Becoming a driving instructor is an increasingly popular career choice for many people. Unfortunately, most of us are unable to give up our current jobs to make time for the training, as we all have financial commitments to meet. Luckily, most driving instructor training colleges provide flexible learning where you can take classes around your current work commitments. This enables you to carry out the driving instructor training when it is convenient for you. You do not have to worry about losing income from your current job, with all that stress that can bring.
If this seems attractive to you, then you should probably pick an instructor college that has offices nationwide. The bigger the school, the more branches they have, and the more chance that classes are offered in the evenings and at weekends. Smaller schools will be less flexible, and you may find that you can only take classes during normal office hours.
Many new students are keen to take on clients before they are fully qualified, and this is also possible. You can earn some nice extra income by teaching as a student instructor. You will not be able to charge a full rate for your time, but you will still be able to earn and learn at the same time. In this way, it is quite easy to offset the cost of your driving instructor training course.
One thing to keep in mind however, is that squeezing in your training around current work commitments will mean that the course takes longer to complete. Many people following this path take over two years to complete the driving instructor training. By condensing your training, you can become fully qualified within six months. Of course, the final decision is entirely up to you, and time to complete the training should not affect your ability to do the job well.
If you are considering a career change but are put off by the thought that retraining means having to live in poverty for months at a time, then training as a driving instructor could be the right choice for you. It is one of the few careers where it is possible to train and earn at the same time.
Thursday 13 January 2011
Wednesday 12 January 2011
How Can I Get A Job As A Driving Instructor?
Most people who are interested in a career as a driving instructor don’t actually have any idea how to go about getting started in their new dream career. Because it is such a highly skilled job, extensive qualifications are required, and more often than not, this translates to months of training. If you want to get a job, you have to get qualified – no exceptions.
The first thing to do is find a driving instructor training course and sign up. Most people will naturally be looking for a way into the profession that is free, but unfortunately you will have to pay for your training. Think of the cost as an investment in your future. Costs will vary along with the quality of the course, but I always advise people to choose the best that they can afford. Higher quality training will directly results in a much better chance of you passing the difficult exams. The sooner you pass those exams, the sooner you can start your new career.
So, you have competed your training – what’s next? As a qualified instructor, the good news is you will have no trouble finding driving instructor jobs. Driving instructors are in high demand throughout the country, and you will be a precious commodity for many businesses. Many options are open to you when looking for employment, you can set up your own business, work for a franchise, of work for a local instructor who has set up his own business. All three options are perfectly valid choices, whichever one you choose will be entirely up to you.
Probably the most popular choice for newly qualified driving instructors is to work for a franchise. The main reasons for this are that you are provided with a high level of support, and fed a constant stream of new customers. Compare this to someone going it alone who has no support early on in their career, and has to find every single customer themselves. Whilst it is true that you have to pay a franchise fee, this fee is more than offset by the value it provides. It is much better to wait until you have a few years of experience under your belt before setting up your own driving school.
If neither of these options appeal to you, then you could always work for a local instructor. You will not have to pay a franchise fee, and will have some level of support and supply of customers. This is an excellent alternative for newly qualified ADI’s.
All in all, a driving instructor job is a great way to earn a healthy income without the stresses and strains that come with most other careers!
The first thing to do is find a driving instructor training course and sign up. Most people will naturally be looking for a way into the profession that is free, but unfortunately you will have to pay for your training. Think of the cost as an investment in your future. Costs will vary along with the quality of the course, but I always advise people to choose the best that they can afford. Higher quality training will directly results in a much better chance of you passing the difficult exams. The sooner you pass those exams, the sooner you can start your new career.
So, you have competed your training – what’s next? As a qualified instructor, the good news is you will have no trouble finding driving instructor jobs. Driving instructors are in high demand throughout the country, and you will be a precious commodity for many businesses. Many options are open to you when looking for employment, you can set up your own business, work for a franchise, of work for a local instructor who has set up his own business. All three options are perfectly valid choices, whichever one you choose will be entirely up to you.
Probably the most popular choice for newly qualified driving instructors is to work for a franchise. The main reasons for this are that you are provided with a high level of support, and fed a constant stream of new customers. Compare this to someone going it alone who has no support early on in their career, and has to find every single customer themselves. Whilst it is true that you have to pay a franchise fee, this fee is more than offset by the value it provides. It is much better to wait until you have a few years of experience under your belt before setting up your own driving school.
