Crispin’s journey: From biker to motorcycle instructor
As a passionate biker for over 30 years, I’d often thought about becoming an instructor as a rewarding career change. Last year, I decided to take the plunge and began researching the path to qualification. I found plenty of useful information online – not just about the process, but also the kind of personal qualities that help make a good instructor. Everything I read only strengthened my belief that this was something I could do, and wanted to do.
The first step was finding somewhere to train. While many motorcycle schools exist, not all offer instructor training. Fortunately, West London Motorcycle Training (WLMT) does. I was immediately impressed by their website, course options and glowing customer reviews. I did check out a few other schools but WLMT stood out as the most promising. I filled in the short application form on their Instructor Academy website page and soon got a call from the office to discuss the process. I was then booked in for an Observation Day, where I shadowed a full CBT course. It wasn’t just passive watching – I was invited to share my thoughts on trainee performance, identify faults and suggest improvements. It was a great way to get involved and reassuring to see how my own knowledge and instincts might transfer to teaching. The training itself isn’t rigidly structured – there’s a syllabus and an expected pace, but also flexibility to suit how you learn. You gain experience by attending live courses and doing a good amount of home learning. The classroom elements need regular practice at home and you gradually get to deliver them to real students under supervision, with immediate, constructive feedback to help you improve.
The practical side is a little more unpredictable. You follow the structure, but real trainees mean real surprises. Every session teaches you something new and you build up a growing bank of knowledge to draw from. DAS courses are another great learning opportunity – they not only sharpen your CBT instruction skills but also help prepare you for the full DAS qualification. After gaining confidence in delivering all five elements of the CBT, I was assessed by WLMT and then by the DVSA while teaching a live CBT course. I’m proud to say I passed all my assessments first time – and I’m now a fully qualified motorcycle instructor.
Throughout the whole process, the WLMT team were supportive, approachable and generous with their knowledge. It’s not easy – you’ll need to put the work in – but it’s absolutely achievable and they’ll bring out the best in you.
Becoming a motorcycle instructor has been, and continues to be, a hugely rewarding challenge. Honestly, I just wish I’d done it 10 years earlier.
Crispin took the leap, now it’s your turn!
The next round of our Instructor Training Course kicks off this November – and spaces are limited. If you’re ready to turn your passion into a career, click ‘Instructor Academy’ in the top menu bar to find out more and apply today.
