To become a motorcycle instructor you must be over 21, have held a full category A or A2 motorcycle licence for 3 years and be a “fit and proper person”. The DVSA will decide if you meet the latter category, especially if you have:
- had any convictions in the last 4 years
- been disqualified from driving
- any court proceedings pending against you
- any penalty points on your licence
There are then 3 routes, depending on what you want to teach:
- Down-trained: This is the simplest option, but you will only be able to teach Compulsory Basic Training. You will need to get a motorcycle training school to teach you how to conduct CBTs and to apply for a licence from the DVSA for you to work for them. We do not recommend this route as you are not considered ‘fully qualified’ and can only work for the one school – we do not use down-trained instructors at Inner Circle Training.
- Become DVSA-approved: This currently involves an intensive 2-day assessment at the DVSA HQ in Cardington, near Bedford. You will need thorough training to be able to pass the assessment. Once approved you can set up your own school, conduct CBTs and down-train others. To teach on category A2 or A motorcycles you must also pass a further half-day Direct Access assessment at Cardington.
- Join the Register of Post-test Motorcycle Trainers: this does not allow you to teach learners (see the other options), but does allow you to teach the Enhance Rider Scheme and conduct ERS Assessments. To enter the register you must either pass the DVSA’s practical riding and instruction tests or hold an accredited advanced riding instruction qualification (such as the RoSPA Diploma in Advanced Riding Instruction) and pass the DVSA’s two-part Theory Test.
If you are seriously interested in becoming an instructor, we can help you prepare for your Cardington asessments. As these have a very low 1st-time pass-rate, a formal structured training programme is advisable to ensure you succeed where others fail!
Contact us on 0161 914 7509 or via email for more information.