Considering doing instructor training

[chronyx]

Any present or ex instructors on here? What is the job market like at the moment?

Will doing the training and keeping the qualifications un-used for maybe 3/4 years be a realistic option or will it be assumed that my skills will have faded or weren't good enough in the first place?

[digitalcaptive]

Any present or ex instructors on here? What is the job market like at the moment?

Will doing the training and keeping the qualifications un-used for maybe 3/4 years be a realistic option or will it be assumed that my skills will have faded or weren't good enough in the first place?

Isn't there going to be some new legislation coming in september/October time thats going to make it all a bit more difficult?? :confused:

[chronyx]

Not sure if it would make it more difficult for me apart from having to learn the new rules...

Only concern is they might put people off learning to ride!

[digitalcaptive]

Not sure if it would make it more difficult for me apart from having to learn the new rules...

Only concern is they might put people off learning to ride!


I know there has been a sudden rush for test dates (my son being one of them), I heard they were reducing the amount of test centres as part of this legislation (not sure what the implications would be for a "would be instructor" though) :confused:

Good luck if you do decide to go for it :thumbup:

[Roy]

i was an instructor 20 years ago (just the star riders and IAM with the police) and used to give up most Sundays and Saturdays and of late have been thinking of doing this again but not sure i can spare all the time to get the tickets required.
we used to train people who had never ridden a bike before and had just got a brand new RD250LC or Superdream or X7, and we always wondered how more of them had not got killed!

Roy

[chronyx]

I went for an IAM ride on Sunday in Ripley and did reasonably well on the assessment.

I think I will join the IAM, progress to the advanced test and once passed go from there.

[Charlie]

I think Stanbloke is an instructor try pm'ing him if he doesn't see this thread.

[chronyx]

Cheers Charlie!

[JB1]

As a bike examiner, the reason there will be fewer test centres is not down to legislation, but the size of real estate and the cost of the speed detection equipment that will be required for the new part of the test.

Chronyx.

Remember, bike instructors are taught to teach candidates to pass the basic test, and are not necessarily advanced riders.

[chronyx]

Hi JB1 - thanks for that.

Wholeheartedly agree with you, the same as car drivers aren't really taught to drive - that's why I want to become IAM approved first as I would want to teach potential bikers everything they will need to know to stay safe, and not just to pass a test.

[stanbloke]

As a bike examiner, the reason there will be fewer test centres is not down to legislation, but the size of real estate and the cost of the speed detection equipment that will be required for the new part of the test.

Chronyx.

Remember, bike instructors are taught to teach candidates to pass the basic test, and are not necessarily advanced riders.

JB1, I take it you are a current bike examiner:confused:

Some of us love what we do and take it a lot further too.:rolleyes:

Be nice if you would'nt generalized as it does tend to cause offence.:rolleyes:

Dont become an instructor just as a job, enjoy what you do and you will be better for it !!:thumbup:. These are peoples lives you are messing with, it's not a game,give the best instruction you can possibly give and you'll sleep well.:D:D

[apple3]

Hi I was a Car ADI until 2 years ago in short I get paid a lot more to Drive a HGV 1 for Iceland Supermarkets on a Self employed contract. The best bet is to find a local ADI and ask them. I sent a freind to speak to 1 of the local ADI's and she came away thinking why bother.

Wish u luck A3

[Leigh07]

I'm a full time Instructor and it's still very busy out there. New test has been delayed until end March 2009 and I wouldn't be at all surprised if it is further delayed beyond that point. (Not saying any more, not getting into any discussions/slanging matches about the DSA) :p

Gaining Instructor tickets isn't that difficult, as long as you get the proper training in the first place. I would steer clear of BSM as I've just had one of their recent trainees in for an interview and he wasn't a good advert.

Nice idea about training people to ride beyond the test, but it really depends on where you're located as to how far you can go with that. Many examiners actively discourage the teaching of advanced techniques to test candidates and have been known to fail candidates for employing advanced cornering techniques during their test. I don't believe this should be the case, but it happens. Therefore, all you can really do is teach people to pass the test - if you start introducing techniques but tell them not to use them during test, then you'll cause confusion and the guy will (probably/possibly) screw up. What I do is teach them to pass the test and introduce techniques that will provide a sound basis for their future career on two wheels - counter steering, mid corner braking, how to read the road properly etc, etc.

Again at the risk of being lambasted, not a great fan of IAM either - skills for life? How can there be any credibility if the observers skills are never retested? I recently thought about joining and contacted my local group. The observer turned up to meet me and asked how many miles I ride each year. I replied that I was a professional rider, Advanced Instructor etc and ride about 40,000 miles a year. He rides 'most sundays, if he can get away'. Who would be observing who? And I've gone off topic, apologies.

[Cie]

How can there be any credibility if the observers skills are never retested?

A fair point Leigh, and the reason why I've been doing some RoSPA training. The observers get tested every 3 years, and members every 2 years if they're to keep their ticket.. which I suspect you already know.

Whereabouts are you in Wilts? We could have a brew some time.

[Leigh07]

Hi Cie, I'm in Chippenham, so not too far. Just don't suggest the Friar Tuck, it always takes a week or so to get rid of the smell of grease whenever I venture in there on trips to/through Amesbury!

[hondaxrnut]

i would disagree with the statment
'car drivers are not taught to drive'
as a car instructor and biker of 30+ years i certainly teach my pupils how to drive and look for bikes and cycles more than cars.
we all have to teach, as we are tested regularly!