Wigan Rider Training

To be a Driving Standards Agency instructor you must be:

• over 21 years old
• have held a full motorcycle licence for 3 years and
• be “a fit and proper person”….that’s DSA jargon for a relatively clean driving licence and police record.

You must then pass the 2 day CBT Assessment for Instructors at Cardington in Bedfordshire. This will then enable you take the one day DAS Instructor Assessment which allows you to take out students on a larger bike.

If you want to manage or run your own school then you must also pass the supervisor part of the exam.

There are many factors determining the length of time it takes to prepare for the Cardington two day exam.

A basic 5 day course taken over 5 consecutive days is well sold in the industry and is not a problem  to arrange - the downside to this is that the 5 consecutive day courses are very intense and there is a huge amount of information to absorb in a relatively short space of time and when your 5 days are up   .. that’s it!

The CBT examination is very demanding the pass rate is as low as 3 in 10.  This is mainly due to poor preparation.  Doing enough to pass Cardington in a 5 day course taken on 5 consecutive days is not  impossible by any means but I would say not advisable  – our recommendation is to spread your 5 days training over four or five weeks which gives you time to absorb information and perfect your presentations.  Also, practical problem solving and identifying rider faults can be better taught over a longer period using your dedicated  training days and in addition attending on days with real CBT candidates to see first hand the practical aspects of training – this really gives you a better feel for what is required at Cardington.

One thing you will find is that your ability to ride a bike has little bearing on understanding what is causing a new rider to do what they do!

The Cardington examiners will do role play where they are the learner and present you with riding faults.  They are not easy faults to identify and correct without good knowledge and preparation  – the examiner will keep repeating the same fault until you correct him or run out of time!

Spreading your course over four or five weeks and then joining us on CBT days and following real road rides helps immensely with your understanding of what is needed and is the best way to prepare properly.

I will guarantee good preparation and I will help you every step of the way.  You can attend in your own time and observe and ask questions over a period of weeks interspersed with hard one-on-one practical riding days where I will be the examiner  …  and hopefully we can a have a bit of  fun while you learn.

Let me put it this way – as the course progresses and you learn more and get the format sorted out  in your head  .. you will have a good idea yourself of when you are ready for Cardington and be telling me how much time you need before the forms go in to apply for the exam.

It would be easy to package instructor training into a nice box with price and a bow on it but be suspicious of  set packages as a five day course, no matter how well done, is the bare bones of what’s required.  I can supply this with no problem as many do but it’s not the best way forward for most prospective instructors.

Call me and we can arrange to meet up for a informal chat and together tailor a package that suits your requirements.