INSTRUCTOR ELEGIBILITY

DSA requirements for registration
In order to qualify as a Driving Standards Agency Approved Driving Instructor there are certain requirements, which you must meet; not everyone can become a Driving Instructor.

* You should be a fit and proper person to have your name entered in the Register.

All non-motoring and all motoring convictions, providing they are not ‘spent’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, will be taken into account when assessing your suitability. If, however, your Licence has some penalty points (generally a maximum of 6)) this may not necessarily affect your application.

You must have held a full UK or European Union (EU) / European Economic Area (EEA) unrestricted car driving licence for periods totalling at least 4 years out of the 6 years prior to entering the Register after qualifying. Any period after passing the driving test and during which a provisional licence is held may be counted as a full licence. A foreign licence can also count towards the four year period and a full licence to drive ‘automatics’.

* You must not, at any time during the 4 years prior to being entered on the Register, have been under a disqualification from driving.

* You must pass all three parts of the qualifying examination within a two-year period.

* You must be able to read a vehicle number plate from a minimum of 27.5m (90ft).

* It should be noted that to accompany provisional licence holders, you must hold a full, unrestricted UK or EU/EEA Driving Licence for 3 years and be over 21.

A full foreign licence will count if it is accepted under the ‘Exchange Scheme’.

Disabilities
Do you have a disability?
In accordance with the road traffic act, a driver whose driving licence is limited to driving automatics because of a disability, can qualify to give driving instruction.in cars with automatic transmission only. Please ask for further details.

Government Legislation.
It is illegal for anyone to charge (either money or monies worth) for instruction in driving a motor car unless:
1) their name is on the Register of Approved Driving Instructors or
2) they hold a Trainee Licence to give instruction, issued by the Registrar.

The Driving Instructor College requirements
All applicants for the course must:
* fulfil the DSA requirements as above;
* attend an initial meeting at the College:
* be assessed by the College as suitable for training:
* attend the Induction session.