Do you love driving more than just a hobby? Then why not just turn it into a career. Yes, you can turn driving into a career by becoming a driving instructor. You can earn by following your passion and love for cars and driving. A driving instructor is a professional who teaches and trains unlicensed people about the safe operations and driving of different vehicles such as cars, bikes, trucks, and buses. There are many reasons to become a driving instructor in Western Australia. The decent hourly pay and independent and flexible work hours are some reasons that are compelling many people in Australia to take driving instructor as a career.
Role of Driving Instructor
The role of a driving instructor is to prepare a student for driving confidently on the road and enjoy a safe traveling experience. Through practical and theoretical training, a driving teacher educates the student on the following segments.
- Laws and rules of road traffic in Australia
- Providing a live demonstration of different vehicle parts like gears, clutch, indicators, transmission system, brakes, accelerator and lights, and their role in driving
- Vehicle handling and road safety methods
- Advanced driving methods for combating emergencies
- Offering preparatory instructions to the students to pass the driving test in the first go
Criteria for becoming a driving instructor in Australia
To work in this appealing field, a person must fulfill some eligibility criteria to successfully pursue this career option.
- You need to be 21 years of age or above.
- Should have a valid current Australian Driver’s License.
- You need to pass a traffic history check. It will ensure that the person has not broken any traffic rules, as per the Road Safety Act 1986.
Apart from that, you need to be well aware of road traffic laws and the rules of Australia. A driving instructor should also know other information such as road safety, driving techniques, knowledge of every part of a vehicle, and vehicle handling methods.
How to become a driving instructor in Australia?
Good driving instructors are responsible citizens of the country that must train the best drivers in society. A good driving instructor ensures that the trainee gets accurate training and drives safely on the road, ensuring their and others’ safety. To become a driving instructor in Western Australia, you need to follow simple steps. Here is a descriptive guide that will help you become a driving instructor.
- Police Checking
The first step to becoming a successful driving instructor in this country is to complete a police check. You need to apply for your National Police Certificate (NPC) at an accredited organization or Australia Post. It will take around ten working days from the day the accredited organization or Australia Post receives the application. There is a need for two-character references with the application and proof of identity. Those references should be from people not related to you and have known you for a year or more. Ensure that the NPC is valid until the completion of the application process.
- Apply in Person
Download the E175 form and print it out to complete the application procedure. With that, submit the documents listed in it and the application fee in person.
- Complete the Theoretical Assessment
The next step is to complete the theory and practical assessments, a part of the application process. There are several tests in the theory assessment portion. The tests are according to the vehicle you want to teach, such as general driving, motorcycle driving, and heavy vehicle driving.
Applicants with a nationally-recognized qualification from a Registered Training Organization are exempted from the theory and practical assessments. The nationally-recognized qualifications needed for exemption are Certificate III in Motor Vehicle Driver Instruction, Certificate IV in Driving Instruction, and Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics
- Completing the practical assessment
The Department of Transport will take another ten working days to process the submitted application. After that, they will contact you for Practical Driving Assessment and an instructor’s Practical Test too, if it is necessary.
To become a driving instructor in Western Australia, you should pass the practical driving assessment with good numbers. The same applies to the instructor’s practical test. Both tests will assess your abilities as a driving instructor. The practical assessment is also taken by the students, but the driving instructor test standard is much higher. The instructor’s practical test will test your capability to teach the students. After that, you have to wait for the result of the tests.
To become a driving instructor in Western Australia, you should pass the practical driving assessment with good numbers. The same applies to the instructor’s practical test. Both tests will assess your abilities as a driving instructor. After that, you have to wait for the result of the tests.
- Pay the License Fee
After passing the tests and approval of the application by DOT, pay the annual license fee, which depends on the current rates. After paying the fee, you will receive the driving instructor’s license and companion booklet from the DOT within five working days.
Now, you are a licensed driving instructor in Australia. You need to understand your responsibility as a training driver. As an instructor, you will teach people to drive and control there and the people’s safety on the road.
Benefits of becoming a driving instructor in Australia
A driving instructor career is highly-rewarding. So let us take a look into some of the advantages of becoming a driving instructor in Australia below.
- Flexible working hours with a lower workload
- Provide immense satisfaction when you prepare the students safe drivers and prevent road accidents
- You can meet people from different cultural backgrounds
- Teaching the amateurs about the driving and road safety rules from scratch makes the job rewarding and interesting
Conclusion
To become a driving instructor in Western Australia is a daunting and responsible task. The application process ensures that only deserving people get the license. The driving instructor has the responsibility of teaching safe driving to people. You will have immense satisfaction when your students become mindful, safe and skilled drivers.