About the LDC Driving Instructor Course
LDC is renowned for its open learning resources, our excellent central support team and our national network of expert LDC Approved Driving Instructor training coaches/mentors. LDC provide a comprehensive open learning course that integrates with the extensive in-car practical coaching and mentoring provided. Available for study as an iCourse on LDCs own online learning Hub and Apps as well as in hard copy form shown below.
- Comprehensive open learning package and iCourse to help guide you through the course including the incredible LD System.
- Extensive support from our central support team via Zoom, telephone, email, online student Facebook group or face-to-face.
- Up to 70 hours of blended practical face-to-face training in-car and/or classroom/Zoom guided by an expert LDC instructor training coach on the premium course or 50 hours on the standard course.
- Plus three days of business start up training (another 18 hours face to face) if you decide to join LDC and a business start up package of resources worth over £1,000 as our 'thank you' for joining.
- Earn while you learn on a low-cost Trainee Licence giving you 6 months or more on-the-job training ready for the final Part 3 test.
- Alternatively, train learners for free or use your trainer's learners as a means to acquire this essential on-the-job training without having to give up your current job.
- Intensive course add-on option is also available if this would better suit your needs.
- Impressive pass rates for Part 1 97.5%, Part 2 97.7% and Part 3 83.0% (see below for details).
- Pay-as-you-go option starting from £895 or full price from £2,295.
- No expensive long-term franchise/car hire tie-in of 18 to 36 months.
- No restrictive contract clauses designed to drag out your Part 1 theory training and avoid the delivery of Part 2 and Part 3 practical face-to-face training.
- No phoney guarantees, fake special deals or pressure selling to get you to sign up quick.
- No long term franchise tie-in of 18-36 months.
- Just quality training at a great price from a company you can definitely trust.
DVSA qualification needed to become a driving instructor
To legally operate as a driving instructor in England, Scotland and Wales you are required to pass the DVSA Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) qualifying examination. The DVSA is the Government body who regulate driving instructors in England, Scotland and Wales.
The driving instructor qualification process is in 3 parts:
Part 1 is a PC based Theory and Hazard Perception test similar to the current test for learner drivers but you are required to answer 100 questions (not just 50) on a broader set of subjects and you need to score 57 as opposed to 44 on the hazard perception part of the test. This test usually only takes a few weeks to pass with LDC following our online theory and hazard perception iCourse programme. Last year to April 2024 of those LDC students who completed this training 97.5% passed the Part 1 examination.
Part 2 is a driving ability test, again similar to the current driving test for learner drivers but is slightly longer and you are only allowed to make 6 minor driving faults (not up to 15 as on the L test). Typically this should only take you a couple of months to pass with our training. Then after passing Part 2 and completing the necessary training you can start work as a trainee driving instructor on what is called a Trainee Licence or teach for free (see below for details). To pass Part 2 can take as little as 2-3 months with LDC subject to DVSA test availability. Last year to April 2024 of those LDC students who completed all their training 97.7% passed the Part 2 examination.
Part 3 is an instructional ability test, where the examiner needs to assess you teaching a learner on-the-job. If the assessment is successful you will have passed Part 3 and become fully qualified. If not you will be allowed another two attempts to pass. To pass this assessment you need to gain as much practical on-the-job experience as possible under the guidance of an expert LDC Approved Driving Instructor trainer. To pass Part 3 can take as little as 6 months with LDC subject to DVSA test availability. Last year to April 2024 of those LDC students who completed all their training 83.0% passed the Part 3 examination.
With LDC superior training really does bring superior results. Compare this to the UK national pass rates of only 37.6% for Part 1, 52.6% for Part 2 and 34.4% for Part 3 as published by the DVSA for the year ending April 2024.
Please also note the DVSA only allow you three attempts to pass Part 2 and Part 3. Should you fail a third attempt at either Part 2 or Part 3 you will be required to start the qualification process again and wait until two years have elapsed from when you passed Part 1 before being allowed to take Part 1 again.
