Become a driving instructor (ORDIT) trainer
Train people to become driving instructors by joining the official register of driving instructor training (ORDIT) - including the assessments you have to pass.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
How the scheme works
By law, you have to be an approved driving instructor (ADI) to charge money for driving instruction in a car.
You do not need an extra qualification if you also want to train driving instructors. However, you can join the voluntary official register of driving instructor training (ORDIT).
It’s run by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
Joining it lets you:
- prove you meet the DVSA standard to provide high-quality training
- advertise yourself as a DVSA ORDIT trainer
- have your details added to the GOV.UK service to find driving instructor training courses
Eligibility
To become an ORDIT trainer, you must:
- be an ADI
- have got a grade A at your latest ADI standards check (a grade A from your ADI part 3 test does not count)
When you apply to become an ORDIT trainer, DVSA will check you’re suitable by looking at the data they hold on:
- pupils you brought for a car driving test
- instructors you brought for ADI tests
If DVSA does not think you are suitable, they will tell you why and what you need to do before you apply again
If DVSA decides you are suitable, you will then need to pass an assessment of your training skills with DVSA.
Prepare for your assessment
Study these documents on GOV.UK:
- the national standard for driver and rider training
- the national standard for driving cars and light vans
- the learning to drive a car syllabus
You can also use books and software to help you prepare for your assessment:
- The Highway Code
- Know your traffic signs
- Driving - the essential skills
- the official theory test for approved driving instructors pack
- the Driving Instructor’s Handbook
Get a trainer
Get a registered trainer to help you prepare for the assessment.
Find driving instructor training courses and check if the trainer provides training to help you qualify.
Book the qualifying assessment
If you want to book the assessment
DVSA is not currently accepting ORDIT applications.
This page will be updated when you can apply again.
Read and agree the .
Download and fill in the application form.
Send the form to DVSA with the £151.20 assessment fee (which includes VAT). You can pay by:
- debit or credit card
- cheque or postal order made payable to ‘DVSA’
DVSA ORDIT team
ordit@dvsa.gov.uk
ORDIT Team
DVSA
1 Unity Square
Nottingham
NG2 1AY
What happens next
Before your assessment, a DVSA ADI examiner will call you to arrange a date and time for a 30-minute phone call. They will ask you to send copies of training records that you have completed with your trainees and other relevant documents. These can be:
- scans of paper copies
- digital records
Your training records should include:
- your name
- your personal reference number (PRN)
- name of your organisation
- name of the trainee
- date, time, location and duration of a training session
- subject matter
- your appraisal of the session
- the trainee’s feedback and reflections on the session
- signatures by you and trainee
During the 30-minute call, the examiner will assess your training records and give you feedback. If your training records are satisfactory, the examiner will arrange your practical assessment and confirm the time, date and location.
You will not be able to take the practical assessment until the examiner is satisfied with the standard of your records.
Practical assessment
The practical assessment lasts up to 1 hour 30 minutes. This includes:
- a short time at the start where the examiner will ask you about the trainee you’ve brought with you
- around one hour where you give a training session to your trainee
- 15 minutes at the end where the examiner will give you your result and feedback
You will need to act as the learner driver during your assessment. You will need to simulate faults where appropriate for your trainee to correct. You cannot bring a real learner driver for your trainee to instruct.
What to take to your assessment
You need to take:
- your ADI certificate (badge)
- a suitable car (it must meet the same rules as cars used for the ADI part 3 test)
- a trainee
- your trainee’s ADI certificate or trainee instructor licence where appropriate
You can take your trainer or mentor with you, but they cannot take part in the assessment.
