• Before you can apply for an I endorsement, you must have held, and continue to hold, a full New Zealand driver's licence for the class or classes you want to teach for at least 2 years. For example, if you want to teach both Class 1 and Class 2, you must have held a full New Zealand licence in both Class 1 and 2 for at least 2 years
• You must complete and pass a medical with a licenced medical practitioner.
• You must complete a full Class 1 Licence Practical Test with a testing officer (AA or VTNZ) if one has not been completed within the last 5 years. This can be before or after our I endorsement course.
• You must pass a Fit and Proper person check. This is part of the Driving Instructor application process you will also need to complete (done at a licencing agency). If you have any concerns about this, contact the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency prior to enrolling in the course. You can call them on 0800 822 422.

• I Endorsement Course $5,500 + GST per trainee.
• Pre-Entry Testing Manual vehicle hire $150 + GST per test.

Our course is split into 3 steps which must be completed in order:

• Step 1 – Pre-course entry assessment. This is a three-hour session with one of our instructors for you to complete both road code theory assessment and a practical drive. This must be completed in a manual class 1 vehicle. We recommend allowing 20-30 hours to adequately study all three of the Official NZ Road Codes.
• Step 2 - Pre-course reading, and assignments. On successful entry, you will be provided our study guide with assignments needing to be submitted for marking prior to the block course. 30-40 hours should be allocated for completion of this pre-study.  
• Step 3 – 10-day block course. Days 1 to 4 are mainly theory based in a classroom with days 5-10 involving practical in-vehicle instruction and assessment. Throughout the course you should be prepared to complete extensive homework assignments after hours

The following Unit Standards are measured: 

• US 3466           Apply risk reduction techniques while driving
• US 14511         Demonstrate knowledge required by driver educators of road transport legislation
• US 14521         Observe and analyse a person’s driving and determine optimal ways to achieve required performance
• US 14523         Carry out in-vehicle driver training
• US 16646         Develop and follow through on individual driver training plans
• US 16647         Describe the implications for driver educators of factors that affect people’s learning
• US 20179         Describe light motor vehicle dynamics and handling characteristics
• US 20180         Demonstrate knowledge of hazard detection and responses

We will provide trainees with the road codes on registration. Class 1 Car, Heavy Vehicle and Motorcycle.   

To be eligible for our courses, all trainees must demonstrate proficiency in both written and spoken English, equivalent to NCEA Level 1 (High School ability to ability to read and write english) or an IELTS score of 5.5 or higher. This level indicates a partial command of English, enabling individuals to comprehend and respond effectively in most situations. If a trainee does not meet our English language requirement, please contact us to explore available options listed below:

Can I bring a translator or reader/writer to my course?  

Yes, dependent on the course selected as some public group courses this does not suit. Translators and/or reader writers may be able to accompany you during theory courses only. 

Do you run private single or group courses with translators?

We offer private courses for individuals or groups who prefer personalized instruction or have specific language needs. If necessary, we can provide interpreters for the same language group. Our standard rates do not apply, contact us to enquire.

Interpreter Guidelines

Interpreters may be used for NZTA approved courses under specific guidelines. Students must provide interpreters at their own expense. Interpreters are solely there to translate assessment questions into the student's language, allowing the student to answer. It's important to note that interpreters are not permitted to fill out the assessment on behalf of the student; the student must complete the assessment independently. 

• To translate the assessment information to the student from English to the their language.
• Provide photo ID of themselves to our Course Trainer on the day of the course.
• Fill out the Interpreter declaration form
• They can be a qualified translator, work mate or family member.
• They CANNOT fill out the assessment on the student’s behalf.
• They CANNOT help the student answer any questions.
• They CANNOT be another student/course participant.

Reader Writer use

If the student cannot write the answers in English, a reader writer can be used that is not the same person who is translating.  The Assessor can also be the reader/writer if it is convenient, otherwise, the student will have to pay for another TR team member to be the reader/writer.

When using a reader/writer, our TR Driver Training reader/writer guidelines must be followed.

Do you have other options to aid my learning prior?  

 Yes, If English isn't your first language, consider enrolling in one of our online courses, available in multiple subtitled languages. Completing these courses beforehand can enhance your understanding of the topic before attending the in-class session. Explore our online courses by clicking here

Are there any course where an interpreter cannot be utilised?

An interpreter cannot be used in the Dangerous Goods documentation section.

Give it a go

You can attend our classroom-based courses and see how you go.  Please be aware though that our team run to a timetable.  If you are unable to complete any assessments in the time allowed, the course will move on to the next module.  As time allows during the day our team will help you complete any unfinished parts of the course, though if we run out of time, you will need to rebook into another course at additional cost.

If you're unsure whether your English proficiency is adequate for our courses, don't hesitate to reach out to our team. We're here to discuss available options with you call 0800 637 000.