Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)
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What is the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC?)
CPC - The Driver CPC is for lorry (HGV) and bus/coach (PCV) drivers who drive professionally throughout the UK. It has been developed as a requirement of an EU Directive which is designed to improve the knowledge and skills of professional drivers throughout their working life. There are two parts to the legislation:
PART 1
1. The Initial Qualification that must be achieved by new lorry (HGV) and bus/coach (PCV) drivers along with their vocational licence to enable them to use their licence professionally.
PART 2
2. Periodic Training, which involves all professional drivers to undertake 35 hours of training every 5 years.
Get in touch with us and find the cheapest accredited CPC providers in your area
When was Driver CPC introduced?
The qualification came into force in EU member states on September 10th 2008 for all bus and coach drivers (PCV) including D, D1, D+E and D1+E license. On September 10th 2009 the qualification was a requirement for all lorry/LGV drivers including C1, C1+E, C and C+E.
Does it Affect me?
The Driver CPC Driver Qualification Card affects all professional drivers including delivery, lgv, bus and coach drivers. Holding a vocation driving license is not now sufficient for someone who wishes to drive these vehicles for a living. The good news is that even if you hold or want to hold both category C and category D on your driving licence you only have to take one Driver CPC, as the training has been designed to cover both professions.
Get in touch with us and find the cheapest accredited CPC providers in your area
How does it affect Existing Drivers?
If you already hold category C and/or D on your driving licence you are required to undertake 35 hours of DSA approved periodic training every five years throughout the rest of your working life. You are not required to sit any test, examination or assessment as part of this training, you must simply undertake regular refresher training, in 7 hour modules, provided by an approved and accredited training centre. That approved centre will register each seven hours training against your driving licence with DSA and once you have ‘logged up’ 35 hours of approved periodic training you will be issued with a Driver Qualification Card (DQC), that you must legally carry with you at all times when driving goods or passenger transport vehicles for a living.
How does it affect New Drivers?
New Drivers or those preparing to obtain new license categories are required to pass two Driver CPC initial qualification tests, one theory test in front of a computer touch screen at a DSA centre and then a practical test using an appropriate vehicle. You will then be issued with a driving licence showing the appropriate vocational categories shown on it and a separate Driver Qualification Card (DQC) to be carried at all times.
What Happens if I Forget to Maintain my Driver CPC?
Drivers that do not maintain their Driver CPC have to undergo the 35 days training before being able to driver again. As a result if you have the intention of driving professionally for an extend period it is best to maintain this standard. Only courses approved by the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT) taken with approved training centres will count towards periodic training.
Get in touch with us and find the cheapest accredited CPC providers in your area
What is involved in the Periodic Driver CPC Qualification?
As mentioned, there are no tests involved and the range of approved modules are group under three main elements:
- Advanced training in rational driving, safety regulation and fuel economy
- Application of the regulations such as drivers hours, tachographs and working time
- Health, road and environmental safety
- Service and Logistics including first aid, passenger safety and customer service
What is the Driver Qualification Card (DQC)?
Once the training has been passed the driver will be issued with a Driver Qualification Card (DQC), similar to the driving license. There is no charge for the card, however it is mandatory that you carry the card while driving and there will be penalties if you are found to be driving professionally without one (around £1000 fine). If your card is lost or stolen you must report it within 7 days & apply for a replacement card. You will be able to drive for up to 15 days without a card while a replacement is sent to you.
Get in touch with us and find the cheapest accredited CPC providers in your area
Are there any Exemptions from the Driver CPC?
There are exceptions from the Driver CPC qualification for drivers of vehicles:
- used for non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods, for personal use;
- undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance purposes, or of new or rebuilt vehicles which have not yet been put into service;
- used in the course of driving lessons for the purpose of enabling that person to obtain a driving licence or a Driver CPC;
- carrying material or equipment to be used by that person in the course of his or her work, provided that driving that vehicle does not constitute the driver's principal activity*
- with a maximum authorised speed not exceeding 45 km/h;
- used by, or 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 assigned to rescue missions
An example of a driver under exemption vii (also known as coincidental driver) would be a brick layer who drives a load of bricks from the builder's yard to the building site and then spends their working day laying bricks. In this case, driving a lorry is incidental to their main occupation.
The Office DSA Website & Video
The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) manages Driver CPC in the UK and has launched their own information service. Professional drivers can now find the latest information about what they need to do to get qualified and stay qualified at: www.direct.gov.uk/drivercpc. A helpful video clip is also provided by the DSA and is available at: www.direct.gov.uk/Newsroom
Get in touch with us and find the cheapest accredited CPC providers in your area
What is the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC?)
