Driving Instructor Career: Requirements, Benefits, and Challenges

A driving instructor, or driving school instructor ( Glasgow), is a teacher who teaches how to drive the different types of vehicles for which they are licensed. This is a profession that moves away from the office routine and allows for a routine abroad.
The classes are theoretical and practical, and, therefore, the instructor spends most of the day on the street, teaching students how to drive the car on the road.
Although it is not a profession that is much sought after by young people, especially because you already need to have a driving license.
If you are unemployed or if you are unhappy with your current job, then this may be a good option.
Keep reading this article and find out everything you need to know about this profession, as well as what you need to do to become a driving instructor. Come with us!
What does a Driving Instructor do?
The driving instructor teaches students the traffic rules in theoretical lessons and teaches them how to drive in practice in on-road lessons. There are usually instructors who are exclusively dedicated to theoretical lessons and others who are only dedicated to practical lessons. However, the same instructor may also give theoretical and practical lessons.
Although it may seem like an easy task, it must be said that the eight-hour workday entails risks. For eight hours a day, the instructor is exposed to the risk of accidents, not so much because of the student but because of external factors to which all drivers are subject.
Furthermore, the working posture itself causes problems in the medium and long term. As you spend all day in the car, the functioning of many organs is altered, with the spine being one of those that suffer most from the working posture.
Stress is also constant, not only because you are teaching someone to drive on the road but also because you have to deal with other drivers, traffic jams, and other aspects that drivers are familiar with.
Therefore, instructors must be strong psychologically and in good physical condition, especially because it is a profession that wears you down quickly.
What are its functions?
The driving instructor’s main function is to teach students how to drive on the roads, complying with all the rules established in the highway code.
Therefore, he:
- Gives theoretical classes on the highway code
- Gives practical classes, where he receives the students in the school vehicle, teaching mechanics and driving
- Take routes inside the training vehicle, helping the student with the dual control device
- Explain, in practice, how the highway code is applied
- Teach the correct procedures in case of emergency
- Inform those responsible about the student’s state of preparation for admission to the driving test
Job Market Opportunities
The job market for driving instructors is good, especially since a driving license is essential in today’s society. Considering that having a driving license is an expected qualification in most jobs, there is a high demand for these services.
Therefore, there is a great demand for qualified professionals in the area, and the current market can absorb the majority of recent graduates.
You can work at any driving school in the country.
How to enter a career as a Driving Instructor
To become a driving instructor, you need to have a professional title, and you can only give driving lessons in categories that you are authorized to. Therefore, to obtain the professional title, you need:
To become a driving instructor in Glasgow, UK, you must meet specific requirements. Candidates should have completed at least 12 years of formal education, whether academic or vocational. Additionally, they must obtain a recognized qualification in instructional skills, such as a Certificate in Education and Training (CET) or an equivalent certification. A satisfactory conclusion of an approved driving instructor training course is required, followed by passing the qualifying exams administered by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Furthermore, applicants must demonstrate both medical and psychological fitness to ensure their suitability for the role.
The initial training course has a theoretical component as well as a practical component. In the practical classes, you will learn in a real context how to teach students to drive. It is like an internship, where you will give real lessons accompanied by your teacher. The practical classes last a maximum of 1 year.
To take the practical training of automatic driving lessons in Glasgow, you must have already passed the theoretical test, which the CET will issue. If you do not complete the practical training within one year, you will have to restart the course.
To be approved, you must take the entrance exam for the profession, which is both theoretical and practical. The theoretical test is taken after the initial training, and only then can you start the practical training. Once the practical training is completed, you have 30 days to apply to take the practical exam.
You cannot be a driving instructor if:
- You are a driving examiner or work in driving test centers
- You are banned from driving after road traffic offenses or after a serious/very serious offense
Glasgow :
To be a driving instructor in Glasgow, you must have completed high school and be at least 21 years old. In addition, you must have held a legal driving license for 2 years and a Category D license for one year.
You also cannot have committed any serious infractions in the last 60 days, and you must attend a driving instructor course.