Can anyone apply to be an Approved Driving Instructor? No.
If you want to be an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) you must:
- hold a full UK or European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) unrestricted car driving licence
- have held it for a total of at least four out of the past six years prior to entering the Register after qualifying, but:
- a foreign driving licence, an automatic car driving licence or a provisional licence held after passing the driving test, all counts towards the four years.
- not have been disqualified from driving at any time in the four years prior to being entered in the Register
- be a fit and proper person to have your name entered in the Register. All convictions, including motoring offences, still in force (i.e not 'spent' under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974) will be taken into account when we assess your suitability to be entered in the Register.
- pass the Register qualifying examinations and register within 12 months of doing so.
- In addition you should be aware that you cannot accompany a person to drive unless you have held a full UK or EU/EEA driving licence for three years and must be aged 21 or more. A foreign full licence will count towards this three year period but it must be a foreign licence that is accepted under the 'exchange' scheme.
- For more details of the echange systems Please read Section 4 of the DVLA booklets D100 "What you need to know about driving licences" available at most Post Offices.