Exeter College is helping keep the South West’s vehicles on the road thanks to their courses for professionals on MOT testing and MOT Test Centre Management.  

The college offers Level 2 and 3 Institute of Motor Industry (IMI) Award courses which give them skills and proficiencies to carry out professional MOT testing. On top of this, the MOT Test Centre Management qualification focusses on how to effectively ensure a safe, efficient and reputable MOT test centre.  

“Without a doubt, I see Exeter College as one of the leaders for MOT training for the South West.”

– Darren Smyth, MOT course leader.

Work-based Tutor Darren Smyth has been leading the courses for Exeter College since 2016. He has already overseen the progression of countless professionals from across the country. 

He explained, “This course enables fully qualified vehicle technicians to take the next step in their career to become fully licensed MOT testers. This, in turn, makes them more valuable to an employer.” 

Darren has been with Exeter College in some capacity for around ten years but has been MOT testing cars since 1988. 

“I became involved in this scheme as I was already a fully qualified MOT tester; it made sense for me to lead the course.” 

Darren is also on the MOT Council and works alongside the DVSA on the MOT Training Scheme itself. To add to this already impressive skill set, he also works as a consultant for MOT stations across Devon and Cornwall, as well as looking after all the MOT stations for Mercedes Benz in the county. Two years ago, he also attended the NEC in Birmingham as a guest of the IMI completing a talk to the industry as a guide to best practice. 

“In the last three years, I have worked with an excess of 200 garages, putting nearly 300 technicians through the qualification, and nearly 150 managers!” 

The Level 2 IMI Award in MOT testing that Darren runs is available for Class 4 (standard cars, motor caravans, taxis and ambulances) and Class 7 (goods transport) vehicles and takes five days to complete. This course can help qualified vehicle technicians take the next step in their career, becoming fully licensed MOT testers. 

The Level 3 MOT management courses are for those who wish to run their own MOT stations. This two-day course focuses on the MOT testing scheme and compliance legalities.  

To be eligible to take these courses, you need to be a fully qualified as a vehicle technician. Yet, for people who aren’t, Exeter College also offers the ATA Light Vehicle inspection qualification, which is a fast track route to be accepted on to an MOT training course. 

Exeter College also offers ongoing annual MOT training and assessment. Every MOT tester must carry out three hours of training and sit an online exam to keep their MOT licences active. 

Darren continued, “Without a doubt, I see Exeter College as one of the leaders for MOT training for the South West, and the fact that all of this has happened so quickly is pretty amazing in my opinion.” 

To keep up to date on Darren’s MOT sessions, follow him on Twitter @MOTtrainer. 

Check out our MOT courses and our adult professional courses online.