PDI/Trainee Instructor

A PDI (Potential Driving Instructor) is not a fully qualified driving instructor. He/she has started the route to passing the necessary exams beginning with Part I, a theory test. The theory test for the PDI is much more demanding than the theory test for the provisional license holder and requires considerable research. Once passed, the PDI has two years to qualify or they must start all over again by retaking the theory test.

Part II is a driving test, again much more demanding than that required for a learner driver. The driving test for the PDI is an hour long and only a maximum of 6 minor driving faults are allowed. As with the provisional driving test, no serious or dangerous faults are acceptable. If the PDI fails three times, they have to wait the two years from the theory pass date to retake the theory test and begin the process all over again.

Once the PDI has passed the Part II driving test, they can apply for part III, which is the test of instructional ability. The examiner role-plays a learner driver at two levels, a novice with no experience or hardly any, to a more experienced learner driver approaching test standard. The PDI is tested on their ability to instruct at a level to suit the learner, their ability to recognise driving faults and take the necessary action to correct them. The PDI is graded on both parts. A successful grade is an overall 4, 5 or 6. Anything less is unsuccessful and a further test required, again, limited to three attempts or it’s back to starting again after two years from the theory pass date.

The part III is very difficult to pass without some sort of experience and this is where the trainee license comes in. Having passed the part II driving test, a PDI can apply for a trainee license, which is designed to allow the PDI time to put their newly acquired knowledge to the test and gain valuable experience before attempting the part III. If they do not pass the part III within 6 months the trainee license expires and they are no longer allowed to give driving lessons for money. There are exceptions where the Driving Standards Agency may extend the license, but this not easily achieved and extraordinary circumstances would apply.

A trainee license holder must work within and be supervised by a driving school with additional instruction of at least 20 hours. Problems have arisen (and recently reported in an investigative TV programme), where the driving school has failed to inform their pupils/customers they have been given a trainee instructor to teach them to drive and charging the same price as a fully qualified driving instructor. The new driver is none the wiser as the whole experience is new and has nothing previous to compare with. The only outward sign is the instructor’s badge, which must be visible during driving lessons. The trainee license is triangular and pink, whereas a fully qualified instructor exhibits a green octagonal license – but nobody notices or is aware of any difference. What can happen is the sudden loss of the PDI when they have an unsuccessful part III at the third attempt. They have to cease instruction with immediate affect and it is only then that the pupil may find out there instructor was not qualified. The failure rate is higher than you might expect, so difficulties arise on a regular basis throughout the UK

I was a trainee instructor with BSM in 1995, but went on to qualify within the six month period, transferred to a full green badge and none of my pupils had any knowledge of this and there was no disruption – and that is the way it has been throughout the present system. The transition from trainee to qualified passes unnoticed – until they don’t!

When I started my own driving school I was uncomfortable with this and tried telling customers if I was offering a trainee, which virtually everybody declined. I also had an obligation to the PDI to provide pupils and experience, so this proved difficult. I tried discounted lessons for trainee instructors and this didn’t work either. Word of mouth led to people wanting the cheaper lessons they had heard about and when the PDI qualified their existing pupils didn’t accept a price hike to normal rates. An unsuccessful PDI with a full diary of pupils was a disaster and I have experienced that too. The failed PDI is without a license with immediate affect and I was left with 20-30 upset pupils to place with other instructors if I could.

The PDI drawn into our profession with lots of promises, having spent a lot of money getting trained suddenly finds what should have been a natural stage leading to qualification, is the end of the road. They are left without income with immediate effect – instant dismissal and the prospects of a new career torn from them. A dreadful situation. I wonder how many potential good instructors have been let down by this system over the years and left in financial difficulties as a result. I know of two failed PDIs who sold their houses shortly after the cessation of their trainee license. It just isn’t practical for those requiring an income to go back to retaking the theory test and starting again, if the two years isn’t up they can’t anyway.

In my view, the trainee license is an important part of the process of gaining experience, but six months is too short. It should have a life of at least two years before expiring, the PDI would be able to get that much more experience reducing the failure rate and far less disruptive to the paying public.

Currently from passed experience, I will not accept PDIs to my driving school, but if that changes, it is important that the paying public are made aware of the status of my instructor, trainee or qualified.