HOW TO BECOME A DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

There are several different routes you can take when training to become a Driving Instructor, and an enormous amount of information to gather to ensure you make the right decision. In the beginning, it can all seem a little scary, but don’t worry, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Our highly experienced career advisors, instructor trainers and training support team can help you navigate the jargon and technicalities, helping to make the process as simple, straightforward, and enjoyable as possible.

At this point, you’ve probably already thought about becoming a driving instructor…fantastic! Whilst we’re slightly biased, we couldn’t recommend it more highly. The 100’s of individuals who have decided to train to become a driving instructor with My Four Wheels now enjoy the luxury of a perfect work-life balance, flexible working hours and fantastic income. On top of this, our instructors are all teaching someone a new, really valuable skill for life, which truly is an amazing feeling.

Here's some really valuable information on the process you need to go through to become an approved driving instructor (ADI).


Step 1 – Decide it’s right for you

Becoming a driving instructor is one of the most rewarding career choices many will decide upon, and we want to make sure that is perfect for you. Luckily, we have a team of career advisors who are on hand to act as your own personal sounding board for any queries or questions you might have.

They will take you through the ins and outs of becoming a driving instructor, explain in detail the training process, what it entails and what working as a driving instructor is actually like.

If you’d like to speak to one of our career advisors, simply click here.


Step 2 – Apply to become a driving instructor

So you’ve decided you’d like to pursue a new career as an approved driving instructor. We understand that you’re probably eager to start, however before you begin, you’ll first need to register with the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). To become an approved driving instructor, there are some minimum requirements that you must meet, these are:

-          Be over the age of 21 and have held a driving licence for at least three years
-          Have not been banned from driving in the last 4 years
-          Have no more than 5 points on your license

The DVSA will also require you to obtain a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, even if you already have one.

Luckily the DVSA website has a really handy tool to check if you are eligible to become a driving instructor, you can view it on their website.


Step 3 – Find a training partner

To become an approved driving instructor, you must sit and pass 3 individual exams, these are known as your Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 tests. Whilst there is no legal requirement for you to receive any official training to pass these tests, it would be incredibly difficult to do so and we strongly advise you to seek professional, bespoke training to help you pass.

At My Four Wheels, we help 100’s of individuals sit and pass their ADI tests every year. Our driving instructor training programme has been designed and developed by industry-leading professionals and is supported by our highly experienced ADI support team, many of who have been driving instructors themselves for years. Not only will our driving instructor training programme help you pass the tests themselves, but it will also teach you the valuable, practical aspects of being a driving instructor such as; managing your diary, delivering an exceptional experience to learners, and making the most out of your new career.


Step 4 – Sit your Part 1 (theory test)

If you learnt to drive after 1996, you’ll have had to take a theory test consisting of several multiple-choice questions all about The Highway Code. That’s exactly what the ADI Part 1 test is, however, the standard is much higher. It consists of a multiple-choice test, and a hazard perception test. 


The Test

1.       Multiple-choice questions
This part of the test consists of 100 questions on The Highway Code, and you will need to score a minimum of 80% in each of the following 5 categories:
-          The Highway Code
-          Know your traffic signs
-          Driving – the essential skills
-          The official Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) theory test kit for approved driving instructors e-Learning
-          The Driving Instructor’s Handbook
 
2.       Hazard perception test
Again, if you’ve already had to sit a theory test to gain your driving license you’ll be familiar with the Hazard Perception Test. The version in your ADI Part 1 exam is similar, although it’s a bit tougher…
 
You’ll be shown 14 videos, each of which consists of a developing hazard. Your task is to identify this as quickly as possible, once it becomes apparent. To make things slightly more tricky, one of the videos will contain two hazards, so it’s important that you must stay vigilant and aware at all times even if you feel you’ve already spotted a hazard in a video!
 
There are a total of 75 points up for grabs, and you'll need to score at least 57.


