CBT instructor?

[mic]

Howdy

Looking into the instructor course... Is there much hope of a job after?! Self employed I assume but is there much demand specially for an inexperienced instructor?

Cheers
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zzr600

[Wonko The Sane]

Where are you based?

Worth visiting training schools to see if they're taking on / might take on extra instructors in the near future - might be a case of doing the course and picking up work in the spring now.
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Looking to pass your CBT / Bike tests in Bury Lancashire? try www.focusridertraining.co.uk Would recommend.
They're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-Rider-Training/196832923734251

[mic]

In Berkshire, will make a few calls on Monday. Not quite had license for 3 years so looks like no immediate rush but I can plan ahead
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zzr600

[Jewlio Rides Again LLB]

Do you not need to have held a licence for x years beforehand?
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Mpd72: I can categorically say i’m Brighter than that, no matter how I come across on here.
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[mic]

[T.C]

[Diggs]

If its like it was pre Direct Access there isn't a living to be made unless you own the school. The money you get from taking lessons just about covers your expenses. The 'earners' always used to be the CBT days when you would instruct in a ratio of 2:1 for decent cash... May have changed now though.
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Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...

[Wonko The Sane]

There's Quickstart at Taplow (near Maidenhead) just off the A4 by the station which is where I did my CBT

There's also one north of Reading where I did my 'Get On' session to prove to the wife I could ride a motorbike - might be worth a look through 'Get On' to get contact details for the schools, might be able to get enough work from 2 or 3 local schools as and when they need extra instructors
____________________
Looking to pass your CBT / Bike tests in Bury Lancashire? try www.focusridertraining.co.uk Would recommend.
They're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-Rider-Training/196832923734251

[pinkyfloyd]

There seems to be 3 options available for anyone thinking about becoming an instructor.

1: Do the CBT1C and DAS assessment solo at Cardington on your own with no real training. (I wouldnt recommend)

2. Pay a stupid amount of money to be "trained" to pass the CBT1C and DAS assessment. (waste of money and again I wouldnt.)

3. Try and get in with a good school who will train you and serve some time as downtrained. (I would recommend)

I'll explain my reasoning for each step using my own experiences.

1. Going into Cardington with no training can be done. The chances of passing are slim to none. The CBT1C has around a 40% pass rate and the majority of candidates who take the 2 day assessment come from schools who have trained them up, like myself. As an instructor with a full year as downtrained I still manage to fail the CBT1C the first time. I wont lie, the assessment is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Going alone without training. I really would not recommend it, you will not come out of the end an instructor.

2. Paying a school an extortionate amount (I've seen websites charging in excess of £1500) for an intensive week long course to prepare you for the Cardington assessment. Again this does not make you an instructor and you will have a better chance of passing but the chances are you wont the first time.

3. Join a local school who will train you up. You might even be lucky enough to be trained up for free to downtrained status. I was lucky. I got in with a great local school who trained me up. I worked for free (trained) and was in pretty much every day for 2 months before having an inhouse assessment and gaining my downtrained warrant. Once downtrained you can conduct CBT training on your own warrant for the school who trained you and even get paid. I spent a good year as downtrained, getting the experience as an instructor before going to Cardington and failing it the first time. OK I nailed it the second time as the strongest of the 3 candidates but I did fail the first time. I was an instructor before going. I was a DVSA qualified one when I passed. The year downtrained was worth its weight in gold in comparison to doing the CBT1C without training.

That is not even mentioning the DAS training, which, oddly enough, is great fun.

My advice and I am pretty sure any of the fellow instructors on here, who have done their 1C will agree, get in touch with local schools, ask if they are looking for an apprentice, explain your final aim (DAS qualified) and if you get somewhere, work your heart out for free to obtain your downtrained warrant and live life as a CBT instructor for a while. Serve some time as downtrained because as much fun as the job may sound, there is an awful lot of work involved, a shedload of stress and when you are let lose unsupervised on the road with a 16 year old on a ped, a whole lot of terror.

I love my job. I consider myself lucky to have landed in a job I love and I have worked bloody hard to become good at my job. But I still come home every day mentally exhausted. I still have my moments where I wonder if I am in the right job, I still have my moments where I am thankful that both I and the student made it back to the yard alive. And I am currently sitting here after what was a very hard CBT student today knowing tomorrow morning I have to go and do it all over again



If you still want to give it a shot, ignore options 1 and 2 and go for 3. [/img]
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Matt B]