Becoming a driver instructor is a great way to work closely with people and help them achieve their goals. It’s also a good way to make a living, as many driving instructors can earn upwards of $100 per hour.

There are many ways to become a driver instructor, but the most straightforward is to take part in the training program offered by your state department of motor vehicles (DMV). The DMV will pay all your costs when you enter this program, and they’ll provide you with the necessary equipment and materials.

The training program consists of three parts: classroom instruction, practical training, and clinical experience. You’ll spend most of your time in the classroom learning about things like defensive driving techniques and how to teach people who have special needs how to drive safely. The rest of your time will be spent doing practical training on real-world driving situations and working with clients at local hospitals or senior centers where there are fewer distractions than at home or work.

You’ll only need an associate’s degree from an accredited college or university for this job—but if you want to become an instructor for drivers who’ve had accidents or other serious traffic violations on their record, then you may need an advanced degree in education or psychology.

How To Become Driver Instructor

Driving instructors teach students how to drive safely and follow traffic laws. As a driving instructor, your job duties include creating lesson plans for classroom instruction, giving students hands-on driving practice, and providing feedback to students on how they can improve. You need strong teaching and communication skills to help your students learn essential driving concepts and methods. Driving instructors usually find jobs teaching first-time drivers who are preparing for their driver’s license test or experienced drivers who want to drive different vehicles, such as motorcycles or commercial vehicles.

How Can I Become a Driving Instructor?

To become a driving instructor, you need a high school diploma or GED certificate and formal training. The exact qualifications depend on your state, but requirements typically include several years of previous driving experience, a clean driving record, and passing a criminal background check. In addition to a driver’s license, you need an instructor’s license to become a certified driving instructor, and additional training to teach driving of specialized vehicles. For example, to teach commercial truck drivers, you need a commercial driver’s license and experience driving big rig trucks.

Is Driving Instructor a Good Career?

Working as a driving instructor is a good career if you are passionate about vehicles and driving. You are doing important work, teaching a new generation of drivers how to safely operate motor vehicles on roads and highways. Your responsibilities are teaching students safe driving concepts and giving them opportunities to practice behind the wheel. You may work evenings and weekends, especially if you are a driving instructor for high school students studying to pass their driver’s license test.

How Do Driving Instructors Get Paid?

Driving instructors typically get paid hourly. Your pay is based on the number of hours you spend providing students with classroom instruction and hands-on driving experience. In hourly positions, you can often earn overtime pay. Depending on your employer, you may receive your paychecks weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Some employers pay driving instructors per course, with bonuses based on the number of students who enroll in a particular training program or profit sharing on a quarterly or annual basis.

How to Be a Good Driving Instructor

To be a good driving instructor, you must also be a good driver and have experience driving the types of vehicles you are teaching students to drive, whether that is a car, motorcycle, bus, or semi-truck. Make your students feel safe and comfortable learning to drive; inexperienced drivers are often nervous when they are in the driver’s seat. Teach students driver safety habits, defensive driving techniques, and state traffic laws. Driving instruction also includes classroom lessons, so practice public speaking skills and giving presentations.

Driving Instructor Job Description Sample

With this Driving Instructor job description sample, you can get a good idea of what employers are looking for when hiring for this position. Remember, every employer is different and each will have unique qualifications when they hire for a Driving Instructor role.

Job Summary

Our company is seeking a Driving Instructor with teaching experience to lead classes. You will work with students learning to drive and studying to obtain their driver’s license, whether it be a CDL A license or CDL B license. Our ideal candidate can create lesson plans, provide informational classroom instruction, and give constructive feedback to each student. In this role, you also facilitate hands-on driving with students behind the wheel, monitoring their progress and helping them put driving concepts into practice. You should be an experienced driver yourself, with the ability to exhibit patience and follow the rules of law enforcement. We may need Driving Instructors who can teach people in specialized fields, such as trucking or HAZMAT.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Instruct driving courses for students
• Create lesson plans and administer tests
• Perform curriculum development
• Grade students’ work and evaluate their progress, providing feedback as needed
• Provide behind-the-wheel driving lessons for students
• Communicate with clients or students’ parents as needed

Requirements and Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED certificate
• Relevant driver’s license
• Professional training
• Driving instructor certification
• Strong teaching and communication skills
• Clean driving record
• Ability to pass a background check