Driving Examiner (United Kingdom) - Recruitment, Selection and Training

Recruitment, Selection and Training

The DSA recruits driving examiners by national campaign as and when it needs more. The selection process is somewhat protracted.

A prospective driving examiner must have held a full car licence for more than four years with no more than 3 penalty points on it at the time of application. If they are successful at the application form stage they will be asked to take an online situational judgement test, if successful here they will be invited to take the theory/hazard perception test, if successful at this stage, there is a competency based interview. The theory/hazard perception test is the same as the one taken by learner car drivers except that the pass marks are much higher.

If the would-be examiner passes all of the above they will be invited to take a special driving test. The special driving test involves a drive over a specially chosen route of about 20 to 25 miles. It will usually involve both urban and rural areas and will include driving on a dual carriageway. Candidates are expected to drive at a speed consistent with the road and traffic conditions and without committing any serious faults, although not part of the 'L' test there is a requirement to use arm signals. If they pass, and if there is actually a vacant post in a location are able to work at, then only at this stage will they actually be employed, and sent on the four week training course in the DSA's training and development centre in Cardington. After that they will be given the rank of DE and assigned to a test centre.