what is a driving instructor?
A driving instructor is someone who helps people learn how to drive. When considering this position, you probably picture a high school teacher assisting teenagers. However, there are many different types of driving instructors. Many work outside the educational system and instead work for private companies. Driving instructors may teach various student ages, including teens, adults and seniors.
what does a driving instructor do?
A driving instructor's job is to educate people about safe driving procedures. In this position, you provide both theoretical and hands-on instructions. The classroom portion of training includes presentations, lectures, tests and other assignments that give students the necessary knowledge. Students then practice the instructions in a real vehicle. Instructors teach on public roads as well as driving courses. As a driving instructor, you teach students about the rules of the road, common driving laws, driving safety and more. Your primary goal is to help students pass official driving tests and become safe, licensed drivers. The role requires patience and tactfulness to instruct drivers and teach them at their pace.
view vacanciesaverage driving instructor salary
As a driving instructor, you earn an average remuneration package of $70,000 annually. Entry-level positions attract a remuneration of $65,000 annually. As your experience and qualifications improve, your earnings increase to over $75,000 yearly. The salary of driving instructors depends on various factors. For instance, the type of students you teach influences your earnings. When you are a driving instructor teaching students how to operate trucks and buses, you are likely to earn more than an instructor for regular cars. Teaching truck drivers and heavy vehicle operators require additional qualifications and skills, which attracts a higher remuneration.
Your employer also influences your earnings. For instance, working for a training facility attracts a different salary than working for a private company. Some industries with specialised vehicles, like construction, logistics or mining, hire driving instructors to improve drivers' skills. When you provide services to a specific industry, you can negotiate a higher salary due to the complexity of the role.
Want to know what you will earn as a driving instructor? Check out what you are worth with our salary checker.
types of driving instructors
The types of driving instructors depend on the organisation they work for. Some of the driving instructors include:
- educational driving instructor: as an educational driving instructor, you work at a high school or college to teach driving as an elective course. In this role, you teach young students. Instead of focusing on driving, you spend time following typical school procedures like assigning homework or managing students. For this type of instructor, the main goal is teaching an educational course to students in a traditional classroom setting.
- driving school instructor: as a driving school instructor, you work at an institution that only teaches driving. Instead of training the same set of students throughout a normal school year, you teach longer, more concentrated classes. Over a few weeks or months, you instruct students on everything they need to know to pass driving exams. These students are at the driving institution specifically to get a licence.
- commercial driving instructor: as a commercial driver's licence instructor, you specialise in teaching students how to operate semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles. You work in driving institutions, just like driving school instructors.
working as a driving instructor
Working as a driving instructor is an interesting career with various job opportunities. Check out the duties and responsibilities of a driving instructor, including the schedules and work environments.
-
driving instructor job description
The daily duties and responsibilities of a driving instructor include:
- preparing lessons: as a driving instructor, you prepare lesson plans for students and adults based on their age and the vehicles they want to drive. You determine the objectives of the classes and the learning methods. You can adapt the learning methods anytime to suit the students’ requirements.
- teaching: your primary role is to teach the proper skills and impart knowledge on driving. Aside from basic driving instructions, you guide the students on the car parts and their functions. You also impart navigation skills and teach about traffic laws and regulations.
- acting on emergencies: teaching driving students involves driving practice on the road. Sometimes, you act on the emergencies that could occur during driving practice. For instance, you take control of the vehicle when a student loses control to prevent a wreck.
- encouraging students: as a driving instructor, you encourage students as they drive the vehicle. If the driver is nervous, you calm them down to ensure they remember traffic laws. You also help students in distress and advise them whether it’s the right time to take the paid test for the licence or continue with training.
- reporting: as a driving instructor, you prepare reports on the student’s progress and ensure the records are properly documented for future reference. Your report documents any emergencies and crashes during the lessons and each student's progress.