CPC - The Driver CPC is for lorry (HGV) and bus/coach (PCV) drivers who drive professionally throughout the UK. It has been developed as a requirement of an EU Directive which is designed to improve the knowledge and skills of professional drivers throughout their working life. There are two parts to the legislation:
PART 1
1. The Initial Qualification that must be achieved by new lorry (HGV) and bus/coach (PCV) drivers along with their vocational licence to enable them to use their licence professionally.
PART 2
2. Periodic Training, which involves all professional drivers to undertake 35 hours of training every 5 years.
Get in touch with us and find the cheapest accredited CPC providers in your areaWhen was Driver CPC introduced?
The qualification came into force in EU member states on September 10th 2008 for all bus and coach drivers (PCV) including D, D1, D+E and D1+E license. On September 10th 2009 the qualification was a requirement for all lorry/LGV drivers including C1, C1+E, C and C+E.
Does it Affect me?
The Driver CPC Driver Qualification Card affects all professional drivers including delivery, lgv, bus and coach drivers. Holding a vocation driving license is not now sufficient for someone who wishes to drive these vehicles for a living. The good news is that even if you hold or want to hold both category C and category D on your driving licence you only have to take one Driver CPC, as the training has been designed to cover both professions.
Get in touch with us and find the cheapest accredited CPC providers in your areaHow does it affect Existing Drivers?
If you already hold category C and/or D on your driving licence you are required to undertake 35 hours of DSA approved periodic training every five years throughout the rest of your working life. You are not required to sit any test, examination or assessment as part of this training, you must simply undertake regular refresher training, in 7 hour modules, provided by an approved and accredited training centre. That approved centre will register each seven hours training against your driving licence with DSA and once you have ‘logged up’ 35 hours of approved periodic training you will be issued with a Driver Qualification Card (DQC), that you must legally carry with you at all times when driving goods or passenger transport vehicles for a living.
How does it affect New Drivers?
New Drivers or those preparing to obtain new license categories are required to pass two Driver CPC initial qualification tests, one theory test in front of a computer touch screen at a DSA centre and then a practical test using an appropriate vehicle. You will then be issued with a driving licence showing the appropriate vocational categories shown on it and a separate Driver Qualification Card (DQC) to be carried at all times.
What Happens if I Forget to Maintain my Driver CPC?
Drivers that do not maintain their Driver CPC have to undergo the 35 days training before being able to driver again. As a result if you have the intention of driving professionally for an extend period it is best to maintain this standard. Only courses approved by the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT) taken with approved training centres will count towards periodic training.
Get in touch with us and find the cheapest accredited CPC providers in your areaWhat is involved in the Periodic Driver CPC Qualification?
As mentioned, there are no tests involved and the range of approved modules are group under three main elements:
- Advanced training in rational driving, safety regulation and fuel economy
- Application of the regulations such as drivers hours, tachographs and working time
- Health, road and environmental safety
- Service and Logistics including first aid, passenger safety and customer service
What is the Driver Qualification Card (DQC)?
Once the training has been passed the driver will be issued with a Driver Qualification Card (DQC), similar to the driving license. There is no charge for the card, however it is mandatory that you carry the card while driving and there will be penalties if you are found to be driving professionally without one (around £1000 fine). If your card is lost or stolen you must report it within 7 days & apply for a replacement card. You will be able to drive for up to 15 days without a card while a replacement is sent to you.
Get in touch with us and find the cheapest accredited CPC providers in your areaAre there any Exemptions from the Driver CPC?
There are exceptions from the Driver CPC qualification for drivers of vehicles:
- used for non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods, for personal use;
- undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance purposes, or of new or rebuilt vehicles which have not yet been put into service;
- used in the course of driving lessons for the purpose of enabling that person to obtain a driving licence or a Driver CPC;
- carrying material or equipment to be used by that person in the course of his or her work, provided that driving that vehicle does not constitute the driver's principal activity*
- with a maximum authorised speed not exceeding 45 km/h;
- used by, or 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 assigned to rescue missions
An example of a driver under exemption vii (also known as coincidental driver) would be a brick layer who drives a load of bricks from the builder's yard to the building site and then spends their working day laying bricks. In this case, driving a lorry is incidental to their main occupation.
The Office DSA Website & Video
The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) manages Driver CPC in the UK and has launched their own information service. Professional drivers can now find the latest information about what they need to do to get qualified and stay qualified at: www.direct.gov.uk/drivercpc. A helpful video clip is also provided by the DSA and is available at: www.direct.gov.uk/Newsroom
Get in touch with us and find the cheapest accredited CPC providers in your area