A drive device for a semiconductor element includes a drive circuit receiving from outside a pulsed drive signal for driving ON/OFF of the semiconductor element; and a protection circuit receiving a signal representing a chip temperature of the semiconductor element and, when the detected chip temperature exceeds an overheating threshold temperature, controlling operation of the drive circuit so as to adjust a drive control voltage that is provided to the semiconductor element; and a drive information output circuit externally outputting drive information corresponding to the adjusted drive control voltage that is provided to the semiconductor element by the drive circuit.