5(b) Trainee Instructor Licence

• The trainee driving instructor’s licence is issued for a maximum of six months and the period of its validity cannot be extended. Trainee instructors are only permitted to hold one trainee driving instructor’s licence (a second trainee licence will not be issued).
• The trainee driving instructor’s identity card must be displayed at all times in the vehicle while instruction is being delivered.
• It is not possible to change to a different ADI Sponsor without advising and receiving prior approval from the RSA. If you need to change ADI sponsor please  complete this form.
• Trainee driving instructors can only provide instruction in the category that is covered by their trainee driving instructor’s licence.
• Trainee driving instructor licence holders are not permitted to provide training under either the EDT (Essential Driver Training) or IBT (Initial Basic Training for Motorcyclists) programs. However, it may be helpful to accompany a qualified ADI during either type of training providing the learner is in agreement.
• The expiry date of the trainee driving instructor’s licence will be clearly visible on the front and of the ID card. They must be returned to the RSA, along with the  Training log, within 7 days of finishing the ADI training i.e., on its expiration or after having successfully completed stage 3 whichever occurs first.
• Trainee driving instructors cannot be paid for giving driving lessons unless they hold a valid trainee driving instructor’s licence.

Please note that the trainee driving instructor’s licence may be revoked by the RSA Registrar if:

• any of the conditions of the scheme under which the licence was granted are not kept; or
• the licence was issued by mistake or gained by fraud.

If all is in order with your application the trainee driving instructor’s licence and ID cards showing your name, vehicle category of instruction and expiry date will be issued to you by registered post along with your record of training provided log within 3 to 4 weeks of your application. 

If there are any errors with your trainee driving instructor’s licence or ID cards you must contact the RSA Driver Education Section by phoning 096 25000 or please complete this form.

Yes. A Training Log must be completed as a record of all of the driver training you give to learners after each driving lesson, whether or not the training is provided without payment of a fee. This log must also be countersigned by your sponsoring RSA ADI for each of the lessons that they supervise. This is where they will accompany you on student lessons to monitor the quality of your teaching. 

A minimum of 20% of the lessons that you provide to learners must be under the direct personal supervision of your RSA sponsoring ADI.  This is a legal requirement.

You can apply to the RSA for your stage 3 instruction ability assessment at any stage during the 6 month validity period of your trainee driving instructor’s licence.

Please note that there can be a wait period of between 6 and 12 weeks for your stage 3 instruction ability assessment date.

You will need to return the trainee driving instructor’s licence, ID cards and the Record of Training Log if you pass your stage 3 assessment before the expiry of your trainee driving instructor’s licence.

Your trainee driving instructor’s licence lasts for a maximum of 6 months. When it runs out you must stop giving driving lessons and return the trainee driving instructor licence, ID cards and the training log to the RSA.

You should apply for your stage 3 assessment and please remember that the application for approval as an RSA Approved Driving Instructor requires that a candidate ADI must complete the entire ADI qualification process within 24 months of passing their Stage 1 theory test., otherwise you will have to restart the ADI application process.

If you have a query that's not covered in our information above, please complete this form and we will reply to you as soon as possible.