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Driving Examiner

Do you want to become a Driving Examiner? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

Driving examiners conduct driving tests to assess whether candidates should be given full driving licences. They sit alongside candidates for the driving test, which normally lasts up to 45 minutes. They:

• give candidates an eyesight test
• assess how safely candidates drive around a set route
• note any faults
• examine candidates on two reversing exercises, and they may also carry out an emergency stop exercise
• ask candidates two questions about vehicle safety checks at the end of the test
• consider the number of faults that they have noted
• tell candidates whether or not they have passed the test
• offer feedback on how candidates have performed
• return to their centre to write a short report on the test.

Salaries range from £18,949 a year for new driving examiners, to £29,326 a year for supervising examiners.

Full-time driving examiners work 35 hours a week, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm. Part-time and flexible working and overtime may be available. Driving tests are also conducted on Saturdays and, in the summer months, into evenings. Driving examiners spend most of their time on the road, sitting in cars.

A driving examiner should:

• be friendly, helpful and polite
• enjoy working with people, and be able to put them at ease
• remain calm under pressure, and be able to deal with difficult situations
• work well independently and in a team
• be capable of being firm when giving feedback to failed candidates.

There are just over 1,600 driving examiners in the UK, a number that is increasing. In England, Scotland and Wales they are employed by the Driving Standards Agency. In Northern Ireland they work for the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency.

Applicants to become driving examiners must be under 64 years old, have had a UK or European Union driving licence continuously for the last five years and have no more than three current penalty points on their driving licence. To become driving examiners, applicants must pass a theory and hazard perception test, an extended driving test over 20 to 25 miles, and an interview.

Training takes four weeks. After at least twelve months of examining car driving tests, examiners may take further training to become examiners for Large Goods Vehicles (LGVs), Passenger Carrying Vehicles (PCVs) or motorcycles.

It is possible to progress to senior driving examiner and supervising examiner.

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