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  • Breadcrumb

    1. Home
    2. Motoring
    3. Driving for a living
    4. Driving instructors

    How to become an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI)

    To become an ADI you must carry out three qualifying tests. Part one tests your theory knowledge, part two tests your driving ability and fitness to drive and part three tests your ability to instruct learner drivers.

    Becoming an ADI

    Detailed information on the ADI process is available at:

    • Your guide to becoming an Approved Driving Instructor

    When you first apply, an enhanced security check will be carried out by Access NI (ANI). Once carried out, Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) will send you your eligibility number which you will need to book a theory test.

    • Apply for an AccessNI check

    Information about the ANI check can also be found in the guide above along with a list of training materials to help you prepare for each test.

    If you have concerns about your criminal history, you should contact DVA by email before making payment for any tests and before committing to any training offered by ADI training providers.

    Send any queries to: ADIOnlineCorrespondence@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

    The ADI job preview tool will help you understand what it means to be an ADI, whether you are suitable for this kind of work and your level of understanding of driving theory and practice.

    You must pass all three tests, in order, within two years. If you fail any of the tests three times, you must wait two years from the date you first sat the theory test before beginning the process again.

    It is illegal to charge for driving lessons unless you are a qualified ADI. 

    The only exception to this rule is the ADI Trainee Licence scheme.

    ADI Trainee Licence scheme

    To get practical experience before taking the instructional ability test (part three), you can apply for an ADI trainee licence. If granted, you will be allowed to instruct for payment although you will not be registered as an ADI. 

    ADI trainee licences are valid for six months and apart from very exceptional circumstances you can only be granted two ADI trainee licences in a lifetime. 

    Yo do not need to hold an ADI trainee licence before you become registered and it cannot be used as a substitution for registration.

    You must display your ADI trainee licence at all times. Either on your person or clearly displayed in the vehicle you are using for paid instruction. If you do not display your ADI trainee licence, it will be revoked.

    An ADI trainee licence does not allow you to set up in business on your own behalf. You should not advertise yourself, your telephone number or brand which is unique to you, which might infer that you are an ADI and included on the ADI register.

    Becoming an ADI if you're disabled

    You will need to give details of the restrictions on your licence when you make your application. If you have a disability and you are unable to drive a manual car you may take the tests in an automatic vehicle.

    You can only choose this method if you have a medically restricted licence, marked with code 078. In this case, you are only able to give paid instruction in automatic vehicles.

    Other rules to be an ADI

    As well as the three tests and a satisfactory ANI check, you must also:

    • hold a valid, full NI, Great Britain, or Community (EU) car driving licence
    • have held the licence or a foreign licence for a total of four years out of the past six before the date of your application
    • not have been disqualified from driving for any part of the four years before the date of your application

    Category B+E instruction

    If you wish to give paid instruction in Category B+E (car + trailer) you must become a registered ADI and have held full B+E rights for at least four of the last six years.

    If you are already an ADI, have full B+E rights on your driving licence and would like to be registered to teach B+E, you must tell DVA that you want your registration to include B+E by emailing DVA's Business Support Unit:

    • DVA Business Support Unit contact page

    Apply to become an ADI online

    You can book your ADI test and make your payment online at the link below.

    • Apply to become an ADI or AMI online

    If you need to contact DVA about your application or booking, email ADIOnlineCorrespondence@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.

    ADI test centre locations

    The theory test (part one) is available at six theory test centres – Ballymena, Balmoral (Belfast), Londonderry, Newry, Omagh and Portadown.

    The driving ability test (part two) is conducted at Balmoral (Belfast) or Altnagelvin driving test centres.

    The instructional ability test (part three) is conducted at Dill Road (Belfast) or Altnagelvin driving test centres.

    • Test centre locations

    ADI test fees

    Approved Driving Instructor test fees are available at the following page: 

    • Driving test fees

    Joining the register

    After passing all three tests, you may apply to have your name added to the ADI register after paying the registration fee and having a satisfactory ANI check.

    EU transfer

    If you hold an ADI licence in an EU country, you can get this transferred to a NI licence if you are resident in NI.

    You can do this online at:

    • Apply to become an ADI or AMI online

    You will then need to create a nidirect account, login to the Approved Instructor System (AIS) through the green button at the link above, choose ADI registration (£240) and make the payment as instructed.

    More useful links

    • How to become an Approved Motorcycle Instructor (AMI)
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    Driving instructors

    • Apply to become an ADI or AMI online
    • Approved Motorcycle Instructor (AMI) register
    • How to become an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI)
    • How to become an Approved Motorcycle Instructor (AMI)

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