Driving Examiner

Everything you need to know in becoming a driving examiner.

We are in a unique position as we have an ex DVSA Examiner who used to deliver training in DVSA, carry out recruitment assessments such as interviews, exercises, recruitment drives, quality control examiners during there probation and once established routine quality checks.

Your in safe hands, contact our team for any training needs or questions you may have.

KWIK PASS Driver Training

We Help You Prepare For The Examiner Assessments

We offer quality training in preparation for that big day! We understand the frustration and the build-up and drama that an assessment poses on you.

KWIK PASS have the skills, knowledge and passion to help you prepare for that important day. Achieving that PASS can be very rewarding, to help you towards the next stage of the assessment process, also to remember, this can only depend on how much down time you put in to training, reading and practice. To find out more information on our exclusive examiner training course – please contact us or ring us on 079 666 777 77.

What a driving examiner does

Driving examiners carry out a number of driving tests every day, including:

meeting candidates
carrying out eyesight and vehicle safety checks
assessing the candidate’s driving ability on the road

They then report back on whether the candidate passed and prepare for the next test.

Eligibility

To become a driving examiner you must:

You must be aged 23 or over (a requirement of the 3rd EU Driving Licence Directive – Directive 006/126)
You must have held a UK or EU driving licence continuously for the last 3 years
You must have no more than 3 penalty points on your licence
Experience of delivering high-quality customer service
Strong ability to work collaboratively to achieve personal and group objectives.
Effective oral and written communication skills
Be a reassuring and calm persona – someone who’s able to put nervous and anxious candidates at ease.
Be able to act with tact and discretion to make timely, justified and sometimes difficult and unpopular decisions.
Work with people from a diverse range of backgrounds and have a flexible approach to working from different locations within a reasonable distance.
Be able to use IT equipment and software, e.g. tablets, satnavs.

You need a desire to help improve road safety. You don’t need to have been a driving instructor to become a driving examine

Apply for a job

Driving examiners are employed by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. Apply on the Civil Service jobs website when vacancies are being advertised by searching and applying.

This includes an online test at point of application, and you will be asked to write a behaviour question as part of the short listing. There will be an online pre-recorded interview, which will be a great opportunity demonstrate why you are ideal for the job, giving you the chance to bring your skills and attributes alive. It also means that you can complete this interview anywhere and at any time that is convenient for you within the deadline. There will also be an assessment of your driving ability if you are successful at interview. You can find the full details within the candidate pack attached to the advert.

Taking the assessment

Online driving examiner assessment

This assessment helps make sure you have the right attitudes and behaviours for the job. You’ll answer questions about your:

personality – questions about your attitudes, opinions and experiences in a work environment
interpersonal skills – you’ll be given 3 behaviours and asked to choose the one that’s most and least important to you at work
situational judgement – you’ll need to choose the best and worst you could do from a list of possible actions
assess against behaviours during the selection process:
1. Making Effective Decisions
2. Managing a Quality Service
3. Communicating and Influencing
4. Making Effective Decisions (on your application form)

You’re only allowed one attempt at the assessment. You will not get feedback on your result because of the high numbers of people taking the test. If you pass the Civil Service Strengths Test they will assess your written application against your 250-word example against the following behaviour: Making Effective Decision.

If you pass shortlisting stage, you will be invited to undertake an interview. Pre-recorded video interviewing has been chosen for this stage of the selection process. You will have the opportunity to respond to questions that have been selected for this role – the best part – you can take this interview anywhere and at a time that is convenient for you within the deadline. The interview offers you the following benefits:
• The chance to bring your skills and attributes alive
• Really demonstrate why you’re ideal for the job
• Demonstrate your communication skills in ‘real-time’

Submit your application via the Civil Service Jobs website – www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk. You’ll need to complete an online strengths test, and provide a behaviour example which will be assessed via the application using the behaviour example (Making Effective Decisions) alongside the criteria in the job description and person specification. Failure to complete the online Strengths test and submit your behaviour example will result in automatic rejection of your application.

Assessment of driving ability

You have to pass a driving assessment for the car examiner post.

Preparing for the assessment with KWIK PASS

The assessment is more rigorous than a driving test, and you have to drive to a higher standard. Get training from KWIK PASS that specialise in advanced driver training to help you meet the standard.

Read The Official DVSA Guide to Driving – the essential skills and The Official DVSA Guide to Better Driving, which contain information on essential driving techniques including overtaking safely, defensive driving and manoeuvring.

Before the assessment starts

You’ll take the assessment in a hire car. This is so every applicant has the same opportunity to drive a modern car, you’ll be given time to familiarise yourself with the controls. You’ll have to pass an eyesight test before the assessment starts. The rest of the assessment won’t go ahead if you can’t read a number plate from 30 metres.

How the assessment works

The drive will last for at least 60 minutes in a manual car. You’ll drive in varying road and traffic conditions, including motorways or dual carriageways where possible and will include a section of independent driving.
You’ll be asked to give a talk-through of your observations, including how you prioritise risks
and plan your responses accordingly. Safety and technique will be assessed, while being
mindful of eco-safe driving techniques.

You’ll have to show the examiner all of the following:

manoeuvres – you must be able to carry out a full range of common manoeuvres safely
independent driving – you must be able to drive without turn-by-turn directions from the examiner
give a talk-through of your observations, including how you prioritise risks and plan your responses accordingly
safety and technique will be assessed, while being mindful of eco-safe driving techniques.– you’ll have to tell your examiner what you are doing, without affecting your driving performance

Assessed against 12 proficiencies:

Knowledge and effective use of all controls
Move-off and stop procedure
• Effective use of all mirrors
• Correct and effective use of signals
• Response to traffic signals/signs/road markings
• Road positioning/normal driving/lane discipline
• Negotiating bends
• Negotiating junctions/slip roads
• Separation distance
• Appropriate speed
• Awareness, anticipation and planning skills
• Maneuvering exercise

Training to be a driving examiner

The driving examiner training course takes around 5 weeks and covers what you need to know to carry out driving tests safely and effectively.

You’ll do some training at your driving test centre, and some at one of DVSA’s regional training centres. You’ll be paid the full-time driving examiner salary while you’re taking the training. If your training is successful, you’ll start working at a driving test centre. If you don’t achieve the necessary performance standards during the training programme, your employment with DVSA will end.

Being a driving examiner

DVSA are looking for competent drivers, committed to road safety who also possess the customer service skills needed in a pressurised environment. Driving Examiners have a calm reassuring persona that will help you put learner drivers from all backgrounds at ease during the nerve wracking experience of the driving test.

As Driving Examiners you’ll get to see the smiles and celebrations when you confirm a pass. But you’ll also need a clear, calm manner to explain your decisions and deliver the disappointing news of a failed test. If you are looking for a new challenge this is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to road safety. DVSA’s Driving Examiners benefit from a working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance.

Full time examiners test 5 out of 7 days working a 37 hour week. If applications are successful they are open to exploring alternative flexible and part-time working.

Once you’ve passed your training, you’ll start working as a driving examiner at your test centre. Every day you’ll carry out a number of driving tests – each to the same standard. You’ll follow the guidance for driving examiners carrying out driving tests and use everything you learned in your training. You’ll assess that learner drivers meet the national standard for driving car

Probation period

You’ll be on probation for 9 months. You’ll be monitored regularly by your manager while you’re in your probation period. Even when you’ve finished your probation, you’ll still be monitored to make sure you keep the same high standards.