First off, congratulations on deciding to 'give something back'.  Being a riding instructor is a difficult task to sum up in a few words (although 'rain' is one that springs to mind), but there is little to compare with the 'inner glow' from seeing a rider's skill grow and their own pleasure at mastering those skills.

If you're interested in becoming an instructor, there are a few questions you have to ask yourself:

1.  What do I want to 'put in'? (mainly time)
2.  What level do I want to instruct at? (novice riders at CBT, 'L', Direct Access, 'Advanced', track-based, etc.)
3.  What do I want back? (financial)

As a starting point, contact your local training centres and see if they're interested in taking people on as trainee instructors.  You may have to consult the Internet, 'Yellow Pages', motorcycle magazines, local road safety officer, etc.  Visit local dealers, see what leaflets they display, ask about who they recommend.

If you're looking at this as a hobby or income supplement, then trying to get involved with an existing centre is likely to be the easiest way.  However, try to imagine the reaction you'll receive if you say:
"I want to learn from you how to be an instructor because I'm going to set up my own centre [taking your business with me!]." 

Should you be planning to run your own centre, then there's a lot more background work to do, which will involve researching your local area e.g. existing training centres, test facilities, training areas, local dealers (who may have their own training affiliations or tie-ins), site availability - with planning permission as a possible hiccup - and storage facilities.  Like any business, you'll need to approach it carefully.  Contact banks for details of 'start-up' packs etc.

Whatever level you intend to train at, CBT or 'advanced', you will need to be well-versed in the various relevant manuals & Highway Code, have a knowledge of lesson planning, teaching and learning skills, and a good general motorcycling knowledge.   

Some idea of how the DSA's courses (they're assessments, not training) are run is useful too.  The DSA's books will give some idea of course content (in the case of CBT, set down by the DSA), and there are other materials available, such as the 'What If?' video.

After all the research, next stop is a good bookshop to wave your credit card at!  (see below)

If running your own centre, you should consider BMF-RTS affiliation, for advertising and information.  Try to be realistic about the costs of running your own bikes & training bikes, waterproofs, helmets, gloves, conspicuity aids, radios, 'office' costs, and advertising.  If you're going to offer 'L' training, then at least one of you will have to visit Cardington, home of the DSA, and pass the two-day course to obtain authorisation to conduct CBT.  A further one day visit is necessary to achieve authorisation to conduct DAS.   You'll need to look at the options for third-party, pubic indemnity, employer's, and 'hire bike' machine insurance - and add those to your costs.  Also, inform your own insurers what you will be using your own bike for.

A formal qualification to teach is not necessary, but would it be useful? Do you have any 'teaching' or 'training' background?  A good 'starter' here is to think back over any training you may have taken - what made it particularly good/useful/enjoyable etc.? 

There are a number of options available for obtaining teaching qualifications - remember that the DSA courses are assessments of your ability, not 'training' - and if you're looking at offering 'advanced'-level training it's worth knowing that the DSA have stated that they intend to introduce a register, eventually mandatory, of qualified instructors.  The consultation paper for this has been placed on their web site.

Also, there are the Edexcel-accredited BTEC instructor training courses available.  These might seem expensive - but would you take training for something similarly life-threatening (like flying) from someone whose only qualification is that they've been flying for a couple of years, think they're quite good, so have decided to have a go at teaching?

If you are already working as an instructor, you may find that 'APL', accreditation of prior learning, will give exemptions from some parts of the course.

For an extensive booklist, see here, but other useful books include:

• The Driving Instructors Handbook

Check the Rider Resource links page for :

• BMF-RTS   Full listing of all BMF Rider Training Scheme centres;
• DSA   The Driving Standards Agency;
• NE Lincs BTEC   'Home' of the BMF-RTS BTEC courses;