Hi, I have put this together to be a basic source of information for anyone thinking of becoming a driving instructor (or ADI as it is commonly known), I try to be honest so I do not try to make it sound easy as I think it is better to make a well informed decision rather than one based on a sales pitch.

How do you become a driving instructor? Why would you want to? Is it the thef high income and flexibility, well for most people it is. If you can drive and have done for sometime, then it does seem like a good career move, just don’t give up your current job yet, wait a little while.

For most of us just the thought of being your own boss and choosing your own hours seems great, and after reading all the adverts in the newspapers, and seeing the TV ads several times we follow the direction of most people. I went to one of the large instructor training establishments. High budget for advertising means that theirs is most likely to be the advert you see first, and the most likely to be used.  This leads people to making a quick decision based on what that first contact tells you, there are other options, biggest is not always best!.

Remember the hours CAN be good, the hourly rate CAN be good, but you only get out what you put in, the training will take over your life until the final exam, it needs commitment not only from you but also your family, while I was training my family hardly saw me! So what do I think is the best way?  Well, here goes;

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  Go onto the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) website where you can order a start up pack (ADI 14) for five pounds.  For an additional £2 you can purchase the full ADI theory test question bank, complete with all the answers.

2. 

Read this thoroughly and decide if it is for you, at this stage you can also speak to ADI’s (approved driving instructors) for general advice, Driving test center’s are a good place to meet them.

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.  If you decide to proceed, still lay out as little money as possible, you need to apply to the DSA to have your name entered onto the register, the requirements are as follows; you have to be over twenty-one and have held a full licence for four years, you need two character references and have to sign a disclosure about any criminal record.

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Once this step is done you can work on the first part of the qualifying exams by yourself, this keeps the money layout to a minimum still, The drop out rate during part one is quite high, so keeping the costs to a minimum at this stage is essential.  The first test is a hundred questions on the theory of driving, it also covers instructional techniques and disabilities and law. The overall pass mark for the test is 85%. However, you must reach a minimum mark of 80% in each of the 4 subject areas. So you must get at least 20 out of 25 in each band. A score of 25, 25, 25 and 19 would give you 94% but would not be acceptable.  Candidates have 90 minutes to complete the ADI Theory Test.   Then there is the hazard perception test it will consist of 14 video clips. The 14 clips will contain 15 developing hazards. As the potential hazard develops into one requiring you to change speed or direction, you will have a time window in which to react. For each hazard you can score 5 points going down to zero. This gives a highest possible score of 75 for the test. The pass mark for potential driving instructors taking the part 1 will be 57.  So how much will the books cost? Go to a company like RCM marketing, web address on the next page,with details of a very good value package.  This offer may change but at the time of typing this was the best I could find and it is a very comprehensive pack.

 http://www.rcmmarketing.co.uk/shop/pages/taids-3b.htm

ADI PART 1 Home Study Pack
N.B. Contents may vary.
I - Instructional Techniques and Practice
I - Driving Instructors Handbook
I - Highway Code
I - Driving Manual
I - Driving Test Procedures
I - The Driving Test

1 - Know Your Traffic Signs
1 - ADI Part 1 Self Assessment Book
1 - ADI 14
1 - D100
1 - V100
1 - D1
1 - DL26 Pack includes NEW Part 1 book! - Also available separately for £39.95 ref.B5 (see below)     Ref. TP1 £105.00

All you should need to add to this is a CD-rom for practicing the Hazard perception, and believe me you WILL need to practice that!

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  Ensure you are ready!  The Part 1 test currently costs £75, if you are trying to keep the costs down then being ready is essential.  But if you feel ready go ahead, take the test, pass it, the first stage is over.

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  Part two is a test of your driving ability. You must be able to read a number plate at a distance of 27.5m / 90ft. This compares with the standard 'L' test requirement of 20.5m / 67ft. During an hour's drive you must not commit more than six driving (less serious) faults or commit one serious or one dangerous fault. A consistently high standard is required.

Tests are conducted at approximately forty centres around the UK. The timing of tests is determined by waiting lists and workload in any particular area. You will be advised of the result at the end of the test.

