Become A Driving Instructor - Everything You Need To Know About How To Become A Driving Instructor

Why become a driving instructor? Most people want to for the attractive salary, flexible work hours, job security, and the chance to be your own boss. The demand for driving instructors in the UK is on the rise, and with the current economic instability, many people are looking to train in a career that will see them secure for life. Because no previous experience is required to become a driving instructor, people of all ages and from all walks of life are entering the profession every day.

As a driving instructor your day will be spent teaching people to drive safely, to understand the Highway Code, and develop the skills which they will need to pass their final test. You will need to give each student targeted lessons depending on their strengths and weaknesses, constantly assessing them and adapting the training program to suit their needs. So what does a driving instructor earn? Well that depends on you. Because when you become a driving instructor you will have the choice to work as many or as few hours as you want, earnings can vary from person to person. But if you are willing to work full time, you can easily achieve a salary of over £600 per week. However it is possible to earn far more than this.

Is Now A Good Time To Become A Driving Instructor?

The demand for driving instructors in the UK is constantly growing as the population grows, and more people own cars. With the state of public transport and the rate of population growth, the demand is going to do only one thing - rise! With new government initiatives to improve road safety, the amount of lessons that learners need on average to pass their test is increasing, and people are now having to pass tests more than once in their life due to the recent introduction of re testing for older drivers. That’s why there is such a large demand, as somebody needs to teach all these extra learner drivers. Now is a great time to become a driving instructor, but don’t expect the great salary to just fall into your lap, you have to work hard for it.

Driving Instructor Pay And Franchises

Driving instructor earnings are based on how much you charge per lesson (remember you are working for yourself now, so you get to make all the decisions!), how many customers you teach, minus the cost of expenses such as petrol, tax, and a franchise fee if you join one of the big franchises.

Why join a franchise? If you join a driving instructor franchise, you will benefit from brand recognition from the huge marketing campaigns they run - this will give you instant credibility, and may attract more customers, but you have to balance this against the extra cost. There is no obligation to be part of a franchise, you can operate on your own. Once qualified, driving instructor jobs will always be easy to find.

Who Can Become A Driving Instructor?

To become a driving instructor, you need to have a full UK driving licence more than 6 penalty points. You need to have held a licence for over 3 years. This is the only criteria, other than a willingness to learn everything that is required - the training can be quite intense as you will need to become an expert if you are going to instruct others. There are no other barriers to entry, it truly is a career open to all. It is a job suited to those who like to work with people, have good patience, and have the discipline to work hard and study hard to gain their qualifications. Driving instructors will often comment on the satisfaction they get from seeing someone successfully pass their test - it’s a great feeling knowing that it was because of the tuition you provided.

What Are The Career Prospects Of A Driving Instructor?

Besides working as a franchise or on your own, many successful instructors set up their own driving schools and employ other instructors. Other options are to become an instructor trainer, or get involved with fleet or police training. It is one of the few jobs for life left in the UK.

So you have read up on the job and lifestyle and have decided that you would like to become a driving instructor. What’s next? The only thing you need to get starting is the relevant qualifications.

Driving Instructor Training And Qualifications

To obtain these qualifications you must pass government tests, only then will you be able to become a driving instructor or ADI (approved driving instructor) In order to pass these tests you will need to attend a training course provided by one of the many driving instructor training schools. These courses are designed from scratch to give you the best possible chance of passing the tests, and some will even include other modules to help you with managing your future business, for example information on retaining students, how to market your business, and how to manage your business finances. All of these are vital to the success of your business and far too many driving instructors overlook this - at their peril! Remember you are running your own business know and will need to act accordingly if you want to make a healthy income. To learn more about the driving instructor training courses visit our driving instructor training page.

How And Where Can I Train As A Driving Instructor?

Usually training is very flexible and can fit around your current work and life commitments. (depending on the driving instructor training school you choose) You can study at home, attend fixed classes, or even attend an intensive driving instructor training course, where everything is covered in a few weeks. Classes will tend to be very small and personal, and the bigger well known training schools have colleges all over the country, so you should easily be able to find one local to you. If you can’t - then you can always use the distance learning option.

How Long Does It Take To Train As A Driving Instructor, And How Much Does It Cost?

Ultimately it will take as long as you make it, the more you study, the faster you can pass the tests. The cost of driving instructor courses will vary depending on which school you attend. The best way to find out is to visit the driving instructor training school websites and get quotes. Then do some research online for feedback from people who have attended these courses. You will hear good and bad stories about the different training providers, but it is up to you to make the final decision.

Remember that the training is tough, and you will have to work hard to build up your business, but with the right mindset and lots of hard work, there is no reason why you can’t become a driving instructor and join us in this ultimately rewarding career.