According to DVSA statistics for year ending April 2024 a total of 16,332 applications were accepted by the DVSA to become driving instructors but only 2,945 qualified in that same year. Over 40% dropped out before passing Part 1 despite this test being very easy to pass. This shows how poor most of the instructor training sold must be and how much of it is geared to getting you to drop out before passing Part 1. So choose carefully if you want to qualify and succeed as a driving instructor.
Earn while you learn on a Trainee Licence
With LDC you could be operating and earning money as a driving instructor on a Trainee Licence within a few short months (subject to DVSA Part 2 test waiting times).
Only a genuine, well established and reputable driving school like LDC can be trusted to provide the required on-the-job training, learners and expert coaching guidance necessary to succeed. If you would prefer to keep your current job until you are fully qualified without utilising the Trainee Licence you still can gain similar practical experience by training people for free or by using the learners of one of our existing experienced approved driving instructor mentors or trainers.
Overview of course programme
Course timeline
Unlike most other training providers we do not use the theory aspect of the training to deliberately delay or avoid the delivery of your Part 2 and Part 3 practical in-car training. We see the three parts as one and therefore we usually start Part 1, 2 and 3 at the same time as illustrated in the diagram below. The Part 1 stage is a great time to learn about the three exams and how they really interrelate to help you appreciate even at this stage what you are aiming for and the skills you will need to develop. Part 2 is a great time to develop the start of your teaching skills as well as to improve your driving skills as you experience the process from both sides (i.e both teacher and learner) under the expert guidance of your LDC Approved Driving Instructor Trainer. You can then start Part 3 in earnest on-the-job earning while you learn on a Trainee Licence or alternatively teaching for free - the choice is yours. The three parts seamlessly roll from one to the other so that before you know it you are fully qualified. This is just one of the reasons why training with LDC is so special and effective. However, please note on the ‘Pay as you train’ option the training will be spread out over the payment plan period.
Thinking of training with another company and then joining LDC?
Please note we only offer Trainee Licence positions and our free incredible business start-up package worth over £1,000 to students who have fully trained with us. However, we do consider applicants who are already fully qualified subject to their grade, experience and the purchase of extra training to become proficient in our unique training methods and way of working. It will cost you an extra £500 to join LDC if you train elsewhere. Therefore by training with LDC you can save £500 when you join us.
Our training credentials
LDC are a founding member of the DVSA's Official Register of Driving Instructor Trainers (ORDIT). LDC is also a preferred training supplier to the armed forces career transition partnership scheme and approved by the MOD in support of the ELC scheme. This means we are a trusted provider of training to those leaving the armed forces looking for training to become a driving instructor. See Armed forces resettlement for more details.
So if you are serious about becoming a driving instructor choose wisely and train with a company that has the credentials and a proven track record of success. Give yourself a 90% chance of success not a 70% chance of failure as is the norm elsewhere! Look beyond the sales hype, the devious low prices and the phoney guarantees - train with a company who cares about you, train with LDC.
Next step
If you would like more details at this stage by post or email please complete the free information pack request form or call us on 01977 691815 and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Our opening hours are Monday to Thursday 8am - 5.30pm and on Friday 9am - 5pm. Alternatively download our latest Brochure in PDF by clicking the image on the right or the link highlighted in blue.
We look forward to the prospect of hearing from you in the near future. However, before you contact us please make sure you can meet the minimum requirements to be eligible to be a driving instructor as set out by the DVSA which are:
- You must have held a driving licence for at least three years (with no more than 5 points overall or any bans) to start training and four years before starting the job;
- Be able to provide two character references and pass a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) 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 are not sure if you satisfy these minimum requirements please don't hesitate to call us on 01977 691815.
We passed... so can you
Visit our instructor training Facebook page to see those who have recently passed the DVSA Approved Driving Instructor qualification with LDC. In a few short months this could be you.
What a few of our customers say
