Washington Motorcycle Safety Course

Washington Motorcycle Safety Course at a Glance

Created by 1982 legislation directing DOL to run a state motorcycle safety program, Washington does not mandate a single national curriculum the way most states do. DOL certifies training schools and, under RCW 46.81A.020(3)(a), sets an 8-hour statutory minimum for both novice and advanced 2- and 3-wheel skills-education courses; certified private schools then teach any of several accepted programmes at or above that standard, including the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Basic Rider Course, Basic Motorcycle Course, Basic Rider Clinic, Basic Rider Training, Learn To Ride and others, at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Completing a Washington-based course does not itself waive either state test: the knowledge and skills tests are administered by the same approved schools, either as part of a course or as a standalone sitting, so a graduate still takes the identical tests a non-graduate takes, just at the same location where they trained. A narrower waiver exists only for specific accepted OUT-OF-STATE programmes: Idaho STAR's Basic Rider Training, Team Oregon's Basic Rider Training, and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's own Basic Rider Course are each accepted for a 2-wheel PERMIT waiver, and the Sidecar/Trike Education Program's Basic Course is accepted for a 3-wheel ENDORSEMENT waiver, chiefly used by military members and new residents transferring in via a Testing Waiver Request form. Motorcycle training schools set and collect their own course costs, which vary by location and are not published by DOL; DOL separately funds a motorcycle operator subsidy program, established under RCW 46.81A.020(5) and paid for out of Washington's own permit and endorsement fees, to help keep training and testing costs affordable, particularly for residents and military personnel stationed in the state.