 This test normally lasts for about an hour. You are limited to three attempts at part two. If you fail three times you will have to wait two years from the date that you passed your part one exam before you can start over again. You will then have to re-sit Part One. You need to demonstrate expert handling of the car controls and a progressive yet defensive driving approach. During the test you will show that you can control the vehicle safely, follow correct road procedure, recognise and deal with any hazards that are encountered using the MSPSL routine and complete some basic set manoeuvres.

Remember that part two is VERY important in your training; to teach people to drive YOUR driving HAS to be of a VERY high standard.

The test will require you to demonstrate your driving skills on a wide range of roads that can include dual carriageways, motorways, town and city centres, one-way systems and country roads.

So for all this EVERYONE starts to need help.  Over several years of driving we all pick up bad habits and our driving styles become lazy.  All the knowledge you built up studying for part one now needs to be put into practice, the amount of time needed for this depends on how good your driving is before you start, how much you work on your driving in your own time, and lastly how quickly you learn, we are all different.  Prestige training rates are at the back of this pack.

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AGAIN ensure you are ready!  The Part 2 test currently costs £85, and remember only 3 attempts are allowed, so if you are ready you are not only saving money, you are saving yourself a lot of worry, it is not nice to get to the stage of HAVING to pass as this is your last attempt!

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And onto the final stage! The ADI Part 3 Test

The Part 3 test is commonly referred to as 'the test of instructional ability'

This test is nowhere near as difficult as many trainees assume, and there is no reason not to expect to pass part 3 at your first attempt.  During this test the examiner will role play the part of a learner driver, and your task will be to deliver a well structured driving lesson, identifying and dealing with any faults you see in your 'learners' driving. The examiner will choose the subject for the lesson from one of 10 pre set tests, and will use the lesson to assess and grade your performance. During the 'lesson' the examiner will decide upon the route and will actually give you directions which you are expected to repeat

The test is divided into two phases, each lasting about 30 minutes. During phase 1, the examiner will role play a learner driver of limited ability and experience, whereas at phase 2 the examiner will role play the part of a learner with far more experience or in fact a full licence holder seeking extra training. You will be expected to deal with each of these situations correctly.

This is the bit that most people have no experience at, but if approached properly can be relatively easy and enjoyable, most trainers put a lot of emphasis on PST training, what is most important is the Core competencies, an instructor will only ever be as good as he is at these skills, these are based on the way you deal with faults committed and how you fix them.

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YET AGAIN ensure you are ready!  The Part 3 test currently costs £85, and remember only 3 attempts are allowed and you have come so far, so if you are ready you are not only saving money, you are saving yourself a lot of worry, it is not nice to get to the stage of HAVING to pass as this is your last attempt!

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To help in your training at this stage you can apply for a trainee licence, the information below is taken from the DSA website.

ADI trainee licences

Applying for a trainee licence

• Hold and have held a full UK or European (EU or EEA) car driving licence for a total of at least four out the past six years, up to the date of application.
• not have been disqualified from driving at any time in the four years up to the date of application
• be a fit and proper person
• have passed the theory part and the practical part of the qualifying examinations
• be eligible to take the test of ability to instruct
• not have passed the theory test more than two years before the date of your application

Conditions of a trainee licence

• you are only authorised to give instruction for the school whose address is shown on the licence
• there must be at least one ADI working at the supervisor’s address for every trainee licence holder employed there
• You must receive 40 hours practical training from a qualified ADI. It is your responsibility to make sure that you receive training in each of the specified subjects

·        you must not advertise yourself as a fully qualified instructor

• you must receive supervision for 20 per cent of all lessons you give from your sponsoring ADI
• a record of all lessons given, along with the supervision received must be kept on the form ADI 21S which will be issued with the licence, this must be signed by you and your ADI and must be returned to the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) as soon as the licence expires

• you must receive a minimum additional 20 hours training covering all the specified topics
• this extra training must take place within the first three months of the licence or before you take your first attempt at part three, whichever is the soonest
• a record of this training must be kept on the form ADI 21AT, and must be sent to DSA before the end of the three month period, or presented to the examiner conducting the part three test, whichever is the earliest
• at least 25 per cent of the training will have to be practical training

Displaying the trainee licence

If you cannot make full use of your licence and you have to stop giving tuition, return it to the issuing office immediately. If your trainee licence is lost or stolen you should report it to the police and to DSA straight away.