Qualifications Needed To Become A DVSA ADI

Qualifications Needed To Become A Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Approved Driving Instructor DVSA ADI

The Register of Approved Driving Instructors is administered by the Driver And Vehicle Standards Agency, which is an executive agency of the Department for Transport.

No prior qualifications are necessary to become a DVSA ADI, the factors that are taken into account are the length of time a driving licence has been held, and whether you have any convictions, either motoring or non-motoring.

To become a Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Approved Driving Instructor, DVSA ADI, you must have held a full driving licence for a minimum of four years, and pass a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, DBS, formerly called a Criminal Records Bureau Check, CRB.

A clean licence is preferable, however you may possibly still be accepted if you have some points on your licence as each case is taken on its individual merits.

If you have held your driving licence for less than four years you may be able to commence training in order to qualify once the four years are completed.

If you do have points on your licence or have not held it for four years, or have any convictions, please contact us for further details about how to proceed.

The decision as to whether someone is allowed to become a Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Approved Driving Instructor, DVSA ADI, or once they have qualified whether they are removed from The Register of Approved Driving Instructors is the responsibility of The Registrar at DVSA.

The guidance below has been taken from information released by the DVSA Registrar

The Registrar will check if you have:

• any motoring or non-motoring cautions, convictions or fixed penalty notices
• been disqualified from driving
• any court proceedings pending against you
• been banned or barred from working with children under 18 years of age
• had your name added to the sex offenders register
• had any substantiated complaints of inappropriate behaviour or misconduct
• had any substantiated complaints for financially inappropriate or fraudulent activity

Factors taken into account include:

• whether the caution, conviction or other information revealed is relevant to the ADI role
• the seriousness of any offence
• the circumstances surrounding an offence and the explanation
• the length of time since the offence occurred and if it’s ‘spent’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
• whether there’s a pattern of offending behaviour
• whether the circumstances have changed since the offending behaviour

Each case is considered on an individual basis. The ADI Registrar will write to you giving you the opportunity to explain your circumstances before making a final decision.

Offences that would make it unlikely that you would be allowed to qualify as, or continue to work as a DVSA ADI include:

Motoring Offences:

• if you’ve been disqualified from driving in the last 4 years
• 6 or more penalty points within the last 3 years under the ‘totting up’ rules
• if you’ve been found guility of:
  • driving whilst disqualified
  • driving under the influence of drink or drugs within the last 4 years
  • dangerous driving
  • driving without due care and attention
  • failing to stop after an accident
  • failing to give information as to the identity of the driver
  • driving without insurance
  • driving while using a hand-held mobile phone
  • excessive speeding

Non-Motoring Offences:

• if you’ve been cautioned for or convicted of:
  • sexual assault - in particular, offences involving pupils
  • making, possessing or distributing indecent or pornographic images
  • an offence of a sexual nature involving children
  • perverting the course of justice
  • assault
  • possession or supply of drugs
  • fraud - in particular, offences involving illegal driving instruction
  • theft - in particular, offences involving the theft of tuition fees

It is also unlikely that you would be allowed to qualify as, or continue to work as a DVSA ADI if you have:

• any court judgements against you for failing to provide lessons for which you have been paid
• been placed on the sex offenders register
• been banned or barred from working with children under 18 years of age

If you do have points on your licence or have not held it for four years, or have any convictions, please contact us for further details about how to proceed.

Pages in the Driving Instructor Qualification Process Section of the Driving Instructor Trainers website:

Sections of the Driving Instructor Trainers Website: