Are You Ready To Become A Driving Instructor

Are you ready to become an ADI?

Being an approved driving instructor (ADI) can be a very rewarding career: you’ll help people to learn an important skill for life.

The job involves working with all sorts of people so you’ll need good people skills as well as

patience and understanding
a thorough knowledge of the theory and practice of driving
an ability to teach
awareness of changes in the regulations for driving tests, as well as driving instruction
business sense.

Learner drivers often want to fit in their lessons around school and work so you may have to work unsociable hours to fit in with their needs.

You’ll also need to check that you’re eligible to apply to become a driving instructor. Take a quick test on GOV.UK to find out whether you can apply. This test will also tell you what to do next to become an ADI.

How to apply

First you’ll need to apply to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to become an ADI. To do this you’ll need to give details about your current driving licence including any driving offences. You’ll also need a criminal records disclosure number.

You can apply to become an ADI on GOV.UK.

Criminal record check

Before you can apply to become an ADI, you’ll need to have a criminal record check. Apply for your check at GOV.UK.

Getting an instructor

You will need to enrol with a registered trainer to help you prepare for the three qualifying tests. You can find more information about trainers on DVSA's official register (sometimes called ORDIT registered trainers) and find driving instructor training courses here.

Next steps

When you’ve been accepted to start the qualifying process, you can start your training towards the 3 ADI tests.

You’ll have to pass the tests in this order and you must pass them within a 2-year period before you can join the ADI register.

Visit GOV.UK for a guide to the approved driving instructor register.