Driving Examiner
Driving examiners carry out practical driving tests to assess whether candidates should be given full driving licences. They conduct over 1.9 million car driver tests a year in the UK.
A standard practical test lasts up to 45 minutes and consists of a brief check of the candidate's eyesight, questions about vehicle maintenance, and a demonstration of driving ability, including set manoeuvres such as reverse parking and an emergency stop. During the test the examiner assesses the candidate making a note of any faults made. At the end of the test, the examiner considers the total number of faults and makes the decision to pass or fail the candidate. They then can provide feedback on the test for the candidate if they would like it.
Newly appointed examiners can earn around £19000 a year. This can rise to £23500 with experience, and to £26500 of they progress to a supervising examiner position.
Go BackWorking environment
Examiners are usually based out of just one test centre location, but occasionally may work out of several smaller centres. They work as part of a team with a supervising examiner who oversees the running of the centre.
Much of an examiner’s time is spent in their candidates’ vehicles. They also spend some time writing reports in the test centre.
Examiners work around 37 hours a week. These hours are mostly worked on weekdays, although some test centres now offer Saturday driving tests.
Skills and interests
Driving examiners should be interested in interacting with people as well as having a keen interest in driving.
A driving examiner should:
- be observant
- have good spoken and written communication skills
- be able to put people at ease
- remain calm under pressure
- be able to deal with difficult situations, such as candidates getting angry or upset.
Entry into the role
Examiners in England, Scotland and Wales are recruited by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) in Northern Ireland.
To become an examiner there are no set academic requirements. Applicants must however, have held a UK or European Union driving licence continuously for the last four years and have no more than three current penalty points on their driving licence. Applicants must be aged 63 or under.
Applicants initially complete an application form; if they are selected from this stage, they must then pass:
a theory and hazard perception test
an eyesight test
a special driving test - an extended version of the driving test, conducted by a supervising examiner - to pass, candidates must show a high standard of driving competence without any serious faults.
a competency-based interview that lasts around 45 minutes - this focuses on four key competencies: judgment and decision making, customer service orientation, self-awareness and change, plus communication skills.
If they pass these, applicants can then become a trainee examiner. Trainees attend a four-week training course at Cardington, Bedfordshire. They must pass the course to be able to begin work as an examiner.
Go BackOpportunities
When driving examiners have had at least twelve months' experience of being car driver test examiners, they can train to become examiners of large good vehicles, passenger carrying vehicles or motorcycle drivers. They must have relevant licences themselves for the vehicles that they wish to examine in.
It is also possible for examiners to progress to senior driving examiner, and then supervising examiner.
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