| About the ProfessionHow will I know if I'm suitable to be a driving instructor?
If you like working with all types of people, have a good knowledge of driving and road procedures and, most importantly, you have the skill of passing your knowledge onto others, then becoming a driving instructor could be the ideal career for you.
You will need to be calm, patient, have a good sense of humour and be able to relax and reassure your pupils. You also need to be articulate, enthusiastic and ready to study for the exams you will need to pass to become a registered driving instructor.
If you are an average driver, we will be able to raise your driving to the advanced standard required. After all, that's part of what you are paying for. With training most people can meet the advanced driving standard required.
Whilst your driving ability is one consideration that must be taken into account, a more important factor is your personality. You need to be interested in people. You will be working one to one with pupils, so the ability to gain and maintain rapport is essential. A calm personality helps: you will often have nervous pupils to deal with! Remember most importantly this job is about teaching and not mainly about driving.
Not all good drivers make good teachers
Being an instructor means that you can run your own driving school business, work at flexible times and have earnings that are only limited by the number of hours you want to work. Driving Instruction is a growth industry and an ideal first or second career for anyone over the age of 21 with the characteristics mentioned above.
The driving instruction industry is at an exciting time. Today's society is fast moving and it is almost essential to be able to drive. The driving test is becoming more demanding and complex and road conditions are busier: this will bring up demand in the number of driving lessons pupils need.
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