Driving instructor training and job guarantee
Become a driving instructor with LDC, the third largest officially recognised and approved provider of driving instructor training courses in the UK. We specialise in training people to become driving instructors for our driving school Learner Driving Centres (LDC) using highly modern open learning resources and localised in-car driving instructor training throughout the UK. Although each person who undertakes training is guaranteed a position with LDC as a driving instructor it is not compulsory for them to join. Below you will find out about the potential income you can earn once you have passed the necessary examination, what qualifications you need to start the training, how long it will take to become a driving instructor, the driving instructor training course we provide and finally the benefits of choosing LDC.
LDC Approved driving instructor training centre
Become a driving instructor and join the winning team
LDC is probably the fastest-growing driving school in the UK.
The innovative way in which we work with our driving instructors along with the unique LD driving tuition system and state-of-the-art training resources for learner drivers have helped to make LDC one of the most successful driving schools in the UK today. The other major ingredient to our success is, of course, our highly motivated and skilled driving instructors, the majority of whom trained and qualified with us. Within just a few short years we have become the UK’s third largest national driving school with over 600 driving instructors. Nobody has invested more and nobody can match our record, both in terms of successfully getting people qualified and ensuring that they have a secure income thereafter.
You could share in our success and be earning an annual income of between £25,000 and £40,000 as well as benefiting from a car of your choice once you have successfully completed the necessary training. You decide when and where you work, thus ensuring job flexibility, and the smile from one of your pupils who has just passed the test provides real job satisfaction.
Qualifications needed
Before you can legally operate as a driving instructor in the UK, you have to pass the Driving Standards Agency (DSA, part of the Department of Transport) Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) examination. This involves a theory and driving test similar to the current tests for learner drivers and a practical test of your ability to instruct where the examiner plays the role of a learner driver. This may sound daunting, but the driving instructor training we offer will ensure that you are fully prepared and confident throughout the examination process. Even those people who didn’t excel at school shouldn’t be put off the idea of becoming a driving instructor, as the ADI exams require no formal qualifications. Driving instructing is a very practical skill and the ability to communicate with others and appreciate safe driving is far more important.
Therefore if you are good with people, have held a driving licence for a minimum of three and a half years (with no more than 5 points and no bans) and take a pride in your driving this may be the right job for you.
We passed with LDC's driving instructor training ...so can you
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How long will it take to become a driving instructor?
Regardless of who you choose to train with, the time it takes to qualify as a driving instructor is subject to the DSA’s examination schedules. There are three parts to the ADI examination, a theory test, a driving test and a practical test of your ability to instruct. Each part has to be taken consecutively, and each will carry with it a six week waiting period (sometimes longer). Consequently, the exam process itself from start to finish is at least 18 weeks assuming there are no other delays. This is why LDC recommend that the driving instructor training is carried out over a period of weeks on a part-time basis rather than intensively.
The LDC course has therefore been tailored in such a way that it fits around the DSA’s exam schedule, and as well as minimising any ‘idle’ periods in training whilst waiting for a test date, the flexibility of our part-time course also allows students to manage their training around any other full or part-time commitments they have. Bearing this in mind, it will inevitably take several months to fully qualify. However, if you train with a driving school such as LDC, you are allowed to operate and earn money as a trainee instructor after you have passed the second part of the exam (see Step 4 below). Although not essential, this would enable you to get up to six months part-time or full-time practical experience in preparation for the Part 3 exam.
How to become a driving instructor step-by-step guide
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to become a driving instructor with LDC from that all important first phone call to us, right the way through to becoming a qualified driving instructor and taking up your guaranteed position with LDC. Down the left hand side is a series of buttons that will provide you with information about the job, LDC and the DSA qualifying ADI examination and ORDIT scheme.
Step 1: Contact the office for a Free information pack
Your first step is to phone our dedicated recruitment office on our freephone number 0800 1970010 for a FREE information pack. Opening times are Monday to Friday 8am until 5pm. If you ring outside of normal office hours an answer phone service is available for you to leave your name and address. You can also contact us via the internet using the contact form which can be accessed by clicking request a pack. Should this package not arrive within a couple of days of contacting us please do not hesitate to get in touch.
However, before you contact us please make sure you can meet the minimum requirements as set out by the DSA which state that you:
- must have held a driving licence for at least three and a half years (with no more than 5 points overall or any bans) before you start training and at least four years before you can be registered;
- be able to provide two character references and pass a Criminal Record Bureau (CBR) check;
- be able to read a number plate at a distance of 90 feet (i.e. 23 feet more than required for the L test) with glasses, if normally worn.
If you have any doubts about meeting these minimum requirements you can contact the DSA on 0115 901 2500 for further advice.
