I sent out a message on Friday regarding a Zoom meeting for PDIs this Wednesday, 15th September 2021 at 7pm. Unfortunately my mailbox was full on Friday evening, so I am not 100% sure if I missed anyone’s emails.
For clarity, please can you complete the form below to confirm if you are attending?
Meeting login details:
Link to meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81007315561?pwd=c2lFdkI2VE9rWHpQQjNzaXI5b1Nmdz0
PIN number to join meeting:
956190
What the meeting will cover
You may or may not be aware that the waiting times for taking a Part 3 in many areas are 6 months or more. This is causing many PDIs’ problems, especially those who started their training back in 2019 or early 2020. This could also cause problems for PDIs who have flown through their training very quickly and still have 12-18 months of their 2 years to qualify.
There are few things you should know:
- Avoid booking a Part 3 test in an area you don’t know at all costs.
- Consult me if you can’t get a Part 3 test at your chosen test centre. I will help you get a test in the area you want.
- Do not allow your trainee licence to run out before applying for another one. If you fail to apply for another trainee licence before your current one expires, you won’t be able to continue teaching.
- Consult me if you need another trainee licence. I will help you if you want me to.
- If your 2 years to qualify is running out, give me a shout, again I can probably help you with some notice.
Trainees on PDI licences with more than 12 months left on your licence
The DVSA have a big problem in honouring Part 3 tests in most areas, and this isn’t going to change anytime soon.
They simply don’t have enough examiners to conduct the tests. I spoke to a supervising examiner the other day and he said the increase in applicants to become a driving instructor has increased by more than 56% than pre-covid years. This makes me think the DVSA examiners will be stricter in the marking (to a certain degree). If they continue marking the tests as they did before Covid, then we will see a surge of instructors on the register in the next 12-18 months.
The DVSA’s golden number for instructors on the register has always floated between 36,000 to 40,000. If you fail your Part 3 three times and you still have 15 months left to qualify, you won’t be able to come back round and re-qualify for 15 months. That means you can’t even do a DBS check for 15 months. You will basically have to change career then, when your time comes, you can re-apply to be a driving instructor. If you can take it or leave it in regards to becoming a driving instructor, then this isn’t a massive problem – you can fail 3 times, walk away and do something else. However, if this is the only thing you want to do, then I suggest you take my advice and help let me manage your trainee licence requirements.
Zoom meeting for PDIs to discuss the above in more detail – 15/09/21 @ 7pm-9pm
I shall be holding a zoom meeting on Wednesday 15th September @ 7pm. If you would like to join me and other PDIs to discuss the above, then please complete the formabove to confirm you will be attending.
No doubt, we will end up talking about the Part 3 test, what to do and how to do it etc., so I’m happy to try and answer these questions as well for you all. If you have questions for the evening, write them in the “Questions” box on the form above and I will try and cover them for you.
Written by Anthony Johnson
Grade A - 51/51
ORDIT Registered Trainer
