Become a Driving Instructor

Becoming a Driving Instructor is a fantastic career move. With approximately 1 million new learner drivers each year there has never been a better time to join the industry. You could be the one to teach some of them! To be a Driving Instructor you will need a range of interpersonal skills – patience, confidence, great communication, an ability to adapt to individual needs and learning styles, planning and occasionally nerves of steel!

Whatever your background, if you enjoy meeting new people and making a difference then this could be the career you have been looking for. Everyone remembers a favourite teacher from school, the first person they kissed and usually their Driving Instructor – why?? Because these are all pivotal moments on life’s journey. Teaching people to drive means helping people towards a greater independence. Being able to drive for most people means the freedom to enjoy their social life and the ability to travel in order to obtain a job and you are the person to help them on their way to achieving this. It’s a great sense of job satisfaction each and every time one of your pupils passes their Driving Test.

If this sounds like you, and you have always dreamed of being your own boss then click here to find out more about our course fees.

Basic Requirements for all Driving Instructors

All Driving Instructors are registered and regulated by The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) which is the United Kingdom Governments body responsible for:

• Setting standards for drivers, riders and trainers
• Driver education and the provision of learning resources
• Registering and supervising quality assured instructors
• Modern, effective and efficient assessments conducted as computer based and practical tests

First you need to make sure that you fit the basic criteria set down by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).

• You need to have a full UK or European Union/European Economic Area unrestricted car driving licence
• After qualifying, you must have held your licence for at least four of the six years prior to entering the Register
• You must not have been disqualified from driving at any time in the four years prior to entering the Register
• You need to be a 'fit and proper' person, in the opinion of the DSA.

If you have any motoring or non-motoring convictions, these will be taken into account when you're assessed for inclusion on the Register. You'll also need to have an enhanced level Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) check. If you're not sure whether a conviction you have may affect your eligibility to become a driving instructor, you should contact the DSA for advice

THE QUALIFICATION PROCESS

The ADI qualifying examinations are in three parts:

Part 1 Theory - consists of a multiple choice section and a video based hazard perception section.

Part 2 Driving technique - consists of an eyesight test followed by a practical test of driving technique.

Part 3 Instructional ability - consists of a practical test of the ability to instruct.

You must pass all three parts of the examination in this order and must complete the whole examination within two years of passing the Theory Test.

Further information on the qualifying process is available on the Driving Standards Agency website Click here