Our Part 1 Support

If you decide that you’d like us at My Four Wheels to help you with your approved driving instructor training, you’ll have access to the following to assist you with passing your Part 1 test:

-          Hard copy A4 training manual covering DBS check, DVSA registration and full training guidance for Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3
-          Unlimited access to Driving Test Success Anytime theory app
-          Unlimited access to Theory Test Pro website
-          Hard copy of the Highway Code
-          Hard copy of Driving – The Essential Skills handbook
-          Unlimited office support

For more information on the Part 1 test, head over to our handy ADI Part 1 Test Guide.


Step 5 – Sit your Part 2 (driving ability test)

You’ve put in the hard work and smashed your Part 1 test, awesome! You’ll now be given the opportunity to apply for the ADI Part 2 – testing your driving ability.

If Part 1 is similar to the Theory Test you may have taken when you gained your drivers license, Part 2 is similar to the Practical Test you will have sat…but, you guessed it, it’s a bit tougher!


The Test

The ADI Part 2 practical test is designed to test your driving ability, to ensure you are of a high enough standard to be considered to teach new drivers. The test lasts roughly one hour, and comprises of:

-          An eyesight check
-          ‘Show me, tell me’ safety questions
-          A general test of your driving ability
-          Performing manoeuvres
-          An independent driving section

To pass your Part 2, you must complete the test with no more than six driving faults. Seven or more faults will result in a fail. One serious or dangerous fault will also result in a fail.

 
Our Part 2 Support

-          Unlimited access to Part 2 training videos
-          8 hours of in-car support from a specialist ADI trainer including at least one mock test
-          Unlimited office support

 
Step 6 – Decide on your training path

After passing your ADI Part 2 test, you will be given the choice of two options to continue your training to become an approved driving instructor. These are:


Continue to your Part 3 test

The final part of your journey to training to become a driving instructor is to sit your Part 3 test. This is the hardest and most intensive part of all your training and is designed to demonstrate your ability when it comes to giving instruction and passing on knowledge to pupils.

Whilst you may have started to pick up bits along the journey so far, training for your Part 3 test is where the reality of becoming a driving instructor really begins.  You’ll learn everything you need to become a top-class driving instructor, and how to teach a new learner a skill for life.

The Part 3 test itself consists of a driving lesson, that you deliver to a ‘pupil’ (who can either be a learner or a full license holder). You will be marked on 17 areas of competence; these are grouped into three categories:

-          Lesson planning
-          Risk management
-          Teaching and learning strategies

Your examiner will score you from 0-3 on each of the competencies, and you’ll be scored out of a possible 51. Alongside this, if you score less than 7 in the risk management category this will cause you to fail. And much like the Part 2 test, if the examiner deems you have put yourself or anyone else in danger throughout the test, they can stop the lesson and you will be given an immediate fail.

 
Become a Trainee Driving Instructor

The path that many people training to become an approved driving instructor take, is to apply for a Trainee Driving Instructor license whilst they practice for their Part 3 exam. Becoming a Trainee Driving Instructor mean you can legally deliver and be paid for giving driving instruction on behalf of your sponsored school.

Becoming a Trainee Driving Instructor is a fantastic option due to your ability to put into practice what you learn through your Part 3 tuition. The experience you gain from teaching real learners how to drive can put you in a much stronger position when you come to sit your Part 3 test, and can really be the difference.

If you’re unsure whether becoming a Trainee Driving Instructor (PDI) is right for you, our training support team are on hand to give you all the advice you need to ensure you make the right decision for your circumstances.


Our Part 3 support

-          Unlimited access to Part 3 training videos
-          40 hours of in-car/on-line support from a specialist ADI trainer (minimum 28 hours of in-car training)
-          Unlimited office support


We hope we’ve been able to give you lots of valuable information on becoming a driving instructor. If you have any more questions, or you’d like to find out more about training with My Four Wheels, simply get in touch here.