A driver CPC qualification is the qualification required to be able to drive minibuses with 9 seats and above and/or goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. It is a legal requirement to hold the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence – otherwise known as the Driver CPC.
The Driver CPC was part of an EU requirement, which was passed in 2003 and introduced to enhance the knowledge and skills of professional drivers of buses, coaches and/or lorry drivers throughout their working life. However, it was not introduced for Passenger Carrying Vehicles (PCV) drivers until 10 September 2008 and Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers until 10 September 2009.
To become a Lorry, Bus or Coach Driver, you need to:
Who needs a Driver CPC?
You must have a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) if you drive a lorry, bus or coach as the main part of your job.
You usually need to pass 4 tests to obtain it, unless you have ‘acquired rights’ because of your existing driving experience.
Who does not need a Driver CPC?
You do not need a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). if you:
However, you will still need to pass Part 1 (Theory) and Part 3 (Driving Ability) of the qualification.
How to obtain and retain a Driver CPC:
Apply for a provisional lorry or bus licence.
Pass the four (4) tests that make up the Driver CPC to qualify – See Part 1 and Part 2 within this section of the website.
Attend 35 hours of periodic training within a 5-year period to remain qualified.
Renew your bus or lorry entitlement every 5 years, and then every year when you reach the age of 65.
If you are attending an NVT course
If you are attending an approved National Vocational Training (NVT) Course you can drive professionally for up to 12 months without taking the Driver CPC Part 2 and Part 4 tests.
Applying for a Provisional Lorry or Bus Licence
The category of provisional licence you need will depend on the type of vehicle you want to drive.
How to apply
To apply, order forms D2 and D4 from DVLA.
The D4 form must be completed by a doctor. This could be either:
Your doctor, optician or a private firm can charge you for the service.
You may only apply for a provisional trailer (+E) licence when you have obtained the full licence for the vehicle you will be driving.
Send the forms
Send both forms and your photocard driving licence to DVLA at the address below. There is no application fee – DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BR
You will automatically lose your lorry or bus licence if you lose your car licence.
Once you have received your provisional driving licence, you are then in a position to take Part 1 and Part 2 of the required training which you must pass to become fully qualified.
After you have qualified
After you have passed all 4 of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) tests, you will be sent a ‘Driver Qualification Card’ or ‘DQC’, this is sometimes also referred to as a CPC card.
You must carry your DQC card whilst driving a lorry, bus or coach professionally at ALL TIMES.
You can get a £50 fixed penalty for driving professionally without carrying your DQC card with you.
Receiving your DQC card
The card will be sent to the address on your driving licence and so if it is incorrect e.g. if you have moved but not advised the DVLA of your new address, you must change this address before your training is completed
The photograph and signature on your photocard licence will also be used on your DQC card.
Before your card arrives
You can drive professionally if you have passed all the tests and you are waiting for your DQC card to arrive.
If your card does not arrive
You should receive your DQC (Driver Qualification Card) within 20 days of passing the final test. If you do not receive it within this time, contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
DQC Card Replacements
The following are the contact details for a DQC replacement:
Email – cpcre@dvsa.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 123 7721 – Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm
You will have to pay £25 if:
Replacing your card
You MUST replace your DQC card if:
Remaining qualified
Every 5 years you must:
Renew your lorry or bus driving licence every year if you are over 65 years of age.
Further Information
The following EU Directives pertain to Driver CPC:
Driver CPC – Scope & Syllabus
Introduction
Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) was a new Qualification, which came into effect for Bus & Coach drivers on 10 September 2008 and for HGV drivers on 10 September 2009.
Those PCV and HGV drivers who initially held the relevant licence qualifications had acquired rights and were eligible with effect from 10th September 2008 (PCV) and 2009 (HGV) and were able to drive professionally from those dates.
Because of the initial date set for those drivers having acquired rights, the renewal dates were always, subject to completing 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years and would therefore always require renewing every 5 years unless allowed to lapse. The next renewal date for these drivers will be on 9 September 2024 for HGV drivers.
The Driver CPC also introduced a new Initial Qualification for drivers entering the industry after the September date, which drivers had to complete in order to drive professionally.
Scope and Training
Driver CPC applies to drivers of vehicles on roads open to the public and for which a driving licence in any of the following categories is required;
The Aims of Driver CPC
In order to maintain their Driver CPC, all category C and D licence holders (including C, C1, C1E and D, D1, DE, D1E) will be required to undertake 35 hours Periodic Training every 5 years from the initial dates of obtaining the driver CPC qualification.
The main aim behind the Driver CPC is to improve road safety; providing better qualified drivers to help reduce road casualties.
Driver CPC should also bring an improved professional and positive image to the industry, attracting more people to drive HGV’s for a living. It is aimed not only at improving the knowledge and skills of HGV drivers when they first start work, but also ensuring those skills are maintained and developed throughout the driver’s working life.
It is important to note that any lorry of 3.5 tonnes and upwards and minibuses of 9 seats or more are covered by the Driver CPC.
Driver CPC will enable young people to enter the haulage industry in a safe and professional manner, from 18 years of age (see ‘Minimum ages’ section under Driver CPC evidencing, enforcement and exemptions).
Subject Areas
Both the initial qualification and periodic training for the Driver CPC will be based on the same syllabus. The syllabus has three main subject areas, which are:
Periodic training should revise and expand on the subjects and should suit the needs of the driver at that time.
It is hoped that this section and the separate pages that go to make it up provide the information required to fully understand Driver CPC
Source – DVSA
