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HOW TO BECOME A DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

Posted on Monday, 19 November 2007 02:29PM by Darren
Anyone can teach someone else how to drive – there is no requirement for someone to learn through an accredited driving school.  However, all good driving instructors have taken and passed the three exams that permit them to display a registration certificate inside their learner vehicle.  This also means they can charge for giving lessons.

So what skills do you need to become a driving instructor?

Firstly you need patience, a good rapport with people of all ages, and a good working knowledge of driving practices.  You need to have been a good, competent driver yourself with a clean licence for a minimum of four years during the last six year period.  Having a motoring conviction won’t necessarily exclude you from being considered, but if you do have any they will be looked at (as will any other convictions) before deciding whether you are a suitable candidate for learning to become a driving instructor.

To ensure that you are able to teach members of the public confidently and competently, you will need to take and pass three tests:


A theory test to discover your overall knowledge of all driving matters, including your understanding of the Highway Code and the driving test itself
A driving test to see how competent you are as a driver yourself
An instructor’s test to discover whether you are the right kind of person to teach others how to drive

Every part of the process is equally important; interestingly in the year spanning 2006-2007, the part most would be driving instructors failed on was the exam which tests your ability to instruct others.  Less than a third of people taking this test passed in that twelve month period.  This is a vital part of the whole process, and proves that it isn’t enough to be an excellent driver who knows the Highway Code back to front.

Fortunately you can retake all the tests if required, so don’t worry too much if you don’t succeed on your first attempt.

So where do you learn to become an instructor?

Some of the larger driving schools also offer courses for people who want to become driving instructors, but there are also dedicated schools who only teach would be instructors the skills they need to pass all three required tests.

Whatever training school you choose, make sure they display the ORDIT symbol.  This means they are on the Official Register for Driving Instructor Training, and have been accredited by the Driving Standards Agency.  If a school can’t produce evidence of this, look elsewhere.  You will typically have to pay around £1500 to take the training necessary to become a driving instructor, so it’s wise to make sure you place your money with the best instructor school you can find.

Becoming a driving instructor can change your life.  Although the training is intensive and demanding, once you pass you will have a skill you can use to set up your own business and be in more control of your life.

That’s a skill worth having.
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