If you want to become a driving instructor, the main hurdle you will need to overcome is the driving instructor courses. These are modular based teaching programmes and examinations which are taken over twelve to twenty four months depending on how intensively you wish to learn.
Many people wrongly assume that they can get a job as a driving instructor and start working after a few weeks, since they already know how to drive. This could not be further from the truth. Simply already knowing how to drive in no way equips you to teach others to drive safely. The purpose of undertaking driving instructor courses is to bring your level of knowledge and expertise up to a level where you can instruct others well enough to be able to pass their driving tests.
Probably the most vital part of the whole process is choosing the right driving instructor course. Many schools and colleges across the UK offer them, each at a different price, and level of quality. It is important that you are not tempted to automatically choose the cheapest one as this decision could come back to haunt you later on. Your final choice should be made on the reputation of the school, and how well you feel their course is designed. Often, this may require going with the provider who is the most expensive, but you should consider this expenditure as a wide investment.
The courses themselves are split into three distinct areas. The first part that you will begin studying is purely theoretical and will be classroom based. Here you will learn about a variety of subjects from driving in different weather conditions, through to all the different laws governing motoring in the UK. The aim of this module is to build a solid foundation and make you an expert.
The second part is more practical based, and involves being out in a car with a trainer working on your driving ability, after all, you will need to become an excellent driver if you are going to teach other people how to drive safely!
Finally, the third part of the driving instructor course focuses on your teaching ability. Teaching is a vital part of the job role, and you will learn how to structure lessons, plan courses, and tailor your teaching style to different individuals. These are vitally important skills which need to be enhanced and developed before you can begin taking paying customers.
Each of the three parts of the driving instructor course has its own examination which will need to be passed before you can move on to the next module. If you fail one section three times, you will be disallowed from ever taking the exam again, and your hopes of becoming a driving instructor will be over.
One you have successfully completed the course, you will then become an approved instructor (ADI) and can become a driving instructor!
