Driving Instructor

Driving Instructors teach people the theoretical and practical aspects of driving motor vehicles.

---

Theoretical training comprises lectures and demonstrations on how to handle a vehicle in an emergency, driving techniques and the mechanical operation of motor vehicles.  Instructors may use blackboard diagrams, audio-visual aids and driving simulators to accomplish this task.

Practical training involves the learner driver actually starting the car, driving and parking - first in the driving-school grounds and then out on the public road - while the instructor observes the learner’s driving habits and reactions under various conditions.

Driving instructors encourage improvement of the learner driver’s technique until a satisfactory level of competence has been attained and the learner is able to attempt to pass a test and acquire a driver’s licence.

---

Personal Requirements

• at least 5 years of driving experience
• excellent interpersonal skills
• patient and mature
• ability to work with young people
• calm temperament and mental stability
• able to react quickly in an emergency
• able to deal with criticism from learners who fail their driving tests

---

How to Enter

Schooling & School Subjects

No specific requirements

---

What to Study

The law requires that a practising driving instructor must be in possession of an Instructor’s Licence, issued by the Department of Transport or local traffic department. This is renewable annually and it is a condition of renewal that the driving instructor repeats the practical driving test. Candidates who have at least 5 years of driving experience will stand a much better chance of securing a position.

A driving school will accept an application for a position as a driving instructor, even without the necessary licence, provided that a person has the right qualities for the position.

If a driving instructor wishes to start a driving school the following steps should be taken:

• collect an application form from the nearest police station
• return the completed form to the police station with the application fee
• receive a receipt for the application fee and a form to be completed by a medical examiner
• hand in the completed medical form at the police station
• forms and fingerprints will be sent to central government to check whether any criminal offences have been committed
• after a period of approximately 2 months the applicant will receive correspondence from central government advising where to go for the instructor’s licence or K53 test
• take the test to prove that the driving school has been registered as a company and that it is well advertised.

Note: There are moves afoot to convert the Instructor’s Licence test into a full diploma course and to make possession of the diploma a legal requirement of practising as a driving instructor

---

Employment

• driving schools
• self-employed, with enough experience and capital, can start own driving school

---

Further Information

Any of the above potential employers or any police station or the Department of Transport.

---

Getting Started

• improve your driving skills and, if possible, take advanced driving lessons
• speak to a driver instructor about this type of career and ask to observe them at work

---

---

Related Occupations

---