Motorcycle Safety Foundation   |   Beyond Basic

Become a MSF RiderCoach

Are you an experienced motorcycle rider currently licensed in New York? Do you have a good driving record? Good motorcycle riding skills? Like to share your motorcycling wisdom with others?

Become an MSF-certified New York State Motorcycle Safety Program RiderCoach. Qualified applicants complete a RiderCoach Preparation course (RCP) to learn the fundamentals of teaching the MSF’s Basic RiderCourse (BRC) and become a certified RiderCoach.

NYSMSP motorcycle training schools are always looking for motorcycle riders who have a passion to teach others safe motorcycle riding. If you have the desire, skill and attitude, please contact the training school in your area.

Frequently Asked Questions

MSF-certified RiderCoach Trainers teach the course. These specially trained individuals have completed the MSF’s RiderCoach Trainer Preparation Course and are authorized to train candidates for MSF RiderCoach certification.

You must be sponsored by a training site and have them submit your application to NYSMSF. You must be a licensed motorcyclist who currently rides on a frequent, routine basis. You should have several years of varied riding experience. As a teacher, you need good communication skills. As a RiderCoach, you’ll be called upon to give your time to help teach RiderCourses. Although you may get paid, you won’t become rich. A sincere desire to help reduce motorcycle accidents, injuries, and deaths is the prime motivator of RiderCoaches.

Requirements for New York State RiderCoach candidates

The RiderCoach candidate must:

  1. Be at least twenty-one years of age
  2. Have a valid driver’s license and at least three years of licensed driving experience
  3. Have at least two years of recent licensed driving experience on a motorcycle
  4. Have a high school or high school equivalency diploma, or college diploma
  5. Have no driver’s license suspension or revocation within the five (5) years prior to becoming an instructor and no alcohol related driving conviction within the seven (7) years prior to becoming an instructor
  6. Have not been convicted within ten (10) years prior to becoming an instructor of a felony or crime involving violence, dishonesty, degeneracy, moral turpitude, deceit, or fraud, including but not limited to theft, forgery, making false written statements, rape, perjury, fraud or bribery. 

The RCP is a minimum of 60 hours.

As a part of the course, you’ll be required to pass a riding-skill test. It is the same test used in the BRC; however, the standards are higher for RiderCoach candidates.

During the RCP, you’ll learn how to teach the BRC curriculum. You’ll practice teaching in the classroom and learn how to manage the range exercises and how to evaluate and coach students as they develop their riding skills.

At the end of the training portion of the course, you’ll be given a knowledge test. You must pass it to continue in the program.

The RCP culminates when you and your classmates teach a complete BRC to a group of new riders. Your teaching performance will be evaluated by the RiderCoach Trainer.

Course schedules will vary; you should plan on 7 to 10 days of focused training. NYSMSP RiderCoach Preps may be conducted over two or three weekends: the weekends may be 3, 4, or 5 day periods – the schedule will be announced at least 2 months in advance of the Prep.

Typically a course is offered when there is a need for RiderCoaches in a particular area. Generally, courses are offered once or twice each year in New York state.

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At this time, there is no tuition to attend an RCP. Applicants may be responsible for their own traveling expenses.

Be Prepared!

If you enroll in a course, be prepared to ride! Every day! Required riding gear includes a DOT-compliant helmet; over-the-ankle, sturdy leather footwear; long pants; long-sleeved shirt or jacket; and full-fingered gloves (preferably leather).

Be prepared to set aside time during off-class hours to study. This is an intensive program that requires a lot of work and concentration. Do not enroll unless you can attend every class meeting.

Ready to Enroll?

Contact a training site near you or the NYSMSP Program Manager at 838-217-0977.

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