Your primary role will obviously be arming your student with enough experience, confidence and know-how to pass their test.
Who can I work for?
The major ones are: BSM, which offers the chance to train through them and work for them as a franchise; The Instructor College, which provides NVQ training and a chance of setting up a franchise through them once qualified; The AA, which offers a 'pay-as-you-learn' approach, where you train to pass the ADI (Approved Driving Instructor) exam while receiving payment. This can lead to being employed within the firm, such as starting a franchise in their name. Franchise fees will vary from £75-£300 a week. You pays your money and takes your choice, however, and higher fees will bring benefits such as a car included in the cost, a steady stream of students, a higher hourly rate and brand recognition.
Where and when can I work?
The hours are long and demanding, involving anti-social hours to fit round the need of the student, who will often work 9-5.
What can I earn?
A very experienced instructor will make a £30,000 profit, otherwise you'll earn £23K and £15K in your first year. But this will be dependent on whether you work for a franchise or as an independent. Whatever rate you charge, please take into account that a car costs over £10 an hour to run – with petrol alone costing well over £100 a week for full-timers. Note that you only get paid for the hours you instruct, NOT the time spent travelling between lessons.
What are the benefits?
Flexible working hours – even allowing people with families to work part-time. Dealing with the public. Outdoors all day.
Are there chances of promotion?
You may progress to become a senior instructor, driving school manager or even council road safety officer. Or you may move into specific fields of the industry, such as LGV or bus driver instruction.
What will I be responsible for?
+ Preparing students for emergency situations – teaching emergency stops.
+ Ensuring students are aware of not only their own mistakes, but also anticipating other people's.
+ Helping to get the student familiar with the Highway Code.
+ Planning ahead for weeks where seasonal significant lulls occur, such as Christmas.
+ Planning and re-arranging lesson rotas which supply a steady stream of work.
+ An ability to provide a cool, reassuring headwhen students become distressed and agitated. You'll wait until they have returned to a chilled enough state again before letting them resuming their driving.
+ Ensuring there is enough time to pick up students between lessons.
+ Assessing when a student is ready to take a test and realistically pass it.
+ Informing students about vehicle maintenance and how to make it safe.
+ Attracting new business through local advertising.
+ Attending to insurance, tax issues and vehicle upkeep.
What qualifications do I need?
Before you can even begin to think about becoming a driving instructor, there are five criteria you will have to meet: You'll pass an eyesight test and checks by the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) and motoring conviction agencies. You'll also not have been disqualified from driving in the last four years, but you WILL have held a full driving licence for four of the last six years. You'll need to train as an ADI (Approved Driving Instructor), register with the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) and take various exams before you can start to take classes. The ADI comes in three parts. 1) Theory test – this covers all aspects of motoring law and mechanics, psychology and teaching theory. 2) Advanced driving test – this should take 90 minutes. 3) Teaching ability test – where the examiner plays the role of the pupil. Parts 3 can take straight after parts 1 and 2. All exams must be completed within two years and only three attempts are permitted to pass parts 2 and 3.
Do I need any experience?
Extensive experience in driving, teaching, training and working with people. It'll be an advantage if you're over 21 – since the insurance will be less and the training schools will be more likely to take you on. From the onset, however, no experience will be necessary to apply for the ADI (Approved Driving Instructor) exam.
What attributes are needed?
Superb driving ability and a drive to help students pass. An enthusiastic, engaging and communicative personality. Level-headedness, patience and the ability to react to potentially dangerous situations. The knack of instilling confidence but not foolhardiness. A massive sense of responsibility.