ADI Part 3 — Instructional Ability

Passing Part 2 means you can begin the next stage of your development towards the instructional ability test. You do not have to hold a trainee instructor licence before taking Part 3.

There are broadly two routes:

1. Continue your training and development without a trainee licence.
2. Apply for a trainee instructor licence so you can gain experience giving paid driving instruction while preparing for Part 3.

The trainee licence is an option for gaining experience. It is not a separate qualifying test and it is not compulsory before Part 3.

A trainee licence is not required to take ADI Part 3. You can continue developing your instructional ability with your trainer and prepare for the test without holding a trainee licence.

Development can include:

• Trainer-led sessions
• Observation
• Role play where useful
• Reflective discussion
• Feedback
• Developing your understanding of client-centred learning
• Applying the National Standard for Driver and Rider Training
• Preparing to work effectively with a real pupil

After passing ADI Part 2, you can apply for a trainee driving instructor licence if you meet the DVSA requirements. The trainee licence lasts for 6 months and allows you to gain experience instructing pupils while preparing for Part 3.

While holding a valid trainee licence, you can charge for driving lessons in accordance with the trainee licence rules.

Before applying, you must have completed at least 40 hours of training in providing driving instruction with a qualified ADI. At least 10 of those 40 hours must have been completed in a car. The training must be recorded on the appropriate DVSA declaration.

The current DVSA trainee licence application fee is £140.

Check the trainee driving instructor licence requirements  ·  Apply for a trainee driving instructor licence

When applying for a trainee licence, you must choose one of two development options. You cannot switch to the other option after making your choice.

Option 1 — 20% supervision

Under this option, your sponsoring ADI must supervise 20% of all the lessons you give while you hold your trainee licence.

You must keep a record of:

• The number of hours of lessons you give
• The number of hours you are supervised

The appropriate DVSA supervision record must be completed and submitted as required.

Option 2 — 20 hours of additional training

Under this option, you must complete at least 20 hours of additional training after your trainee licence is issued. The training must:

• Be completed within the first 3 months of the trainee licence
• Be completed before you book your ADI Part 3 test
• Include at least 25% practical in-car training
• Be recorded on the appropriate DVSA training declaration

If you choose this option and fail Part 3, you must complete a further 5 hours of training before your next attempt.

If you do not book Part 3 within the first 3 months of receiving the trainee licence, you must also complete 5 hours of additional training before booking the test.

Compare the DVSA trainee licence options

A trainee licence operates through a sponsoring training establishment. Instruct IQ can offer PDI sponsorship alongside Part 3 training and ongoing development where appropriate.

This can provide a route to gaining real teaching experience while continuing to develop towards Part 3 with trainer support. Development may include:

• Observation of lessons
• Reflective discussion
• Trainer feedback
• Role play where useful
• Practical development
• Support applying the National Standard for Driver and Rider Training
• Preparation based on the individual PDI's development needs

Find an instructor trainer

Part 3 preparation should not be reduced to rehearsing 17 assessment criteria. The aim is to develop the ability to help another person learn safely and effectively.

Part 1 develops the knowledge. Part 2 develops the conscious application of that knowledge in your own driving. Part 3 develops your ability to help somebody else build their own knowledge, understanding and driving ability.

Preparation can involve real teaching experience, observation, reflection, trainer feedback, role play where useful and practical development.

The National Standard for Driver and Rider Training should inform that development, but preparation should not become a performance designed simply to make individual assessment boxes visible to an examiner.

The PDI School provides deeper Part 3 development content and AI tools that can support reflection, understanding and development away from trainer-led sessions.

Explore The PDI School

A DVSA examiner observes you giving a client-centred driving lesson to one of your pupils for about 45 minutes. Your pupil should drive for about 40 minutes.

At the beginning of the lesson, you discuss the lesson goals and risk management with your pupil. This should take no more than about 3 minutes. At the end, your pupil should be given no more than about 3 minutes to reflect on their performance.

The examiner looks for evidence that you meet the National Standard for Driver and Rider Training.

Your pupil can be:

• A partly trained learner
• A fully trained learner
• A full driving licence holder

A partly trained learner should be capable of driving for around 40 minutes without needing to stop frequently.

Your pupil cannot be:

• An approved driving instructor
• Somebody preparing to take their own ADI Part 3 test

You are assessed across 17 competencies grouped into three areas:

• Lesson planning
• Risk management
• Teaching and learning strategies

Each competency is scored from 0 to 3, giving a maximum possible score of 51. The current grading is:

• 0 to 30: Fail
• 31 to 42: Grade B — Pass
• 43 to 51: Grade A — Pass

You will automatically fail if you score 7 or less in the risk management category. The test can also result in an automatic fail if the examiner stops the lesson because you have put yourself or someone else in danger.

See how ADI Part 3 is assessed

You can take Part 3 again if you fail your first or second attempt, provided you remain within the relevant Part 1 qualification period. You have a maximum of three attempts at Part 3.

If you fail Part 3 for the third time:

• You must stop giving paid driving lessons immediately
• Any trainee driving instructor licence you hold becomes invalid
• You must restart the qualifying tests by retaking Part 1 and Part 2 before attempting Part 3 again
• You must wait until 2 years have passed from the date you originally passed Part 1 before retaking Part 1

What happens after your ADI Part 3 test

A trainee driving instructor licence lasts for 6 months. When it expires, you must stop charging for driving lessons unless you have qualified and registered as an ADI or DVSA has issued another valid trainee licence.

DVSA states that another trainee licence is unlikely to be issued simply because somebody wants more time to pass Part 3. What happens when a trainee licence runs out

Passing Part 3 completes the three ADI qualifying tests. You must then apply to join the ADI register before working as a fully qualified approved driving instructor.

You must apply within 12 months of passing Part 3. If you do not, you will have to pass all three qualifying tests again.