Step 2: No obligation meeting with our Regional Manager
After having completed an application form, either online or by returning the form enclosed in your infomation pack (click here to request a pack), you will be asked to meet with one of our regional managers to discuss the training LDC can offer and the future benefits of working as an LDC driving instructor in your area. Our regional managers are able to meet with you in most major towns and cities within the UK and are even able to offer evening appointments in some instances.
Step 3: Pass the ADI theory test – Part 1
About the test
The ADI theory test is made up of two sections; multiple choice and hazard perception and in order to pass the theory test, you must pass both sections.
Section 1. Multiple choice
You will have 90 minutes to answer 100 questions. Each question with four answers will appear on screen and you are required to select the correct answer (or indeed answers if advised to select more than one) by touching the screen or using the mouse. The pass mark for the multiple choice part of the theory test is 85% - that is 85 questions answered correctly.
If you have any type of reading difficulties you can ask for a voiceover or request additional time within which to complete the test.
Section 2. Hazard perception
The hazard perception test is also delivered via the computer screen but you respond by clicking a button on the mouse. You will be presented with a series of 14 video clips which feature every day road scenes. In each clip there will be at least one developing hazard, but one of the clips will feature two developing hazards. To achieve a high score you will need to respond to the hazard during the early part of its development. The maximum you can score for spotting each hazard early is 5. The pass mark for the hazard perception part of the theory test is 57 out of 75.
Driving instructor training provided by LDC for Part 1
To prepare for this test you will use our highly modern open learning Part 1 driving instructor training materials combined with support from our central driving instructor training office and the local LDC trainer assigned. Support is provided by telephone, fax, email and our special LDC driving instructor training student Internet support forum. This support is also provided for Parts 2 and 3.
The Part 1 driving instructor training programme is composed of five stages. At the end of each stage you will submit an end of stage exam to us for marking and feedback. No writing skills are needed, you simply need to tick the answers you believe are correct. Once you have completed this five-stage programme you use our unique PC Driving Instructor Training Theory Test DVD/CD-rom software to undertake six final mock tests, which cover the precise questions “word for word” that will appear on the actual test.
Once you have mastered the multiple choice questions you will need to become familiar with the computerised hazard perception test using our unique Driving Instructor Training Hazard Perception DVD/CD-rom software. According to the Driving Instructor magazine, “In terms of which is the best product to use as a training aid for hazard perception testing, there's really very little contest ...... this is by far the best hazard perception training product available”. This quality is also reflected in our results: in 2007, of those who completed their training with LDC, 99.7% passed Part 1 of the ADI qualifying exam (of which 89.3% passed on their first attempt).
Step 4: Pass the ADI driving test – Part 2
About the test
The Part 2 driving test closely resembles the current car-driving test for learners in format and content. However, the eyesight test requires you to read a number plate at a slightly longer distance (i.e. 27.5 metres or 26.5 metres depending on the width of the lettering) with glasses if normally worn for driving, the duration of the test is longer to allow you to undertake all the set manoeuvres and you are expected to perform to a higher standard. Unlike the L test which allows you to make 15 minor driving faults on the Part 2 ADI test you are only permitted to make 6 minor driving faults and what constitutes a minor driving fault may be more critically assessed.
Driving instructor training provided by LDC for Part 2
The Part 2 course is made up of a programme of self-development exercises and study using our modern open learning Part 2 driving instructor training DVD (2.5 hours of video footage), test guide and workbook.
In addition your local LDC DSA ORDIT qualified driving instructor trainer would tailor a programme of in-car driving instructor training to meet your specific needs. This in-car driving instructor training would usually be spread over several sessions and be provided on a one-to-one basis to ensure no time was wasted waiting for or watching someone else drive.
In the unlikely event that you do not pass any attempt at this part of the exam additional free in-car driving instructor training is provided to help you pass the next time.
In 2007, of those who completed their training with LDC, 97.3% passed Part 2 of the qualifying exam within the three attempts allowed.
Step 5: Pass the ADI instructional ability test – Part 3
About the test
The Part 3 test requires you to give two half-hour driving lessons on subjects chosen by the examiner. The examiner plays the role of a pupil and whilst in that role he or she tests your ability as an instructor by asking questions and making mistakes. In particular, the examiner will expect you to explain what you hope to achieve on the lesson (based on the situation outlined by the examiner before you start), give a briefing where required about the driving task you are about to teach, provide appropriate verbal support whilst on the move to aid the learning process and to identify and deal with any driving faults that might occur. Your performance for each driving lesson will be graded from 1 to 6 with grade 4 and above being a pass. The minimum you need to pass Part 3 is a 4/4. Grade 4 is adequate, grade 5 is good and grade 6 is excellent.
Driving instructor training provided by LDC for Part 3
Using our unique open learning course driving instructor training DVDs (about 15 hours of video footage), Instructional Skills Manual, test guide, workbooks, prompt sheets and laminated colour presenter you will learn about the Part 3 test, the instructional standards sought and the practical exercises you need to develop the skills to pass this test.
