parents and students across all Top Driver markets — enrollment, scheduling, behind-the-wheel coordination with instructors in the field, and post-completion support.

Top Driver covers Driver Intelligence™ curriculum training and on-the-job instructor onboarding. State instructor licensing requirements (Illinois Secretary of State or Ohio BMV) and background-check fees are typically the candidate’s responsibility, though Top Driver provides guidance on what’s required and how to complete each step. Dash cams are installed in all training vehicles at company expense.

After emailing careers@topdriver.com with your resume and the position you’re applying for, a Top Driver hiring manager will respond within roughly one to two weeks if there’s a fit. The full hiring process — interview, background check, state licensing verification, and onboarding — typically takes three to six weeks for instructor roles. Customer service and market manager hiring can move faster.

Yes — Top Driver hires substitute and seasonal instructors during peak enrollment periods (summer, after-school, and the late-spring license-test rush). Substitute instructors are state-licensed but work flexible hours covering classroom or behind-the-wheel sessions when regular instructors are unavailable. Email careers@topdriver.com and mention substitute or seasonal interest in your subject line.

Market manager candidates should email careers@topdriver.com with a resume, a one-paragraph cover letter, and the geographic market(s) you’re interested in (e.g., Chicago Northwest Suburbs, Chicago Western Suburbs, Cleveland metro, Columbus metro). Market managers are responsible for hiring, training, and inspiring the local instructor team — prior team-leadership experience and operational management background are the strongest signals.