Standards check training

The ADI standards check replaced the ADI check test on 7 April 2014.

The “standard” that the standards check refers to is the “National standard for driver and rider training“ that was published by the DVSA in 2011.

You have to take at least one ADI standards check during each 4-year period that you are registered as an ADI,even if you don’t have a car or aren’t working as an ADI.

When you go for your Standards check you must take:

Your approved driving instructor (ADI) registration certificate

A car that meets the requirements.

Your pupil can’t be an ADI or someone who has passed the ADI part 2 test. They can be a learner or a full licence holder.

What happens at the standards check:

A Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency examiner will watch you give a normal one hour driving lesson to your pupil.

The examiner will look for evidence that you meet the National standards for driver and rider training.

You will be marked on 17 areas of competence that are grouped into 3 categories:

Lesson planning

Risk management

Teaching and learning skills

The 17 areas of competence are listed in the ADI standards check form, which the examiner will fill in during your check.

You’ll get a score from 0 to 3 for each of the 17 competencies, which are added up to work out your grade.

After you give the lesson, the examiner will discuss your performance and give you your grade. This will take about 15 minutes.

0-30 Fail Your performance is unsatisfactory

31-42 Grade B You’ll stay on the approved driving instructors (ADI) register

43-51 Grade A You have shown a high standard of instruction and you’ll stay on the ADI register

You’ll automatically fail if:

You get a score of 7 or less in the ‘risk management’ category.

The examiner stops the lesson because you’ve put yourself or someone else in danger.

If you fail the standards check, you will have up to 2 more attempts to pass the standards check.

If you fail 3 times:

You will be removed from the approved driving instructors (ADI) register.

You will have to retake the ADI tests to join the ADI register again.

The cost for Standards check training is £50 per hour