Becoming a driving instructor - this is how it works

Do you want to become a driving instructor and thus pursue a varied profession? We will tell you the most important key data about the training process to become a driving instructor and show you good reasons why you should train as a driving instructor.

The training to become a driving instructor is significantly shorter than a classic training, for example in an office or in a trade: With 12 months, the training to become a driving instructor is one of the fastest recognised vocational trainings. During the training, you gain insights into the working world of a driving instructor that you did not necessarily register during your time as a learner driver. A good reason to become a driving instructor is the short duration of the training. Within one year, you will have completed your professional training, which will enable you to work fully within your profession.

The driving instructor training is divided into 2 phases. It consists of theoretical and practical training. The contents of these two phases are explained in more detail in the next section. The theoretical part lasts 5 months. This part is completed in various full-day courses. In the practical part, you have to prove that you are suitable for the profession of driving instructor. In the third month of your training, your driving style is analysed and assessed in a practical driving test. After you have successfully passed the theoretical part, a five-month internship follows in a training school. Here you will start teaching your first students.

As briefly mentioned in the last section, the driving instructor training consists of 2 phases (theoretical and practical). The theoretical part includes comprehensive topics such as road traffic regulations, traffic behaviour and driving school pedagogy. Regulations and behaviour in road traffic should have been learnt by every learner driver in driving school, even if not every driver adheres to the general traffic regulations. As a driving instructor, traffic regulations are of course an absolute must! After all, as a driving instructor you should be aware that you have a role model function for your students. In addition, the theoretical part of the training teaches the prospective driving instructor basic knowledge in legal and environmental areas. Furthermore, as a driving instructor you have to learn basic knowledge of the technical conditions of a vehicle. These will be asked of the learner drivers in the examinations, so the driving instructor must be able to convey this knowledge. Once the theoretical part has been successfully completed, the practical training phase begins. During this phase, a practical training period is completed at a training school: At the beginning of the practical training you go through an acclimatisation phase. As soon as this phase is completed, you will start to train learner drivers, with the help of an experienced driving instructor at the beginning. During the internship, you as a prospective driving instructor must also participate in a pedagogical reflection. This takes place twice and lasts one week each time. Here, experiences are exchanged with other prospective driving instructors. If you have passed all the exams at the end of the training, you will receive your driving instructor's licence and you can officially call yourself a driving instructor!

Once you have completed your training as a driving instructor, a new career awaits you: As a driving instructor, you teach your students how to drive and teach them important rules of the road. If you are a little more ambitious, you always have the opportunity to expand your horizons with the knowledge you have already acquired. Improve your qualifications by proving your suitability as a driving instructor for other driving licence classes (e.g. for motorbikes or trucks). This way you can increase your already high market value as a driving instructor, which will be accompanied by a higher salary.

Unlike other professions, driving schools have a very high average age of their staff. The demographic change is also noticeable in driving schools, so that there is a desperate search for young driving instructors. Overall, the job opportunities are very good, because the demand for driving instructors is high. The job of a driving instructor is also future-proof - the skills to drive a vehicle are indispensable for the years to come.

The salary can vary greatly depending on the driving school and region. With a bit of luck, 3000EUR is already possible as a beginner. At some driving schools you will earn more, at others less. Depending on your qualifications, you can earn a good salary during your career as a driving instructor. Up to 4000EUR gross and more are possible in your further career. Overall, training as a driving instructor offers exciting opportunities. The short training period and an attractive salary in a job with a secure future are the greatest advantages of training as a driving instructor. At the same time, you can be a role model for young people in terms of the environment and roadworthiness.

Are you interested in becoming a driving instructor? We at the DriveX driving school offer you the opportunity to realise your dream job. With us you have the unique opportunity to complete your training as a driving instructor with the best support.