Become a WMST motorcycle instructor.
Turn your passion for motorcycling into an opportunity to make a difference. We do more than teach people how to ride. We help develop safe, confident motorcyclists and make a positive impact on Washington's roads and riding community. Our instructors are at the heart of that.
Ride well, then teach someone else to.
Great motorcycle instructors are not necessarily experienced teachers when they start. WMST provides the training and development needed to become a successful instructor. What we cannot hand you is the temperament: the patience to watch a nervous rider stall the same bike six times, and the judgment to know what to say on the seventh.
All WMST instructors work as independent contractors. Instructor opportunities are based on WMST scheduling needs, instructor availability, qualifications, and location needs. Independent contractor instructors are responsible for meeting all applicable requirements associated with their contractor status.
The traits that matter more than a résumé.
We can teach curriculum, range management, and testing procedure. The list beside this is the part that has to come with you.
Previous teaching experience is not required.
- Passionate about motorcycles and rider safety
- Dependable and professional
- Positive, patient, and approachable
- Comfortable communicating with others
- Coachable and eager to learn
- Team oriented
- Committed to continuous improvement
What you need before you reach out.
These are the baseline requirements for every instructor candidate, regardless of how many years you have been riding.
- Hold a valid Washington motorcycle endorsement
- Have a strong riding background and demonstrate safe riding habits
- Maintain a clean driving record
- Successfully complete a criminal background check as part of the hiring process
- Possess strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Be comfortable working outdoors in varying weather conditions
- Be able to stand, walk, coach, and demonstrate riding skills throughout the day
- Be available to teach evenings and weekends
We will teach you how to teach.
WMST develops its instructors in house. New instructor candidates participate in a structured development program designed to build the skills necessary to confidently teach and coach new and experienced motorcycle riders.
- WMST instructor orientation
- Adult learning principles and classroom presentation techniques
- Range management and rider coaching techniques
- Motorcycle demonstrations and emergency procedures
- Administrative procedures and documentation
- Shadowing experienced WMST instructors
- Mentored teaching assignments
- Performance evaluations and ongoing coaching
We do not expect you to know how to teach when you walk through the door. We do expect you to arrive ready to learn.
The job itself.
- Teach classroom and motorcycle range sessions
- Coach riders with different experience and skill levels
- Demonstrate proper motorcycle riding techniques
- Create a safe, positive, and professional learning environment
- Complete required class documentation accurately
- Assist with motorcycles and training equipment during classes
- Work alongside other passionate motorcycle professionals
- Represent WMST and the motorcycle community professionally
The standard we hold.
- Arrive prepared and on time
- Follow WMST policies and standard operating procedures
- Treat every rider with fairness, dignity, and respect
- Maintain a positive and professional attitude
- Work as a team and accept coaching and feedback
- Continuously improve teaching and riding skills
- Place rider safety above all else
Because WMST instructors serve as mentors and role models for new motorcyclists, we hold our instructors to high professional, safety, and ethical standards.
Your path to becoming a WMST instructor.
Nobody goes straight from the first email to the front of a class. Every step below exists so that when you finally run a range on your own, you have already done it beside someone who has done it a hundred times.
Initial application
Send us your interest and your riding background. This is the point to tell us where you are located and when you are realistically available.
Phone interview
A conversation about your riding history, your schedule, and what draws you to teaching.
In person interview
You meet the people you would be working with, and we get into the detail of the role.
Riding skills evaluation
You ride. We are not looking for a racing résumé, we are looking for smooth, deliberate, well calibrated control that a new rider can learn from.
Screening
Criminal background check and driving record review, followed by a ride along or class observation so you can see the job before you commit to it.
Instructor Development Program
Acceptance into the WMST Instructor Development Program, where the orientation, classroom, and range coaching work happens.
Mentored teaching and qualification
Mentored teaching assignments, then instructor qualification, then ongoing coaching and professional development for as long as you teach with us.
Ready to join the WMST team?
Whether you are an experienced rider looking for a new challenge or someone who wants to give back to the motorcycle community, becoming a WMST instructor is an opportunity to make a difference every time you step onto the range. Bring your passion for motorcycles. We will help you develop the skills to teach others.