Illinois Form DSD A 293 Online Adult Driver Ed App – Businesses and educators seeking to offer online-only adult driver education courses in Illinois must obtain official certification from the Illinois Secretary of State. The primary application form for this process is Form DSD A 293, titled “Online-Only Adult Driver Education Course Provider Application.” This form is required under Illinois Administrative Code Title 92, Part 1066, which governs online-only adult driver education course provider certification.
This guide explains what Form DSD A 293 is, who needs it, the key requirements, supporting documents, and how to submit a complete application. All information is drawn from official Illinois Secretary of State resources and administrative rules.
What Is Form DSD A 293?
Form DSD A 293 is the official application used by individuals, partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), associations, or foreign entities that want to become certified providers of online-only adult driver education courses in Illinois. These courses are designed for adults (typically ages 18–20) who need a six-hour driver education course to qualify for a driver’s license.
Certification is mandatory. No person or entity may operate or advertise as an online-only adult driver education course provider without a valid certification issued by the Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services Department, Commercial Driver Training School Section.
You can download the official Form DSD A 293 here: Download Illinois Form DSD A 293 (PDF).
Who Must Apply Using Form DSD A 293?
Any entity planning to offer a six-hour online adult driver education course solely through the internet must submit Form DSD A 293. This includes:
- Sole proprietors
- Partnerships
- Corporations (Illinois or foreign)
- Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
- Associations
Foreign corporations and foreign LLCs must also submit proof of authorization to transact business in Illinois from the Secretary of State Department of Business Services.
Existing commercial driver training schools that already offer classroom adult driver education and wish to add an online-only option must still comply with the separate requirements in Part 1066 and submit the appropriate online provider forms.
Key Requirements for Certification
Under Illinois Administrative Code Title 92, Section 1066.20, the Secretary of State will not issue a certification unless the applicant meets all of the following standards:
- Good moral character — The Department reviews criminal history, including felonies and misdemeanors, their relationship to the ability to operate a course, time elapsed, and multiple convictions.
- $50,000 continuous surety bond — Filed using Form DSD A 295 and underwritten by a company authorized to do business in Illinois. The bond protects students’ contractual rights.
- Identity verification and course completion procedures — Providers must have adequate methods to confirm the student’s identity and ensure the full course is completed.
- Approved course content — A complete copy of the course, including quizzes and the final exam, must be submitted for review and must conform to Section 1066.45.
- Business good standing — Illinois corporations must be in good standing; foreign entities must be authorized to transact business in Illinois.
- No current Secretary of State employees — Owners or employees cannot be current salaried or contractual employees of the Secretary of State.
- Customer service standards — A staffed telephone number or live online support must be available during specified hours (9 a.m.–9 p.m. CST Monday–Friday and 9 a.m.–7 p.m. Saturday), plus 24/7 email, voicemail, or answering service. Inquiries must be resolved within 48 hours.
- Staffing disclosure — A detailed description of every position involved in the course, with contact information, must accompany the application. Staffing changes must be reported within 72 hours.
- Data protection — Providers cannot sell or disclose consumer information and must comply with the Illinois Personal Information Protection Act. Social Security numbers may not be requested from students.
Only one provider certification is issued to any individual, group, association, partnership, or corporation.
Required Course Content and Instruction Standards
Providers must deliver a minimum of six hours (360 minutes) of online instruction. Students must complete the course within 30 days of starting. The course must meet the educational objectives and content outline in Section 1066.45, which include:
- Obtaining an instruction permit and driver’s license
- Illinois traffic laws, highway signs, signals, and markings
- Risk factors such as distractions, speeding, failure to yield, texting, and wireless device use
- Responding to emergency vehicles
- Turning, passing, yielding, construction and school zones
- Stopping distances, blind spots, and recognized driving strategies (Smith System, IPDE, Zone Control)
- Sharing the road with pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, trucks, and recreational vehicles
- Weather, visibility, traction, mental conditions, alcohol and other drugs, urban vs. rural driving, organ donation, and the Illinois Secretary of State emergency contact database
All on-screen text must also be spoken aloud (unless disabled by the student). Advertising is prohibited during instructional time. Course content must be updated within 60 days of any new Illinois traffic law changes and submitted for Department approval.
Supporting Forms Required with DSD A 293
A complete application package typically includes:
- Form DSD A 293 — Online-Only Adult Driver Education Course Provider Application
- Form DSD A 294 — Online-Only Adult Driver Education Course Provider Personal History (required for all owners, partners, associates, corporate directors, officers, and managers)
- Form DSD A 295 — Online-Only Adult Driver Education Course Provider Bond Form ($50,000 surety bond)
- Detailed staffing description with contact information for every position
- Full course content (including quizzes and final exam) for Department review
- For foreign entities: Application for Authority to Transact Business in Illinois (or equivalent for LLCs) and proof of acceptance
Official forms are available on the Illinois Secretary of State website: Online Adult Driver Education Certification page.
How to Complete and Submit Form DSD A 293?
1. Download the current version of Form DSD A 293 from the official Illinois Secretary of State website.
2. Complete all general information fields (provider name, address, email, phone, business type).
3. List all owners, partners, associates, directors, officers, and managers with their addresses, titles, phone numbers, and email addresses.
4. Answer the required questions regarding Secretary of State employment and assumed business names.
5. Attach all required exhibits demonstrating the 360-minute course structure, content modules, identity verification methods, and record-keeping procedures.
6. Have every required individual sign the application under penalty of perjury.
7. Mail the complete package to:
Commercial Driver Training School Section
1800 W. Hawthorne Lane
West Chicago, IL 60185
Phone: 630-520-9310
Upon receipt of a properly executed application, the Department investigates the applicant’s qualifications. The Commercial Driver Training Section will contact the applicant once the certification process is successfully completed.
Record-Keeping and Reporting Obligations
Certified providers must maintain student records for a minimum of three years. Records must include the student’s full name, residence and email addresses, date of birth, gender, all quiz and exam questions/responses, time spent in each section, total instructional time, and identity verification evidence.
Within two business days of successful course completion, providers must electronically transmit the student’s information to the Secretary of State along with the statutory $5 fee.
Denial, Suspension, or Revocation
Certification may be denied, cancelled, suspended, or revoked for failure to meet any requirement in Part 1066, engagement in fraudulent activity, unauthorized access to consumer data, or other violations. Applicants and providers have the right to request an administrative hearing under 92 Ill. Adm. Code 1001.
Where to Find Official Resources?
- Official Form DSD A 293: https://www.ilsos.gov/content/dam/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a293.pdf
- Online Adult Driver Education Certification page: ilsos.gov adult education certification
- Illinois Administrative Code Part 1066: Full Part 1066 rules
- Commercial Driver Publications and Forms: ilsos.gov commercial driver forms
Always download forms directly from the official Illinois Secretary of State website (.gov) to ensure you have the most current version. Requirements and forms can be updated, so verify the latest information before submitting your application.
Becoming a certified online-only adult driver education course provider in Illinois requires careful attention to Form DSD A 293 and the full set of regulatory standards. Following the official process helps ensure a smooth application and ongoing compliance with Illinois driver education law.