Some factors are within your control; others aren’t.

The time you can commit

Most of our trainees are changing career rather than coming straight into instructor training with nothing else to do.

You may have a full-time job, family commitments or other responsibilities. That’s completely normal.

The amount of time you can realistically dedicate to training and private study will therefore affect how quickly you progress.

How quickly you develop

Everyone learns differently.

One trainee might need more work on their own driving before Part 2, while another may find the teaching and coaching skills required for Part 3 more challenging.

That’s one of the reasons we provide personal, one-to-one training rather than expecting everybody to progress according to the same timetable.

DVSA test availability

Test availability can have a significant impact on the overall time it takes to qualify.

You may be ready for the next stage but unable to secure a test as quickly as you’d like.

Unfortunately, neither you nor your trainer can control DVSA waiting times, which is why we’d be wary of any training provider guaranteeing that you’ll become a fully qualified ADI by a particular date.

Passing each stage

Naturally, having to retake a test will add time to the process.

Our approach isn’t to rush you into a test simply to move you through the system. We want you to understand what is expected and be properly prepared before you take each stage.

Yes. In fact, many of our trainees continue working in their existing job while completing their ADI training.

This can make changing career considerably less daunting because you don’t have to give up your current income before you’ve even started.

We’ll arrange your training around your existing commitments wherever possible and help you develop at a realistic pace.

You don’t need to turn your life upside down overnight to start working towards a new career.

It’s understandable to want to qualify as quickly as possible, particularly once you’ve decided you’re ready for a career change.

But fastest isn’t necessarily best.

Becoming a driving instructor isn’t simply about passing three tests. You’re learning the skills you’ll eventually use every day with real pupils who will rely on you to help them become safe, confident drivers.

Putting in the time to develop those skills properly is an investment in the career you’re hoping to build.

If you progress quickly and are ready for each test, that’s great. But we won’t rush your training simply to meet an arbitrary timescale.

After passing ADI Part 2 and completing 40 hours of instructor training, there is an option to apply for a six-month trainee driving instructor licence, often referred to as a pink licence.

This can allow you to gain practical experience teaching pupils and receive payment for lessons while you’re preparing for Part 3.

A trainee licence isn’t automatically the right route for everyone, however.

We’ll talk through the options with you so you understand what’s involved and can decide whether gaining experience on a trainee licence is appropriate for you.

If you’re comparing driving instructor training providers, be cautious about choosing purely on the basis of how quickly you’re told you can qualify.

There are parts of the process that no training provider can control – particularly DVSA test availability.

More importantly, qualifying as an ADI is the beginning of your career, not the end of your training.

The aim should be to become a confident, capable driving instructor, not simply to get through Parts 1, 2 and 3 as quickly as possible.

Changing career is a big decision, and it’s completely understandable to want to know when you’ll be able to start your new job.

But try not to become too focused on a particular qualification date.

Concentrate on each stage as it comes. Put the work in, practise, ask questions and make sure you understand why you’re doing something rather than simply learning what you think an examiner wants to see.

Your ADI tests are important, but you’re not just training to pass a test – you’re training for the career that comes afterwards.