Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) introduces a new initial qualification to new drivers, which increases the amount of knowledge that drivers need before they can drive.

The regulations came into effect in 2007 subsequent to the Driver CPC EU Directive in 2003. The regulations affect all professional PCV and LGV drivers.

When it is combined with a licence aquisition test, the qualification includes a 4-hour theory test and a 2-hour driving and practical test.

To keep the Driver CPC current all professional drivers, new and existing, will need to carry out 35 hours of training every 5 years. This is known as periodic training. Only courses approved and delivered by a training centre approved by the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT) will count towards periodic training requirements.

Periodic training is put in place to ensure that each driver stays up-to-date with ever changing legislation. It enables them to confirm and expand on exsiting knowledge and skills.

All new and existing drivers wanting to drive professionally or require an LGV or PCV licence in order to do their job are required to do it.

All existing PCV drivers, holding a full category D, D1, D+E or D1+E licence at 10 September 2008 must have completed 35 hours of periodic training before 10 September 2013 unless exempt*. In order to retain their Driver CPC, 35 hours of training will be required in every 5 year period.

All existing LGV drivers, holding a catergory C1,C1+E, C, C+E licence at 10 September 2009 must have completed 35 hours of periodic training before 10 September 2014 unless exempt* . Again in order to retain their Driver CPC, 35 hours of training will be required in every 5 year period.

IMPORTANT NEWS!

For drivers with acquired ('Grandfather') rights who want to return to vocational driving and have not yet completed the above CPC course, the DVSA has decided that a driver can now choose between the 35 hour course, or to complete Modules 2 and 4 as new drivers do. (Module 2 is theory based and can be booked at a theory test centre, and Module 4 is a practical test at a driving test centre).

This rule only applies to existing drivers coming back to vocational driving, and only applies to the first DQC, after which the periodic training will be required to maintain the DQC.