ADI CPD courses

Driving Instructor Continued Professional Development (CPD)

   
From highly qualified and experienced grade 6 ORDIT Trainers

Successful and professional driving instructors have known for a long time that to progress as an ADI, improve their skills and increase their income, professional development needs to continue, beyond the part 3.

Whether the DSA make CPD compulsory sooner or later is of no consequence - ongoing training is essential to ADIs who want to make a difference with their chosen career.

Excelsior already run the DSA accredited Fleet Diploma Course for instructors wanting to become Fleet registered. In addition Excelsior  have helped many ADIs become ORDIT registered, and having done most of the qualifications currently available to Driving Instructors ourselves, we can help you plan a route through these which best helps you on your chosen career path.

Common sense would dictate when choosing a training provider, that the provider has undertaken every possible CPD route themselves and achieved the highest standards.

All Excelsior’s courses once completed carry a CPD certificate. This is a proven paper trail of continuing learning and competence.

Latest information Autumn 2009

Excelsior will endeavor to become DSA accredited CPD providers if this is what the DSA eventually decide, it probably will not come to that though, and any ‘provider’ will be able to offer ‘CPD’. So just choose a provider with the necessary experience, knowledge and qualifications…………

What is ‘Continuing Professional Development?’

In Excelsiors opinion this is how professional Driving Instructors should appear, once you look the part, every instructor should endevour to progress

To maximize individual potential and retain credibility within any industry or profession it is essential that you maintain high levels of professional competence by continuingly improving your knowledge and skills.

By taking ownership of your career and focusing your professional development you will:

• be better able to recognise opportunity
• be more aware of the trends and directions within the driver training industry and in society generally
• become increasingly effective in the service you deliver
• be able to help, influence and lead others by your example
• be confident of your future business success or employability
• have a fulfilling and rewarding career

Taking a structured approach to your professional development will enable you to demonstrate continuing commitment to your profession. What’s more, the good practice of regularly reviewing your needs, and selecting appropriate learning activities to help you fulfill them, will give your career focus and meaning.
ADIs have an ethical duty to maintain, update and enhance their knowledge to enable them to practice effectively. Remember, CPD is about what is best for you. It is not a competition between you and other ADIs, or about collecting ‘badges’.

How much will be expected of me?

ADI registration and renewal is required every 4 years. Within those 4 years of registration you may be required to complete a certain amount of CPD.
It is envisaged CPD must include a minimum of 50% prescribed learning (i.e. vocational development in driving or driver training). Up to 50% of CPD can be elective learning i.e. not specifically driving or driver training.
But any type of learning must be relevant and linked to one or more of the competencies within the ADI Competency Framework.

What type of CPD should I do?

Prescribed: (i.e. vocational or occupational) from which a minimum of 50% of your CPD must be selected – you may chose to do 100% prescribed development if you wish.

Elective: Up to 50% of CPD can be elective learning (i.e. not exclusively connected to driving or driver training) but must still be relevant to your occupational competencies as outlined in the ADI Competency Framework). For instance you may decide to enhance an aspect of your communication or business skills by taking a specific course.

But all development need not be formal. For example, attending a local ADI meeting demonstrating vehicle selection or vehicle leasing links to Business Development within the Competency Framework could contribute 3 or 4 hours toward your CPD requirement.

You may also choose e-learning or distance learning (i.e. correspondence courses) as part of your CPD training plan.

Who is responsible for making sure I complete my CPD?

You are! It is your responsibility to ensure that you have completed sufficient professional development by the time your ADI renewal is due.

How do I prove I have fulfilled my CPD commitment?

Make sure that you keep your “evidence of attendance” from all development courses, events and activities, as this will be required for audit purposes.

Your attendance, with the CPD hours achieved, will be verified by the provider by either issuing a Certificate, an official Receipt of Attendance, or by the provider signing a hardcopy of your Record of Achievement. These documents must be retained as evidence of your CPD activity - and proof that you have met your CPD commitment.

Please note CPD may become a mandatory requirement of the ADI renewal process. 
Reasonable priced local accommodation is available for anyone attending Excelsior’s CPD courses.

Evidence of your trainers (Previous) CPD           

• BA (Hons) Driver Education - Middlesex University
• DSA Grade 6 ADI
• DSA ORDIT & Fleet Registered
• DIAmond Advanced Instructor & Examiner
• Cardington grade A & RoSPA Gold
• Diploma in Driving Instruction
• C&G 7302 Teaching Certificate
• SAFED Trainer & Assessor

Why not ask to see evidence regarding a trainer’s credentials? There are many grade 6 ADI’s out there with all the experience and qualifications in the world! Ask to see.

Always remember the word ‘continuing’ in CPD, as therein lies in the reasoning behind it; no one will ever finish learning and developing as a driving instructor. When the DSA finally get round to giving definite CPD requirements, why not come to excelsior?

Excelsior will not be offering first aid courses, all courses will be tailored around improving the nationwide quality of Driving Instructors.

The Excelsior masterclass course

All our courses will count towards your CPD requirements, including the Fleet Diploma, Check test training, Ordit train the trainer, and in particular the Excelsior ADI Masterclass course.

This course focuses in on improving the important instructional training and coaching techniques and the syllabus would generally include:

Suitable for all ADI’s

• Instructor competency assessments
• Lesson planning
• Route planning
• Learning styles/Barriers to learning
• Instructional and coaching techniques
• Fault classification
• The core competencies

The course is of 2 days duration and is is normally done with 2 ADI’s to 1 trainer