Taxi cab drivers make their living driving passengers where they want to go. Some cab drivers rent their cabs from a company, and others own their vehicles. Keep reading to learn what training you might need to become a taxi driver in your city.

What Type of Taxi Driver Schools and Training Programs Are Available?

Taxi driver training programs can be found through community colleges, private schools, city government and taxi companies. Training programs may offer initial taxi driver training plus continuing education courses in the areas of defensive driving, safety, and health issues facing taxi drivers. Some training centers may also be approved license exam sites. A few providers that offer training or certificate programs for taxi drivers include:

• Hennepin Technical College (St. Paul, MN)
• City Colleges of Chicago, Olive-Harvey
• Kingsborough Community College (Brooklyn, NY)
• San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority (SFMTA)
• Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA)

What Will I Learn in a Taxi Driver Program?

Training to become a taxi driver can be flexible with day or evening sessions offered, but online training is not commonly available. A training manual and rule book may be included with the tuition. The duration of training programs can vary; some can be completed in two weeks, while others could contain 15-30 hours or more of instruction. Topics you're likely to study include:

• Taxi commission rules
• Customer service
• Communication skills
• Map reading
• Geography
• Meter operation
• Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) training
• Paperwork requirements

Do I Need To Be Licensed?

You will need to be formally licensed to work as a taxi driver in most states. Requirements for earning a license are set by individual states, but local taxi commissions may set additional requirements including rates and driver requirements.

Licensing requirements may include passing an approved instructional program and then passing a written exam along with an English language proficiency exam. You will need a valid driver's license, and limousine drivers who transport 16 people or more will also need a commercial driver's license granted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

What Is the Career Outlook?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities for passenger vehicle drivers are expected to grow 11% from 2019-2029, which is much faster than average for all professions. This growth may be partly due to increased business travel and tourism and the expanding senior population. In 2019, the median annual wage for passenger vehicle drivers was $33,300.