How hard is it to become a driving instructor?

It is not hard to become a driving instructor. The requirements for becoming a driving instructor are not extremely difficult to obtain, and the availability of positions make it possible for many people to become driving instructors.

How To Become A Driving Instructor: What It Is and Career Path

What is a driving instructor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

For many US teens, it is a rite of passage to get their driver's license finally. While some learn from their parents or guardians, many learners of all ages choose to go to a driving instructor for help. Driving instructors help new drivers, whether they are teens or adults, learn how to drive and prepare for their driving exam.

Driving instructors need to know a lot about driving and the rules of the road so that they can instruct their students. They usually need to be familiar with skills that get tested on that state's driving exams, such as three-point turns or hill stops. Driving instructors also need to be very patient--most newbie drivers are not the most skilled or smooth at the wheel.

While some driving instructors have bachelor's degrees, most do not because it turns out that a diploma is not the most important qualification to become one. Driving instructors need to have a certification for whatever class of license they plan to teach. Finally, a driving instructor should probably have a license themselves.

ScoreDriving InstructorUS Average

Salary

4.0

Avg. Salary $51,752

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.9

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.53%

Asian 6.04%

Black or African American 10.71%

Hispanic or Latino 15.67%

Unknown 5.73%

White 61.32%

Gender

female 29.68%

male 70.32%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress level

4.9

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

5.9

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

10.0

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a driving instructor

Explore driving instructor education requirements

Most common driving instructor degrees

Bachelor's

42.0 %

Associate

21.6 %

High School Diploma

17.3 %

Start to develop specific driving instructor skills

Skills	Percentages
CDL	23.60%
DMV	17.00%
Motor Vehicle	11.18%
Driver Training	10.52%
Drivers License	6.24%

Complete relevant driving instructor training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New driving instructors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a driving instructor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real driving instructor resumes.

Research driving instructor duties and responsibilities

Own and manage a small business as a CPR and first aid instructor and consultant for diverse clients.
make sure they drive truck to dot standards.
Provide knowledge of the road and rules of the law.
Present classroom instructions and on the road practice, instruct students for exams.

Prepare your driving instructor resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your driving instructor resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a driving instructor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable driving instructor resume templates

Build a professional driving instructor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your driving instructor resume.