The ADI Qualification process

You can't just decide to be a Driving Instructor one morning, go out and buy a rooftop box, get your car fitted with dual controls and then go out there teaching people to drive. For many, very good reasons, Driving Instruction is a regulated and licensed profession, and you must first go through a searching three part qualification process.

Before you attempt any exams, the very first step is to apply to join the register of Approved Driving Instructors through the gov.uk website and part of this involves an enhanced DBS check - what used to be known as a criminal records check. Once this is completed, you will receive your PRN number, which is a reference number that will identify you for as long as you are associated with the register of Approved Driving Instructors.

The Part 1 test of subject knowledge

Once you have a PRN number and have been accepted to apply to join the register, you are entitled to book and take the first exam, which is a 100 question long theory test combined with a hazard perception test. You must get more than 85% of the questions right (and higher than 80% in each of 4 different categories of question) along with at least 57 points on the hazard perception test in order to pass this part of the qualification test and you can take as many attempts as you like.

The Part 2 test of driving ability

A lot of people look forward to this bit - the advanced driving test!

Of course, you would expect a teacher of the skill of driving to be able to demonstrate a very high standard of driving themselves and this test is your chance to do that. You'll be asked to drive for an hour, complete a few manoeuvres, drive independently and demonstrate a knowledge of how you should check your vehicle over and operate some of it's auxiliary controls whilst on the move. In order to be successful, you must complete this test whilst attracting no more than 6 driver faults - if you attract any serious or dangerous faults, or if you get 7 or more driver faults then you will not be successful and you are limited to just 3 attempts at this test.

The Part 3 test of instructional ability

This is the final test in the process and if you are successful, then you will become a fully qualified, Approved Driving Instructor.

For this exam, you need to allow a specially trained examiner to observe you teaching a real learner driver a real subject. You will be assessed against a number of competencies, and you will be scored out of 3 for each competency. The highest possible total score is 51 points and you will be successful if you have a score higher than 31 when you are finished. As with the other two tests, high standards are expected and you are demonstrating that you can work with your pupil - listening to them to establish their learning needs, giving them the appropriate level of instruction and building on their existing knowledge. If you end with a score greater than 41 points, then you will be graded at Grade A level. You are only allowed to take 3 attempts at this test.

Nick Heath Driver Training is based in Rode Heath, South Cheshire and provides all levels of Driver Training services including Driving Instructor Training services, Fleet Training services, Advanced Driver Training and Examination services (including Taxi Driver Assessments) and of course Learner Driver Services. The company is listed on the ORDIT register, and Nick Heath is listed on the ORDIT register, the Fleet register and on the ADI register as a Grade A ADI. More details are available from our website or by calling 0800 820 20 38