Your trainee
Your trainee must be either:
- someone training to become an ADI
- a qualified ADI
Before the assessment
The examiner will ask you some questions about your trainee. You need to be able to tell them:
- what parts of the national standard for driver and rider training your trainee has covered so far
- your trainee’s strengths and weaknesses
- the training theme for the session
Training themes
The training themes include:
- prepare to train learner drivers
- design learning programmes
- enable safe and responsible driving
- deliver driver training programmes
- manage risk to the instructor, learner and third parties
- evaluate and develop knowledge, understanding and skills in the driver training industry
Other training themes might also be appropriate, depending on your trainee.
During the assessment
The examiner will look for evidence that you meet the national standard for driver and rider training.
You’ll be marked on 17 areas of competence that are grouped into 3 categories:
- trainer’s lesson planning
- trainer’s management of risk
- trainer’s teaching and learning strategies
The 17 areas of competence are listed in the - the examiner will fill this in at the end of your assessment.
You’ll get a score from 0 to 3 for each of the 17 competencies, which are added up to work out if you’ve passed the assessment.
You need to score at least 43 out of 51 to pass the assessment.
After the assessment
The examiner will:
- tell you the result of your assessment
- give you a copy of the
- give you feedback on the assessment
If you pass the assessment
You can register as an ORDIT trainer.
If you fail your first assessment
You can resit the assessment if you fail your first attempt. You have to book and pay again.
If you fail your second attempt
You will not qualify as an ORDIT trainer, but you can continue to be an ADI.
DVSA may ask you to take a standards check. You need to pass the check with a grade A if you want to try again to qualify as a driving instructor trainer.
You can be removed from the ADI register if you do not book the standards check, or if you fail it.
Complain about an ORDIT assessment
You can complain to DVSA if you think your examiner did not follow the guidance when they carried out your assessment.
Your assessment result cannot be changed, but you might get a free re-assessment if your complaint is upheld.
Register after you pass your assessment
Download and fill in the application form to register as an ORDIT trainer.
You need to state which training establishment you’ll work for on the application form. This could be:
- your own business (if it has 5 or more ORDIT trainers you’ll need to get it approved by DVSA)
- someone else’s training establishment
You can register with more than one training establishment.
Send the form to DVSA with the £120 registration fee (which includes VAT). You have to pay £18 for each additional establishment you register with.
DVSA ORDIT team
ordit@dvsa.gov.uk
ORDIT Team
DVSA
1 Unity Square
Nottingham
NG2 1AY
What happens next
You’ll be:
- sent an ORDIT certificate (badge) for each training establishment you register with
- added to the GOV.UK service to find driving instructor training courses
- able to advertise yourself as an ORDIT trainer
Your ORDIT registration will last for 4 years. It does not match your main ADI registration period.
Example Your ADI registration runs from 1 June 2020 to 31 May 2024.
You register as an ORDIT trainer on 1 May 2022. Your ORDIT registration lasts until 31 May 2026.
However, you need to renew your ADI registration by 31 May 2024 for your ORDIT registration to continue.
You then need to pass an ORDIT re-assessment and re-register as an ORDIT trainer by 31 May 2026.
When you’re registered
When you’ve registered you need to:
- manage your registration details, for example, changing your address or contact details
- renew your registration every 4 years
- follow the rules about training
Find out how to manage and renew your registration.
Fees
| Fee type | Price |
|---|---|
| Qualifying assessment | £151.20 |
| Registration with a training establishment | £120 |
| Registration for each extra training establishment you work for | £18 |
Updates to this page
Published 1 March 2019Last updated 29 November 2023 + show all updates
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Added note to explain that DVSA is not accepting ORDIT applications until April 2023.
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Added an email option to send the application forms.
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Added information about the pre-assessment phone appointment and training records.
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Updated the address to send applications to.
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Removed information about managing and renewing your registration, as this has been added to a new guide, which is linked to.
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Added information on how to re-register as an ORDIT trainer.
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Updated the terms and conditions you need to follow to be an ORDIT trainer.
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Updated the form to book the ORDIT trainer assessment.
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Added application form to book an ORDIT trainer assessment, terms and conditions, and application form to register as an ORDIT trainer.
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First published.