Basic legal requirements
Before working as a driving instructor in the UK for money or 'money's worth', you must satisfy certain legal minimum requirements. These are set by The Driving Standards Agency.
The Register of Approved Driving Instructors is administered by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). The DSA set the standards, conduct examinations and ensure that instructors maintain a minimum standard of competency throughout their careers.
The first two requirements must be met in order to apply for the qualifying examination. You must be absolutely sure that you meet these requirements before starting a driving instructor training course.
Driving licence
You must have held a driving licence for an unbroken period of at least four years, preferably (but not essentially) without any motoring convictions.
Although the legal minimum requirement for registration is four years, you can start training before that time...
Note: Your licence period must be continuous. Any disqualification from driving - even a one month ban 'resets' the clock to zero meaning that you cannot become a driving instructor until four years from the end of the ban.
If you currently have more than 6 penalty points it is possible that your application to join the Register of Approved Driving Instructors will be refused, however there is no bar on application - all applications are considered on individual merit.
If you are unsure whether or not you are eligible with regard to motoring (or other) convictions, you can contact the DSA for advice via their web site (click here for the DSA web site).
From the regulations
You will be accepted onto the Register of Approved Driving Instructors (ADI's) if you hold a full UK or European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) unrestricted car driving licence, have held it for a total of at least four out of the past six years prior to entering the ADI Register after qualifying, and you have not have been disqualified from driving at any time in the four years prior to being entered in the register.
If you hold an EU/EEA licence, you must exchange this either for a GB licence or a Community Licence. You can download application form D9 for a GB counterpart licence from the Directgov web site (PDF) - Opens in a new window.
A foreign driving licence, an automatic car driving licence or a provisional licence held after passing the driving test all count towards the four years.
A 'Fit and Proper Person'
In order to operate as a driving instructor you must be what the DSA describe as a 'fit and proper person'. This relates to criminal convictions not spent under the rehabilitation of offenders act.
Each application is dealt with individually; contact the Driving Standards Agency for further advice. Convictions involving fraud or matters of a violent or sexual nature are not normally acceptable.
Criminal record checks must be completed before an examination application can be made - click to get full details here (External link to Government web site).
Exam
You must pass the three-part driving instructors examination set and administered by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), the driving arm of The Department of Transport)
The examination consists of Theory (including Hazard Perception), driving and practical teaching tests.
Each part of the exam is taken on a separate occasion; the waiting lists vary from region to region but can be anything up to three months.
As part of the examination process your eyesight will be tested; you must be able to read a car number plate from a minimum distance of 90 feet (with glasses or contact lenses if normally worn).
Registered or Licensed
In order to charge a fee (or get 'money's worth') for driving instruction, your name must be on the official register of driving instructors or you must be licensed on a temporary teaching permit (The Trainee Licence) from the DSA.
To be entered onto the Register of Approved Driving Instructors you must pass all three parts of the Qualifying Examination within a two-year time period and pay the requisite registration fee.
To be licensed you must pass the first two parts of the qualifying examination, sign a declaration that you have met the statutory training requirements and pay the requisite fee.
(All instructors working for gain must display their Registration or Licence certificate in the front windscreen of the training vehicle)
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