---
url: /ai/roles-and-permissions.md
description: >-
  Control what instructors can do in RootWright LMS: role defaults, instructor
  registration, admin approval, what each role can do, and per-course overrides.
---

# Teacher permissions and roles in RootWright LMS

Teachers, called instructors in the admin, build and teach courses. Control how people become instructors, and what each instructor may do, under **RootWright LMS → Teacher Permissions**. The same screen is at **Settings → People → Instructors & permissions**.

![The Instructors & permissions settings](/images/settings/instructors-permissions-01.jpg)

*Role defaults: registration, WordPress role and admin approval.*

## Role defaults

* **New instructor registration.** Off by default. When on, visitors can sign up to teach at `yoursite.com/instructor-signup`.
* **WordPress role.** Shows **Kept as it is, plus Instructor**. Approval never changes an account's WordPress role. RootWright LMS adds the Instructor role on top.
* **Require admin approval.** Owned by the instructor applications screen, under **People → Applications**.

## How access is decided

Access is checked in order. The first step that answers wins, and a deny beats an allow. Open **Show details** to see the steps.

## Subsections

The **Instructors & permissions** area has four pages:

* **Role defaults**, described above.
* **What each role can do**, the permissions for each role.
* **Per-course overrides**, which grant or remove a permission on one course.
* **Drip schedule access**, which controls who can change drip schedules (Pro).

## Instructor list

Go to **People → Instructors** to see every instructor, their active status, the number of courses and students, how many submissions they have to grade, and their rating. Use **View profile** to open one. **Message** opens a message to them.

## Related

* [Course settings and access](/courses/course-settings) for per-course instructors.
* [Connect your AI provider](/ai/connect-ai-provider).