You must get the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) initial qualification if you’re new to professional driving and want to drive a lorry, bus or coach.

You'll get a driver qualification card when you qualify. You must keep this with you when you're driving professionally.

You can be fined up to £1000 for driving professionally without Driver CPC.

There are some situations when you don’t need Driver CPC.

Existing professional drivers

You’ll have Driver CPC through 'acquired rights' if you were already a professional bus or lorry driver before certain dates.

Keeping your Driver CPC

You'll need to do 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years to keep your Driver CPC.

The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) initial qualification has 4 parts:

• part 1 - theory test (this includes 2 separate tests - multiple-choice and hazard perception)
• part 2 - Driver CPC case studies test (computer-based exercise with 7 studies based on real-life situations - eg driving in icy conditions)
• part 3 - driving ability test
• part 4 - Driver CPC practical demonstration test (this takes 30 minutes - you will need to show you can keep your vehicle safe and secure, eg loading your vehicle safely)

You must pass all 4 parts to get your Driver CPC.

Booking the tests

You can book parts 1 and 2 online using the theory test booking service.

You can book parts 3 and 4 online using the practical test booking service.

What order you can take the tests in

You must:

• pass part 1 before you can take part 3
• pass part 2 before you can take part 4

You can take part 1 and part 2 in any order, and can take part 3 and part 4 in any order.

Taking part 1

For part 1, you can take the multiple-choice and hazard perception tests in any order, and on different days or on the same day.

You need to book them for different times on the same day if you take both on the same day.

You could have the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) through 'acquired rights' if you’re already a professional lorry, bus or coach driver.

This means that because you’ve already been working as a lorry or bus driver, your experience is counted as the same as taking the Driver CPC initial qualification.

You'll still need to do 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years to keep your Driver CPC.

Who has ‘acquired rights’

You’ll have ‘acquired rights’ if you’re a:

• lorry driver and got your vocational licence (C, C1, C+E and C1+E) before 10 September 2009
• bus or coach driver and got your vocational licence (D, D1, D+E and D1+E) before 10 September 2008 - this includes a restricted vocational licence D(101) issued after 1991 and D1(101) issued before 1997 (though you should by now have completed periodic training)

You'll need to pass all 4 parts of the Driver CPC initial qualification to be able to drive professionally if you don't have 'acquired rights'.

When you need to do periodic training

If you’ve got your Driver CPC by ‘acquired rights’ you must do 35 hours of periodic training by:

• 9 September 2014 if you’re a lorry driver
• 9 September 2013 if you’re a bus or coach driver

Driving a larger vehicle and adding trailer entitlements

Your ‘acquired rights’ don’t allow you to drive a larger vehicle of the same type or drive with a trailer if this isn’t on your vocational licence.

You’ll have to pass the lorry driving ability test to do this.

Example

You’d have to take the lorry driving ability test with a C+E vehicle combination if your vocational licence was only for a category C vehicle.

Driving a different type of vehicle

Your ‘acquired rights’ only counts for the type of vehicle you’d originally got your vocational licence for.

You’d have to get the Driver CPC initial qualification for the other type of vehicle.

Example

You’d have to get the Driver CPC initial qualification for buses and coaches if you only had ‘acquired rights’ for lorries.

You might not need Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC), even if you're driving a large goods vehicle or passenger carrying vehicle. It depends on:

• the vehicle
• what the vehicle is being used for

Vehicles you can drive without Driver CPC

You don't need Driver CPC if the vehicle you drive is:

• being road tested after repair, maintenance or technical development
• new or rebuilt and not been put into service yet
• limited to a top speed of 28mph

Vehicle uses where you don’t need Driver CPC

You don’t need Driver CPC if the vehicle you drive is:

• used for non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods for personal use
• used to carry material or equipment you use for your job - but driving the vehicle can’t be the main part of your job
• used for driving lessons for anyone who wants to get a driving licence or a Driver CPC
• used by, or is under the control of, the armed forces, civil defence, the fire service and forces responsible for maintaining public order
• used in states of emergency or for rescue missions
• driven to or from pre-booked appointments at official testing centres
• driven within 50 km of your base, is not carrying passengers or goods, and driving a lorry, bus or coach is not your main job

You can read detailed examples of Driver CPC exemptions.

After you've passed the initial qualification you’ll get a driver qualification card (DQC).

You must carry your DQC while driving a large goods vehicle or passenger carrying vehicle.

If you have ‘acquired rights’

You won't get a DQC if you have your Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) through 'acquired rights' until you've done 35 hours of periodic training.

Your driving licence is proof of your Driver CPC until you’ve done this.

You don't need to keep your licence with you, but if asked by the police, you must show it at a later date as proof of your 'acquired rights'.

Getting your DQC

You'll get your DQC when you've completed either your initial qualification or your 35 hours of periodic training if you have a Great Britain photocard licence. It will be sent to the address on your driving licence.

If you have a paper licence

You'll need to swap your paper licence for a photocard licence before you can get your DQC. This is because the DQC needs a photograph and signature, which are taken from the photocard details.

If some of your periodic training was done in another EU member state

You need to write to the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) to apply for your DQC if you’ve done some of your periodic training in another EU member state.

You must have done at least the last 7 hours of your periodic training in the UK to apply to do this.

You’ll need to include:

• your UK driving licence number
• your phone number
• the address and dates when you lived in that member state
• the names and addresses of your employers for that time
• the equivalent of your tax reference or national insurance number in the member states you worked in
• a £25 fee to add training taken abroad to your DQC

Driver CPC
Driving Standards Agency
PO Box 280
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE99 1FP

You must include the original documents - photocopies are not allowed.