-
work environment
Driving instructors work in a driving school or institution and spend most of the day teaching students about traffic laws and vehicle features. You administer tests for the licences in classes. Aside from working indoors, you also work outdoors in practical lessons with students. You sit in the passenger seat and guide the driver throughout their practical lesson. When you work in the logistics industry, you are likely to work for a company that trains truck drivers within the compound.
-
who are your colleagues?
Depending on your employer and industry, your colleagues might include truck drivers, lead instructors and training managers. You might also be working close to school administrators and operations managers, as well as other specialists that could include (but not be limited to) heavy combination drivers, private investigators and transport coordinators.
-
work schedule
The typical work schedule of a driving instructor teaching full-time is 40 or more hours a week. Plenty of part-time jobs are available that offer between 15 to 30 hours a week. Your time at work will typically depend on how many lessons you teach per week. In private companies, you provide teaching lessons on demand. For instance, you are hired to improve drivers' skills in operating some vehicles and train drivers in their free time.
-
job outlook
Once you become a driving instructor, your growth opportunities are limited. Typically, the driving instructor job position is the highest possible option in this field. Part-time employees have opportunities to advance to full-time positions, but often, that is the only available promotion. You will have more job growth opportunities if you are willing to get extra training and develop more skills. Those who learn how to drive commercial vehicles have a more lucrative option as a CDL instructor. Driving instructors who learn business and management skills can operate their driving academies.
-
advantages of finding a driving instructor job through randstad
Finding your driving instructor job through Randstad provides essential benefits such as the following:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a driving instructor is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers every year thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.
education and skills
Educational qualifications aren’t mandatory for driving instructors, but you may require the following qualifications:
- specific driving instructor's licence: to work as a driving instructor in Australia, you require a specific driver's licence. First, you need an unrestricted, state-issued driver's licence and substantial years of experience. Contact your local traffic authority for the required driver's licence.
- education skills: as a driving instructor, you can complete a Certificate IV in transport and logistics with a specialisation in road transport-car driving instruction. Complete the course at a registered training organisation or TAFE.
driving instructor skills and competencies
Some of the qualities of a driving instructor include the following:
- communication skills: as a driving instructor, you rely on communication skills to explain vehicle features and concepts to students. You also use effective communication to build rapport and calm the students during practical lessons.
- patience: as a driving instructor, you repeat instructions and driving concepts multiple times for students to understand. You require patience to correct students' mistakes and be calm in every situation.
- attention to detail: as a driving instructor, attention to detail helps you notice mistakes during practical lessons. When you are detail-oriented, you provide constructive feedback to help students improve their driving skills.
- ability to stay calm: as a driving instructor, calmness is vital since it helps you maintain composure in stressful circumstances. A calm instructor helps a student with difficulty in manoeuvring and can prevent accidents.
FAQs about working as a driving instructor
Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a driving instructor.
-
what are the duties of a driving instructor?
As a driving instructor, you prepare lesson plans and learning techniques to help your students understand the functions of every part of a vehicle. You explain how a car operates, instruct on performing safety checks and teach how to respond to emergencies.
-
what are the qualities of a good driving instructor?
As a driving instructor, you require patience to teach students at their pace. It is also important to be adaptable and flexible to make learning fun. Excellent communication skills come in handy since you should communicate clearly and concisely.
-
what is the best part of becoming a driving instructor?
Becoming a driving instructor is exciting if you’re passionate about cars and driving, and enjoy time behind the wheel and interacting with people. A driving instructor career is rewarding since you help students learn valuable skills and improve road safety.
-
how much does a driving instructor earn in Australia?
A driving instructor earns a remuneration package from $65,000 to $75,000 annually. The salary fluctuates depending on qualifications and experience. Your employer also influences your earnings. For instance, when you work for a private company, your earnings differ from driving instructors working in student institutions.
-
how do you become a driving instructor in Australia?
A state-issued driver's licence is mandatory for being a driving instructor in Australia. You may also require a Certificate IV in transport and logistics. If you work in schools, you need a Working with Children Check (WWCC) to work with students under 18 years.
-
how do I apply for a driving instructor vacancy?
Applying for a driving instructor job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.