Do you fancy joining us or train as a driving instructor?
Firstly, ACE Driving School recommend that you check out the information on the RSA website www.rsa.ie for more details about what becoming an ADI may entail.
At ACE Driving School Cork, we can assist you through the whole process, and with on-going support once you have qualified, for example within preparing for your check test.
Do you feel like a career change?
Do you have the skills to teach others?
Would you like to be your own boss?
Want to become a qualified driving instructor
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the agency responsible for conducting all theory and practical driving tests in the Republic of Ireland and has responsibility for maintaining the Register of Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs).
As from the 1st May 2009, it is illegal for anyone to charge for driving tuition unless their name is on the Register of ADIs. In order to become an ADI, you will need to pass the RSA ADI qualifying examination and meet certain minimum legal requirements. Namely, you must:
1. Hold a full IRISH or EEA unrestricted car driving licence;
2. Have held your licence for at least 2 years prior to entering the Register after qualifying;
3. Not have been disqualified from driving at any time in the 4 years prior to being entered in the Register;
4. Be a ‘fit and proper’ person to have your name entered on the Register.
All convictions, motoring or non-motoring still in force will be taken into account by the RSA before allowing you on the Register, and from experience, we know that anyone with 6 or more points on their licence within the last 2 years prior to entry on the Register is likely to be rejected. You now also need to apply for a Criminal Record Bureau check as part of this process.
Please also note that on the Stage 2 driving test you must be able to take rear observations by looking around when reversing without heavy dependency on the mirrors. So if you have minimal neck movement this will need to be checked before you start, since you are not allowed additional mirrors as on the ordinary driving test.
RSA exam fees
Stage 1 theory test €150.00
Stage 2 driving test €200.00
Stage 3 instructional ability test €200.00
2 year RSA registration €250.00
Driving Instructor (ADI) training
Our Training will involve teaching you everything that you as an instructor must know in order to pass the 3 stages as set out by the RSA above. Please see below:
- Stage 1 – Theory Test Sample Questions.
Stage 2 – Teaching Driving Ability including: Moving off, driving in traffic, stopping, reversing round a corner, turning about to face in the opposite direction, starting on a hill, parking, road positioning, overtaking and passing, anticipation and observation, use of mirrors and signals, progress, speed, compliance with traffic lights, road signs and markings, use of vehicle controls (accelerator, clutch, gears, brakes and steering), use of secondary controls such as wipers, demisters etc. - Stage 3 – Practical teaching ability: Same as above but in a teaching role.
Requirements
The only requirements are that you hold a Full Drivers Licence for 2 years or more in a European country.
Take control of your future
So if you want to become a driving instructor and start your own business please feel free to call us to discuss 087 80 300 60
You could be eligible for a grant of up to half of the course fee with FAS
Only training centres that are approved by the RSA can deliver the RSA approved training syllabus. Each Training Centre must provide all of the required modules. Each student can sign up for one, two or all three modules. The decision on which option to choose is entirely down to the candidate Driving Instructor, and their assessment of their own learning needs.
Stage One, Two and Three of the ADI.
Whether you're new to driving instruction or you're already in the business, you'll want to make sure you're getting professional, expert tuition and great value for money. Training to becoming an Approved Driving Instructor takes ability, enthusiasm and good communication skills. To ensure you are well equipped to qualify as an Approved Driving Instructor, we have developed an instructor training course that will give you the best chance to fulfil your ambition of a challenging and exciting new career as an Approved Driving Instructor. With us you get the best, most thorough training you can get to enable you to pass all stages of the ADI process
So what will the training entail?
Stage One:
The purpose of this test is to examine knowledge of the Rules of the Road as well as general road safety and driving instruction matters.
Here Your Instructor will cover:
- Road Safety precepts and practice
- Rules of the Road
- RSA ADI Scheme
- Driving techniques and handling the vehicle and controls
- Use of correct road procedure
- Vulnerable road users
- Pedagogical techniques and assessment of pupils. (Pedagogy is the art of being a teacher. The term generally refers to strategies of instruction, or a style of instruction.)