Non-English training documents must be sent with a translation on headed paper from an educational establishment or embassy.

Apply for a replacement DQC

You must email DSA if your DQC has been lost, stolen or damaged.

DSA Driver CPC enquiries
cpcre@dsa.gsi.gov.uk

Tell DSA your:

• name
• driving licence number
• date of birth
• address
• telephone number

DSA will then call you back. You'll need a credit or debit card to pay the £25 fee for the replacement.

You can also apply by writing to the DSA at the address above.

You can still drive professionally in the UK while you’re waiting for your replacement DQC to arrive if you’ve paid for the replacement.

If your DQC doesn’t arrive

You should get your DQC within 20 days after completing either your initial qualification or your periodic training. If you don’t receive it, contact DSA.

DSA Driver CPC enquiries
cpcre@dsa.gsi.gov.uk

You must pay £25 if:

• you didn’t update your licence details and your DQC was sent to the wrong address
• you didn’t get your DQC for any other reason

You must do 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years to keep your Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).

You can check how many hours you’ve done in the current 5-year period.

You have to do the training in the country where you work or are normally resident.

How to find training courses

Only approved courses taken with approved training centres count towards periodic training. It’s up to you to decide which to attend.

You only need to complete 1 set of training every 5 years if you drive both lorries and buses professionally.

When to take Driver CPC periodic training

It’s up to you when you take the training courses, as long as you do them within 5 years.

When the 5-year period starts

Each 5-year period starts from 5 years before your current Driver CPC qualification runs out - not from the date you completed your last 35 hours of training.

Deadline for new professional drivers

You must complete periodic training by 5 years from the date you got the initial qualification.

Deadlines for drivers who had or have acquired rights

(*As a one-off arrangement, dual-category drivers will have 6 years to do their second block of training, rather than the usual 5 years.)

Dangerous goods training counting towards periodic training

If you take dangerous goods (sometimes known as ADR) training, the following can count towards your periodic training:

• up to 21 hours of the initial basic dangerous goods course
• 7 hours of the core module refresher course

Only dangerous goods training taken within the EU counts towards Driver CPC periodic training.

Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) initial qualification fees

These are the prices to book your tests using the official service. Unofficial websites may charge more.

Driver qualification card (DQC) fees

National Vocational Training (NVT) fees

You can drive professionally for up to 12 months without taking the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) part 2 and part 4 tests.

To do this you must:

• be taking an approved National Vocational Training (NVT) programme
• have passed the Driver CPC part 1 and part 3 tests

This is called an 'NVT concession' - you're only allowed to use it once.

When the concession period starts

The 12-month concession period starts from whichever of these is latest:

• the start date of the NVT programme you’re taking
• the date you passed the Driver CPC part 3 test

When the concession period ends

The NVT concession lasts for up to 12 months. It will end sooner if you:

• stop taking the NVT programme
• complete the NVT programme

You must have passed the Driver CPC part 2 and part 4 tests when the concession period ends. You must stop driving professionally if you haven't.

Apply for the concession

To apply, download the Driver CPC NVT concession application form and send it to the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). You’ll need to include the fee of £25 and proof that your NVT course qualifies.

Eligibility

You must be on an approved learning programme that lasts for at least 6 months and leads to a qualification.

The qualification must be:

• based on relevant National Occupational Standards
• at Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) level 2 or Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework level 5
• accredited by a national awarding body that is externally regulated by the Office of the Qualifications and Regulations Examiner or the Scottish Qualifications Authority

Qualifications that meet the rules

Qualifications that currently meet these rules are:

• level 2 award in knowledge for a professional bus or coach driver
• level 2 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Diploma in passenger carrying vehicles (bus and coach)
• level 2 Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) in passenger carrying vehicle driving (bus and coach)
• QCF certificate in driving goods vehicles
• BTEC in carry and deliver goods
• SVQ driving goods vehicles

DSA can consider qualifications that meet the rules but aren't on this list.

NVT concession card

You’ll be sent an NVT concession card to show that you’re registered on the NVT scheme.

By law you must carry the card when you're working.

You must return your NVT concession card to DSA if you leave or complete the approved course.

You can get a driver qualification card (DQC) from the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) if you live and work in the UK.

You must also have a driving licence from non-UK, EU Member States and third countries such as:

• Gibraltar
• Guernsey
• Iceland
• Isle of Man
• Jersey
• Liechtenstein
• Norway
• Switzerland

At least the last 7 hours of your periodic training must have been done in the UK.

To apply, send an email to DSA asking for form DQC1.

DSA customer services customer.services@dsa.gsi.gov.uk

From then on, after doing 35 hours of periodic training in the UK, you'll get your Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualification for 5 years.

Exchanging your driving licence for a UK licence

You can exchange your Driver CPC qualification if you exchange your non-UK country or EU member state driving licence for a UK licence.

Your Driver CPC qualification will still last until the date it was due to run out when you first got it.

When you exchange your licence, DVLA will tell DSA for you.

If you already have a DQC

You’ll need to send your DQC to DSA if you already have one. You’ll need to include your driving licence number in a short letter.

Driver CPC
Driving Standards Agency?
?PO Box 280?
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne?
NE99 1FP

DSA will send you a new DQC with the same number as your UK driving licence.

From then on, after doing 35 hours of periodic training in the UK, you'll get your Driver CPC qualification for 5 years.

If you don’t have a DQC

DSA will automatically send you a DQC when you complete 35 hours of periodic training.