Unit 46: The trainee licence

Resources:
The Driving Instructor’s Handbook

Many potential driving instructors are encouraged to earn money during their training using the trainee licence. The rules surrounding the licence may well soon change, so be sure to keep up to date with all of the most recent changes on this from the driving instructor forums, the DSA and the Department of Transport.

You can work as a trainee driving instructor with the sponsorship of another ADI or by working with a driving school. The licence allows you to give instruction for reward for a period of 6 months. To gain the licence, you must have taken (and had signed off by an ADI) 40 hours of training. During the first 3 months of the trainee licence you must also receive a further 20 hours of training, or have 25% of your lessons supervised by an ADI.

There is very little statistical evidence that PDIs who have used the trainee licence scheme actually perform better at Part 3 than PDIs who don’t. However, many who have used the scheme have found it useful. Whether this is because they have had to self teach themselves while paying customers suffer or not is a different matter!

If you have decided to work on the trainee licence during your training you must bear in mind that you have a responsibility to yourself first and foremost. If your training is being impeded by your workload you must cut down the amount of lessons you give.

Discussion Points:
Is it suitable for you?
How can it be made to work for you?
The customer/trainee balance
Giving value for money as a trainee