Becoming a driving instructor in Ireland

Becoming an Approved Driving Instructor in Ireland is three stages in a two-year window, plus Garda vetting before you can even book Stage 1.

1. Stage 1, theory. Five marked sections and no single overall pass mark. Start with the Stage 1 theory test, then sections and pass marks, booking and a study plan.
2. Stage 2, driving. A practical test on your own licence, vehicle and documents. See the Stage 2 driving test.
3. Stage 3, instruction. Planning, teaching and analysing faults. See the Stage 3 teaching test. A trainee licence is a supervised development route, not full registration.

The overview is how to become a driving instructor in Ireland.

• How to become a driving instructor in Ireland

  The complete route from first enquiry to the RSA register: vetting, the three stages, the two-year window and the trainee licence.

  9 min read

• The ADI Stage 1 theory test

  What Stage 1 covers, how the questions are split, and why there is no single overall pass mark to aim at.

  8 min read

• Sections and pass marks

  All five sections, the mark needed in each, and why the lowest threshold is not the easiest section.

  7 min read

• Booking Stage 1

  Registration, Garda vetting and the nine-digit eligibility number — in the order they actually have to happen.

  6 min read

• Resits and appeals

  The three-business-day wait, the new eligibility number, unlimited attempts, and the ten-day appeal window.

  5 min read

• The Stage 2 driving test

  The licence requirement, the vehicle and documents, and the insurance rule that changed in March 2026.

  6 min read

• The Stage 3 teaching test

  Planning from evidence, teaching safely, analysing faults in observable terms, and evaluating honestly.

  7 min read

• The trainee licence

  A supervised development route with conditions and limits — and specifically not full ADI registration.

  4 min read

• A Stage 1 study plan

  Track five scores, not one. Where to put revision time, and how to know when you are ready to book.

  7 min read

• Sample questions

  Ten questions across all five sections, each with the answer and the rule it turns on.

  8 min read

From the TritonApps blog

• Introducing ADI Prep IrelandADI Prep Ireland news and release notes

Practise Stage 1 on your phone

ADI Prep Ireland turns this material into structured practice: full-length Stage 1 mocks built to the published section split, revision by subject area, and every answer explained.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Independent guide: TritonApps is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the Road Safety Authority or Prometric. This page summarises published RSA guidance for convenience and is not official advice. Always confirm current requirements, fees and dates with the RSA before you book.