- Dealing with pupils who have learning or language difficulties
- Dealing with pupils who have physical disabilities and familiarisation with common vehicle adaptations
- Interpersonal skills
- Correction of pupils driving faults
- Knowledge of basic mechanics of vehicle and maintenance
- Driving for life, beyond the practical driving test
- Scene of accidents
- Driver Testing Procedures and Documentation including the Driving Test Report form
Stage Two:
Stage two will assess driving ability and driving competence will be assessed against a longer more comprehensive driving test to that which applies to a learner driver. The test lasts approximately one to one and a half hours and covers 25-30 kilometres. In order to pass the test, you will have to incur less than three driving faults under a particular heading e.g. observation, less than five driving faults during the entire test, and zero disqualifying faults.
We will use the test sheet to pre-test you and identify your faults, should any incur. We will then analyse these faults and correct them, giving you an in-depth analysis of what may have gone wrong and how this may have happened. We will then tell you and show you the correct procedure to take.
Stage Three:
Stage three examines the ability of the ADI candidate to deliver tuition/coaching to the novice driver relevant to the level of skill and experience of the driver.
There are two phases to the instruction ability test;
- Phase 1 will examine ability to instruct at an appropriate level for a beginner
- Phase two will examine the ability to instruct at the level of learner (driving test standard) driver.
In phase 1, The Instructor will take on the role of the RSA examiner (i.e the beginner) and will act as though he has never driven a car before or has a limited driving skill, (e.g. is after 5 or 6 lessons). He will then guide you in the correct procedure to take to teach a beginner to drive.
In phase 2, The Instructor will take on the role of the RSA examiner (i.e the learner driver) and will make certain driving faults, which you will then identify, analyse and correct. The Instructor will teach you the correct method for identifying, analysing and correcting and will also guide you in the correct use of terminology to be used depending on the specific role he has chosen on the day.
Get on the Register
To work as a driving instructor in Ireland you must be on the RSA’s Register of Approved Driving Instructors (ADI). Unless you are on this register and hold a permit from the RSA, it is an offence to work as a driving instructor. It’s all part of the RSA’s mission to make Irish roads safer.
HOW TO BECOME AN ADI
If you wish to become an ADI you must first satisfy the Registrar that you are a person of good character. There are also specific requirements – you must:
- Be tax compliant and in possession of a tax clearance certificate
- Hold a full driving licence for the category in which you wish to give instruction for two year
All instructors looking for ADI status must also go through the Garda Vetting process. This provides an extra layer of protection for young learner-drivers.
There are two ways to become an ADI:
- Undergo the three-stage RSA qualification process, or
- Show that your existing qualifications/experience meet the ADI standard
THE QUALIFICATION PROCESS
There are three stages to the ADI exam:
- Driver theory test
- Practical driving test
- Instructional ability test
The theory test (part 1) is carried out locally, at one of our 41 test centres nationwide – you can choose a centre that is most convenient to you.
Once you receive your eligibility number from the ADI unit, you can make an appointment via the online booking page or by calling the information and booking line 1890 606 106.
Available appointment times can vary between test centres.
The driving test (part 2) and the instruction ability test (part 3) are only available at the following locations: Athlone, Cork, Dundalk, Dublin (Finglas), Galway, Kilkenny, Letterkenny, Limerick, Mullingar, Rathgar, Sligo, Tralee and Waterford.
For more information visit www.theorytest.ie.
EXISTING QUALIFICATIONS
If you can show that you meet the RSA ADI standard because of qualifications you already hold, there is no need for you to qualify all over again. But this is something that the RSA needs to verify. Contact us to arrange an assessment of your qualifications. Depending on what qualifications you hold, you may be entitled to an exemption from one or all exam stages.
ADI REGISTER
The name of an applicant who passes the three-stage examination or is approved following assessment of their existing qualifications will be entered into the ADI Register.
FEES
There will be a fee for each phase of the application process, including any re-test following a fail.
FETAC AWARDS IN DRIVING INSTRUCTION
Passing our three-part test not only entitles you to work as an ADI; it is a valuable educational qualification in its own right.
The RSA has worked with FETAC (Further Education & Training Awards Council) – the national body for further educational awards – and representatives of the industry to document the standard and skills needed to become an ADI. FETAC has now, as a result, approved five awards in driving instruction. All of them are Special Purpose Awards rated at national framework qualification (NFQ) Level 6:
- Special Purpose in Passenger Vehicle Driving Instruction
- Special Purpose in Car Driving Instruction
- Special Purpose in Goods Vehicle Driving Instruction
- Special Purpose in Motorcycle Driving Instruction
- Special Purpose in Articulated Vehicle Driving Instruction
- There are also 11 new component awards to accompany them.