If you fancy a change of career then why not train to be a driving instructor and then join our team of driving instructors at Students Driving School

Every year in the UK hundreds of people change their careers and start their training to become a fully qualified Approved Driving Instructor (ADI)

Our driving instructor training courses are held in Preston and they are conducted by an experienced ORDIT Registered Trainer at our main school at Preston Driving School Ltd.

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What is required to become an ADI

The job of a driving instructor requires many skills, obviously you need to be a very skilled driver yourself who can consistently drive at an advanced level, you need to be able to pass on this skill to learner drivers at various levels, you need to be a confident person who can show patience, encouragement and enthusiasm. You also need very good communication skills and be able to give instructions and directions very clearly. Excellent driving instructors can also make accurate assessments regarding a pupils skill level and when a pupil is ready to take a driving test.

How to get started

Firstly you need to be eligible, you need to have held a full licence for a minimum of three years, you should have no more than 4 penalty points current on your licence and you also need to be able to read a number plate from a minimum of 27.5 metres (90 feet)

Secondly you will need to apply for a DBS certificate, this is often referred to as a criminal record check, this DBS certificate must be applied for through the DVSA.

Finally you have to pass three qualifying examinations known as Parts 1, 2 and 3.

Part 1 Exam (Theory test)

The theory test is split into two parts, the first part consists of 100 multiple choice questions that are split into four bands of 25 questions in each band. You are required to get a minimum of 20 questions correct in each band, however you also need to get a minimum of 85 questions correct out of the 100 questions. You have 90 minutes to complete this part of the test. The second part is called the hazard perception test which is also taken on a computer screen and consists of you viewing 14 video clips with each clip having a developing hazard that you need to identify very quickly, however on one of these video clips there are two developing hazards to identify. You can score a maximum of 5 points from each one of the 15 hazards and you need a minimum score of 57 points out of 75 to pass this part of your theory test.

Part 2 Exam (Driving test)

This test lasts approximately one hour and consists of an eyesight test and then a test of your driving ability on a variety of road and traffic conditions, it can include motorway driving, rural roads and very busy traffic conditions. You are required to drive as a good safe professional driver and get no more than six driving errors and no serious or dangerous errors. This test will also include two reverse manoeuvres and also 20 minutes of independent driving.

Part 3 Exam (Instructional ability test)

This is a test of your ability to instruct a driver and whether the way you teach is helping your driver in an effective way. The test consists of a specialist examiner accompanying you on a 45 minute driving lesson and observing how you teach. The examiner is looking for many things in your lesson however the main parts come under three main headings; Lesson Planning, Risk Management, and also Teaching and Learning Strategies.