An Approved Motorcycle Instructors Register was introduced in Northern Ireland on the 29 November 2010. After this date it is a mandatory requirement for anyone delivering motorcycle training for payment or reward to be on the Approved Motorcycle Instructor Register.
To apply for entry onto the AMI register, DVA will assess eligibility by checking the applicant against the specified criteria. The criteria will reflect the current requirements for Approved Driving Instructors.
• They have not been disqualified from motorcycle riding/driving in the previous four years
• In four of the previous six years they held a full motorcycle driving licence
• They have passed the specified theory, practical and instructional ablity test within the two year period.
• They are a fit and proper person. This includes a criminal history check conducted on new applicants.
Yes. If your licence is marked 'restricted' the details of the restrictions on your licence must be sent with your application to ensure suitable arrangements are made to facilitate needs as appropriate.
There will be a three part assessment for those wishing to become Motorcycle Instructors in Northern Ireland, similar to the current ADI process. These three parts are:
• A Theory Test (Part 1)
• A Riding Ability and Fitness Test (Part 2)
• An Instructional Ability Test (Part 3)
All 3 parts must be passed in this order and completed within a two year period from the date Part 1 is passed. A pass in any one part of the examination will be valid for two years, by which time the other two parts of the examination must be passed to enable the candidate to continue towards registration. If a trainee instructor fails any part of the examination three times, they will have to wait two years from the date they passed Part 1 theory test before being able to begin the examination process again.
The Theory Test will consist of 100 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), followed by a Hazard Perception Test (HPT) with 14 clips containing 15 hazards. Both parts of the theory test will be taken together, and must be passed to achieve an overall pass for this part of the examination.
The pass marks will mirror those in place for ADIs. The pass mark for the MCQ part will be 85/100 and the pass mark for the HPT part will be 57/75.
This will examine the candidate’s ability to apply their theoretical knowledge of road safety matters into practical riding on the road. It will involve an eyesight test and a riding technique test, both of which must be passed at the same time to achieve an overall pass for this part of the examination.
This part of the test must be passed within two years of the person passing their AMI theory test, as outlined above and can only be taken a maximum of three times. If the candidate fails a third time they must wait for two years from the date they passed Part 1 theory test before beginning the complete examination again.
This will assess the ability of the candidate to convey the knowledge which has been assessed and demonstrated to date in the examination process. The DVA examiner will play the role of a pupil, and the candidate will be asked to instruct them on a number of topics which the examiner will specify. This will include such things as CBT delivery, training in manoeuvres on the motorcycle, dealing with junctions and road hazards or riding styles on various types of road. The ‘test’ topics will be specified in legislation and the examiner will have discretion to select freely from this list. Therefore, candidates will need to be prepared for all items on this list before applying for this test.
This test must also be taken within two years of the candidate having passed their theory test, and can only be taken a maximum of three times. If the candidate fails a third time they must wait for two years from the date they passed Part 1 theory test before beginning the complete examination again.
Once the examination of assessment is successfully complete, the instructor may apply to have their name added to the AMI Register subject to the payment of the required fee and a satisfactory criminal record check by DVA.
Yes, the Part 2 test will be conducted in the same manner as an L Test with the candidate having a receiver and earpiece. For the Part 3 test the examiner will require 2 way communication with the instructor using DVA radio equipment. In exceptional circumstances, instructors may use their own motorcycle mounted radio equipment if it is compatible.
In addition to our private channel, DVA can use the licence free radio channels available to the general public (PMR446 channels). The majority of motorcycle trainers use these. Popular radios that are compatible include those from Icom, Kenwood and Motorola, also those from other manufacturers that do not use any tone encoding to increase channel occupancy. Other makes may also be compatible if they use similar channel/tone combinations to those from the manufacturers listed. DVA cannot operate on other licensed private channels. If your radio is non- compatible DVA will supply a complete radio system, which must be used for the duration of the test.
DVA will supply a temporary PTT switch along with radio equipment, but it is unlikely that the DVA PTT switch will be compatible with other radio systems.
For over 20 years DOE operated a Voluntary Register of Motorcycle Instructors in Northern Ireland. The register currently has approx. 90 members which is believed to include a large proportion of the motorcycle training industry.
It has been agreed that given the process these instructors went through to qualify for registration to the voluntary register, there should be some form of exemption to the AMI Register.
Members of the DOE Voluntary register will be exempt from the 3 parts of the examination and given 6 months from implementation to apply for their names to be added to the register. Any member of the voluntary register who applies after this date will have to go through the entire registration process including the 3 part test. Acceptance will be subject to successful completion of a criminal records check and payment of the appropriate fee.
DVA recognises that there may be motorcycle trainers with long and relevant experience in the industry who are not members of the DOE voluntary register and those who have made applications to the Voluntary Register since it has been ‘frozen.’ It is proposed that an exemption from Part 2 and 3 of the entrance examination could be offered to those trainers who can prove that they have relevant experience and/or qualification in providing motorcycle training.
Subject to approval from Legislation Branch, a panel of 3 people will be set up, one from the motorcycle industry, one from DOE and one from DVA to vet all applications and rule on their suitability based on a set criteria.
This transitional arrangement will be available for a period of 6 months from the date the implementation of the AMI scheme is established and consideration will only be given to those applicants who gained their experience/qualification prior to the introduction of the AMI register.
During the period of registration each instructor will be assessed by DVA to ensure their ability to instruct remains at a satisfactory standard. This will be a continued ability and fitness test.
The test will be conducted by a DVA examiner attending a lesson being delivered to a pupil by the instructor. The Examiner will observe the lesson and the instruction given, assessing this for appropriateness in terms of the ability and needs of the pupil. For the purpose of the quality check the pupil will not be assessed in any way. However, the instructor will be examined on their ability to deliver appropriate instruction based on the need of his pupil.
If an instructor fails this test they will have to undertake a second assessment and if they fail they will be given a third and final assessment. If they fail for a third time a recommendation will be made to remove their name from the register. Again this keeps the motorcycle instruction register in line with the ADI register
Anyone wishing to appeal any decision taken by the Registrar regarding the refusal to add a name to or revoke one from the register will be able to do so.
The appeal will begin with a notice in writing by the aggrieved party to DOE which must arrive within 28 days of the decision being taken, if it relates to the register. The appeal will then be investigated.
The fees will mirror the current ADI scheme. Theory Test (Part 1) Fee (£72), Riding Ability and Fitness Test (Part 2) Fee (£130), Instructional Ability Test (Part 3) Fee (£138) and Registration/Renewal Fee (£240). These fees have still to be agreed.
Registration will be valid for four years, as long as the registered person continues to comply with the eligibility criteria. If a person requests to be removed from the Register, a refund of their fee, apportioned appropriately, may be returned.
On expiry of the four year period instructors will be required to renew their registration. On payment of the specified fee, and assuming they remain eligible for the register, their membership will be renewed for a further four years. This will be subject to them continuing to demonstrate that they have satisfactory instructional ability skills.
Yes. You may instruct friends or relatives provided it is not for payment or reward. There will be no trainee licence for AMIs and only registered AMIs willl be entitled to take payment or reward for instruction.
Any person with a full A1 (light motorcycle) or A (motorcycle) is permitted to carry pillion passengers but will need to check with their insurance company whether or not their policy covers them to do so.
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