If neither of these options appeal to you, then you could always work for a local instructor. You will not have to pay a franchise fee, and will have some level of support and supply of customers. This is an excellent alternative for newly qualified ADI’s.
All in all, a driving instructor job is a great way to earn a healthy income without the stresses and strains that come with most other careers!
Saturday 8 January 2011
UK Driving Instructor Courses Explained
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!
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!
Friday 7 January 2011
How Do You Become A Driving Instructor In The UK?
A career as a driving instructor is becoming increasingly popular in the UK. The recent economic downturn has left many people jobless, and these people are now looking for a new career. In addition to this, people have long been attracted to the idea of being their own boss, and retraining later in life for a more rewarding career has become more acceptable and common in modern times.
Most people who are initially attracted to the idea have minimal knowledge on how exactly you can become a driving instructor. Although getting qualified is challenging, it is a relatively straightforward process. The first thing you need to do is make sure that you are suitable for the job, and that the investment you make in driving instructor training will not be wasted. The last thing you want to do is go through the entire process only to find that it is not for you, and then have to look for yet another career.
Most successful instructors will tell you that you will need good people skills, high levels of patience, and outstanding levels of concentration. These qualities are important because you will be working with people all day, and not everyone will have the same ability. Whilst some people may pick things up quickly, others will struggle and need more detailed explanations from you, the teacher. Concentration is rated highly because you will need to remain focused for long periods of time throughout the day, and this can be mentally exhausting.
There are no specific entry requirements, however you will need to ensure that you have a full UK licence held for at least 3 years with no more than 6 penalty points. If you meet these criteria, and feel that you have the correct personality for the job, the next thing you need to do is find and join a driving instructor course. Many schools and colleges offer these courses throughout the UK, and they will vary greatly in price and in quality. Most people would recommend that you sign up with a well established and well known instructor college.
Once you have selected the course, possibly the most challenging stage to complete before you can become a driving instructor is actually undertaking the training, and ensuring that you pass! The training period can last between one to two years depending on how intensive you study, however all driving instructors agree that the course is very challenging indeed. Your learning will be split into several modules encompassing theoretical based learning, practical learning, and teaching methods. Only when you have completed the final exams at the end of this course will you be awarded your certificates and become an ADI (approved driving instructor)
After receiving your certificates, you will then be free to join an established driving instructor school and start working, join a franchise, or even set up your own business.
Hopefully this post cleared up some of the mysteries surrounding this career, feel free to get in touch if you need any more information!
Most people who are initially attracted to the idea have minimal knowledge on how exactly you can become a driving instructor. Although getting qualified is challenging, it is a relatively straightforward process. The first thing you need to do is make sure that you are suitable for the job, and that the investment you make in driving instructor training will not be wasted. The last thing you want to do is go through the entire process only to find that it is not for you, and then have to look for yet another career.
Most successful instructors will tell you that you will need good people skills, high levels of patience, and outstanding levels of concentration. These qualities are important because you will be working with people all day, and not everyone will have the same ability. Whilst some people may pick things up quickly, others will struggle and need more detailed explanations from you, the teacher. Concentration is rated highly because you will need to remain focused for long periods of time throughout the day, and this can be mentally exhausting.
There are no specific entry requirements, however you will need to ensure that you have a full UK licence held for at least 3 years with no more than 6 penalty points. If you meet these criteria, and feel that you have the correct personality for the job, the next thing you need to do is find and join a driving instructor course. Many schools and colleges offer these courses throughout the UK, and they will vary greatly in price and in quality. Most people would recommend that you sign up with a well established and well known instructor college.
Once you have selected the course, possibly the most challenging stage to complete before you can become a driving instructor is actually undertaking the training, and ensuring that you pass! The training period can last between one to two years depending on how intensive you study, however all driving instructors agree that the course is very challenging indeed. Your learning will be split into several modules encompassing theoretical based learning, practical learning, and teaching methods. Only when you have completed the final exams at the end of this course will you be awarded your certificates and become an ADI (approved driving instructor)
After receiving your certificates, you will then be free to join an established driving instructor school and start working, join a franchise, or even set up your own business.
Hopefully this post cleared up some of the mysteries surrounding this career, feel free to get in touch if you need any more information!
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