This leads onto and integrates with a comprehensive practical programme of in-car driving instructor training with your local LDC DSA ORDIT qualified trainer. Again this in-car driving instructor training would usually be spread over several sessions and be provided on a one-to-one basis, thus ensuring that quick learners are not held back or that those who need more time do not feel hurried.
Driving instructor trainee licence option
As with the Part 2 course, in the unlikely event that you do not pass, free additional driving instructor training is provided. It may also be appropriate to offer you a driving instructor trainee licence at this stage on either a part-time or full-time basis to allow you to acquire additional experience training real learners. Not only does this help you prepare for the Part 3 exam, it also provides a means to earn an income whilst training. Whilst this experience is not essential to pass this final part of the qualifying driving instructor examination (the course itself is more than sufficient) it is a useful potential option to have. At LDC our driving instructor package is the same whether you are a trainee or a fully qualified driving instructor, however it is common for trainees to offer introductory lesson discounts when they first start to reflect the fact they are not fully qualified.
In 2007, of those who completed their driving instructor training with LDC, 80.1% passed Part 3 of the qualifying exam within the three attempts allowed. The latest published national pass rate for Part 3 is only 26% so clearly those training with other driving instructor training organisations are failing Part 3 in very large numbers. In the extremely unlikely event that you fail a third attempt at Part 2 or 3 we will provide further unlimited free driving instructor training once you are able to start again such that eventual exam success is virtually assured.
Step 6: Attend an LDC induction course
LDC holds a 3-day induction course to prepare those who have just qualified for the real world of driving instruction. It is the final step before you start the job as an LDC driving instructor. At this induction you would pick up your new car (if acquired through LDC) and be taught how to operate the business including the finalisation of your individual advertising and marketing launch plan.
The pictures below show recent induction courses where people have realised their dream of becoming a Driving Instructor with LDC. They now have the freedom to be their own boss and enjoy a career where their efforts are truly rewarded both financially and in terms of job satisfaction. In a few short months your dreams of a brighter career could also come true with LDC.
How can I make sure I make the right decision?
Before you decide to train with or join a company, you need to ask yourself what unique selling points (USPs) it has. What does it have that will ensure you qualify as a driving instructor and how can you be sure it will provide you with the right route to a secure and decent living thereafter? We have provided below a summary of how LDC can satisfy these points on both accounts.
Why choose LDC for your driving instructor training:
- State-of-the-art open learning driving instructor training materials – nothing comes close to what LDC offers
- Sophisticated support via internet forum, phone, email, fax and post
- Over 40 highly motivated LDC ORDIT qualified local trainers
- Personal driving instructor trainer allocated from start to finish.
- One-to-one in-car driving instructor training so as to ensure maximum use of time
- Overlapped driving instructor training for each part for maximum progress
- Tailor made driving instructor training - not poor quality training in intensive chunks
- Optional, local classroom driving instructor training sessions
- Free additional driving instructor training if you fail an attempt, plus unlimited free training until you qualify
- Six month trainee licence with LDC for those who would benefit after passing Part 2
- Subsidised driving instructor training costs mean we charge up to £1,000 less compared with other companies
- Potential cash back and savings worth up to £1,400 when you join us.
- Virtually twice the driving instructor training for half the cost of many other organisations
- Guaranteed position with LDC, a genuine driving school with a proven track record of success
- Unparalleled pass rates - 99.7%, 97.3% and 80.1%
Why choose LDC for your career as a driving instructor:
- State-of-the-art pupil training materials – the UK's number one provider of software in 2007 for the Theory/Hazard Perception test as stated by Auto Express magazine
- Highly acclaimed LD driving tuition system – a revolutionary new way to train people to drive with DVDs, workbook, presenter and carefully structured in-car driving lessons
- Latest cutting edge marketing techniques and resources for pupil generation
- Highly visible corporate image so vital to success with a car livery customised with your details for maximum marketing awareness
- Choice of car for you to hire or buy at substantial discounts
- Most flexible working arrangement of any driving school
- Lowest support fees = highest potential earnings
- You only pay for the work generated and are therefore never out of pocket
- Low turnover of driving instructors - a fair package and high earnings ensure few leave
- Proven track record - financially sound - well established - 600 driving instructors as proof
And finally..
When you consider the above it is not surprising that LDC is growing so rapidly and has become the third largest national driving school in the UK within just a few short years. No other driver training organisation has a business and training package to rival the quality and professionalism of LDC. It is this quality and professionalism that has generated, and continues to generate LDC's success.
You could be part of that success and share in the rewards that come from serving the needs of customers at the top end of the driver training market.
On the left hand side you will see a series of buttons that will provide you with more details about LDC's driving instructor training and career opportunity. Alternatively, you can click on the links below to answer the following questions?
What is the earning potential of a driving instructor with LDC?
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