Editor SherifA lot of people have a terrible, and unfounded idea that all driving examiners are rude and cold. They have a basic image of a disgruntled man or woman in their heads. The truth is, no driving test examiner chooses to fail candidates without a reason. They undergo a lot of strict training and courses to help fine-tune your driving.
To obtain a driving test examiners’ licence in Ontario, you must complete a Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO)-approved training course, plus four or more years of valid driving experience.
You will undergo thorough driving lessons, complete courses on driving safety measures, obey all traffic rules and regulations (this is a given), be patient, understand your clients and their situations, learn or improve your interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
How To Become A Driving Test Examiner In Ontario
1. You must obtain the “Drivers Instructor Kit”, and complete an MTO-approved course which will include First Aid, collision scene management, defensive driving, CPR training, and the Highway Traffic Act course. All courses must be completed to earn a working licence. The on-site and in-class course is for 130 hours.
2. Be 21 years of age or older, and have no demerit points on your driver’s record. You will also be required to pass a terminal check at the DriveTest Centre to ensure you meet all licencing requirements.
3. You will need to take and pass a G1 test, which is a Multiple Choice Question format, and takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes to complete. The test comes in 27 languages, and it requires an 80% pass mark. (If you have a hearing or visual disability, you can make arrangements with a DriveTest Centre worker to read the test to you verbally, or utilize the audio test option available if you are at a location that has computerized tests).
4. You will need to prove your identity, and citizenship by submitting valid documents.
5. You need to be physically fit enough to meet candidates, carry out several driving tests every day, carry out eyesight and vehicle safety checks, assess each candidate’s ability to drive on the road.
6. You need strong work collaboration skills to achieve personal and group goals.
7. Effective oral and written communication skills are also required. You should have a reassuring and calm persona to put your nervous and anxious candidates at ease.
8. You must be able to act with tact and discretion to make timely, empathic, justified, and sometimes difficult or unpopular decisions.
9. You should be willing to work with people from a diverse range of backgrounds; have a non-biased mind, and have a flexible approach to working from different locations within a reasonable distance.
10. You should be able to use core IT equipment and software, such as tablets, online navigation apps, and A.I voice instructions.
11. You will be assessed based on a one-hour driving test, where you will drive in varying road and traffic conditions, including motorways or dual carriageways.
Also, you will need to show the examiner your safe manoeuvring skills, independent driving capabilities, and constantly update your examiner about what you are doing, without affecting your driving performance.
After completing the requirements, you will be placed on the merit list of the DVSA, and be considered for a job offer. You may be invited to take training so you can learn how to carry out driving tests– this, however, comes without a job guarantee even when you do pass the assessment.
You can only stay on the merit list for 12 months. After which you will have to retake the qualifying assessment.
How Much Can I Make As A Driving Test Examiner In Ontario?
After working on your skills, you are expected to earn about $75,000 as an entry-level driving test examiner.
The average driving examiner’s gross salary in Ontario is $92,892 or an hourly rate of $45, which is 8% higher than the average driving examiner salary in other provinces.
You can also earn an average bonus of $2,415 per year, and it can go up to $4,000 depending on your level of expertise.
A driving examiner with three years of experience in Ontario will earn an average salary of $66,056. While a senior-level driving examiner with eight or more years of experience can earn an average salary of $114,914 per annum.
The estimated salary potential of a driving test examiner in Ontario is estimated to be about $108,211 (CAD) by 2027.
How Long Does It Take To Become A Driving Test Examiner In Ontario?
You can be a driving test examiner in less than six weeks. The driving examiner training course takes around 5 weeks and covers the information required to successfully carry out driving tests safely and effectively.
You will also have to go through some training at your driving test centre, and some at one of DVSA’s (Driving examiners are employed by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, which is an executive agency of the Department for Transportation in Ontario) regional training centres. After the stipulated amount of time, you will be on probation for 9 months and monitored regularly by your manager during the probation period.
There will be an examination after the course which will test your personality, interpersonal skills, situational judgment, making effective decisions, managing a quality service, communicating, and influencing. If you pass the examination stage, you will be invited to undertake an interview.
How Much Does It Take To Become A Driving Test Examiner In Ontario?
The average fee for an online licencing programme is $3,000.
Related:
Where Can I Earn A Driving Test Examiner Licence In Ontario?
- You can apply for a Driving Instructor Certification as a part-time or full-time student in Centennial College – Ashtonbee, 75 Ashtonbee Road Scarborough.
- You can get a Driving Instructor Certification as a part-time or full-time student in Fanshawe College – 1001 Fanshawe College Boulevard, London, Ontario N5Y 5R6.
- Kwik Pass.
- Alberta.
- Humber.
- Kings Way Driving.