Becoming a Driving Instructor
This website looks at the process to becoming a driving instructor. Only an Approved Driving Instructor or what is known as an ADI can charge money for teaching someone to drive.
The process of becoming an ADI is regulated by the Driving and Vehicles Standards Agency (DVSA). This is a legal process which involves a number of exams. We aim to guide you through this process.
You must first show that you are a “fit and proper” person. To do this you must obtain a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Once you have this you can apply for a Personal Reference Number (PRN) which will involve a number of other checks. Our section The Process will explain the process in more detail.
The training overview below will explain what comes next. Here at Driving-Pro Limited we are there to help and support you through this process. We have a number of assets to do this. But first and foremost will be our Training Team.
Driving-Pro Limited:
Our aim is to be the best that we can be. Our training goes above and beyond what is legally required. We are lucky to have our training team led by Glen Robbins who has trained literally hundreds of instructors.
As a driving school we have some of the best instructors in the area. It is a professionally resourced team that aims to do its best both for our pupils and instructors.
The Training Overview:
In order to be a driving instructor you must be a fit and proper person. This will be decided by The DVSA. You must also meet certain other criteria such as being over 21. See our section The Process for more detail.
You then have to pass a series of exams to show that you have the knowledge and skills to be able to charge money for teaching someone to drive.
Part 1 is about the knowledge that you require to do the job properly and is the foundation of all your training. After passing this you are then on a two year countdown.
Part 2 is showing that your driving is of a high standard. It is important that you drive the way that you teach and teach the way that you drive. Good safe driving needs to be part of who you are and how you do things.
Once you have passed your Part 2 you can start your 40 hours and when that is satisfactorily completed you can become a Potential Driving Instructor and start to charge people for your services.
During this period you will need a sponsor and have to complete a further 20 hours training. You will not be allowed to advertise yourself as an instructor or trade on your own. Your sponsor will be another ADI or a driving school such as Driving-Pro Limited.
You can now apply for your Part 3 which is a test of your instructional ability. On passing this test you will be able to call yourself an ADI. See our section The Process for more detail.
The question of how long it will take will be decided by test availability and your preparation to pass those tests.
Is It Right For You:
You need to be a people person. At the end of the day you will spend your working day working with people and they are all a bit different. If you look at our section Our Working Day this will give you a better idea of what we do. To know how you might be spending your day see our section What a Driving Instructor Does.
You should bear in mind that you will be self-employed. This means that you have to take care of any pension, holiday and sick pay that you might need. You will need to keep some records and do some basic admin.
In general the instructors love it. The satisfaction will be the positive change that you can be in someone’s life. Sometimes that can be priceless.
