ADI Prep IrelandWhat has to be in place first
Current RSA guidance says that before booking Stage 1 you should have:
- registered with the RSA as an ADI candidate;
- paid the test fee;
- received your eligibility number;
- reviewed the ADI information material and the Driving Instructor’s Handbook;
- checked test-centre locations where applicable; and
- prepared the identification requirements.
These are sequential rather than parallel. You cannot receive an eligibility number before registration is complete, and you cannot book before the eligibility number exists.
The Prometric eligibility number
A unique nine-digit Prometric Eligibility Number is currently required to book Stage 1 online. It is issued after successful RSA ADI-candidate registration and approval of your Garda vetting.
Start vetting first. Vetting is the one step whose timing you do not control, and nothing downstream of it can begin without it. Candidates who read the handbook for a month before starting their application usually discover they have spent that month on the wrong thing.
Prometric is currently the RSA’s preferred Stage 1 service provider, and the published test fee is paid directly to Prometric. Fees are set by the provider and change, so take the current figure from the booking process itself rather than from any third-party summary — including this one, which deliberately does not quote a price.
Choosing a centre
The test is computer-based and can be taken at one of more than 40 theory-test centres nationwide. Availability differs between centres, so a centre that is slightly further away can sometimes get you a materially earlier date. That is worth checking rather than assuming, particularly if you are working to the two-year window after a first attempt.
On the day
Bring the current identification and eligibility evidence required for the assessment. The specific documents are set by the RSA and the test provider and are stated in your booking material — check them against your booking confirmation rather than against a general description, because ID requirements are exactly the kind of detail that changes quietly.
You receive a report on your performance at the end of the test.
After the result
A pass lets you continue to Stages 2 and 3, and starts the two-year window within which all three stages must be completed. A fail means waiting at least three complete business days and requesting a new eligibility number before applying again. If you believe the result was wrong, an appeal must be made within ten days of the exam through the published Candidate Service Team process. Resits and appeals covers both.
Booking checklist
- Begin Garda vetting.
- Complete RSA ADI-candidate registration.
- Pay the test fee.
- Wait for vetting approval and your nine-digit eligibility number.
- Compare availability across nearby centres.
- Book, then check the ID requirements on your confirmation.
The guides that sit next to this one are The ADI Stage 1 theory test and How to become a driving instructor in Ireland.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Prometric eligibility number?
It is a unique nine-digit number currently required to book the ADI Stage 1 theory test online. It is issued after your RSA ADI-candidate registration is successful and your Garda vetting has been approved.
Do I need Garda vetting to become a driving instructor?
Yes. Approval of Garda vetting is one of the conditions for being issued the eligibility number you need to book Stage 1, so it sits on the critical path for the entire qualification. Start it before anything else.
How much does the ADI theory test cost?
The published fee is paid directly to Prometric, the RSA’s current preferred service provider for Stage 1. Fees are set by the provider and change, so take the current figure from the official booking process rather than from a third-party page.
Sources
This page summarises published guidance from the Road Safety Authority. Confirm the current rule on the RSA site before you book or rely on a fee, date or pass mark.
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.
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.