Driver CPC is aimed at improving road safety by providing better-qualified drivers to help reduce road casualties. It should also bring an improved professional and positive image to the industries, attracting more people to drive buses, coaches and lorries for a living.

How to comply with Driver CPC

As a professional driver you will need to complete 35 hours of ‘periodic training’ every 5 years to retain your Driver CPC. Only approved courses taken with approved training centres will count towards periodic training. If you hold both a Passenger Carrying Vehicles (PCV) licence and a Large Goods Vehicles (LGV) licence, then you will only be required to complete one set of periodic training.

For New drivers

You will have to pass an initial Driver CPC qualification before being able to drive professionally. It can be taken at the same time as the vocational driving test.

Driver CPC comes into force across all European Union member states on:

For Existing drivers

As an existing professional bus, coach and lorry driver you are deemed to hold Driver CPC by ‘acquired rights’. However, you must complete your periodic training within 5 years of the introduction of Driver CPC as follows:

Note: ‘Acquired rights’ (or ‘grandfather rights’) apply to people who already hold a full vocational licence to drive buses, coaches and lorries on the Driver CPC start date. A licence acquired before January 1997 which has a “D1 not for hire or reward” or “101” code does not qualify as ‘acquired rights’, and to drive professionally drivers will need to take all four modules of the new Driver CPC test.

If you give up driving professionally, and let your Driver CPC expire, then you must complete 35 hours of periodic training in order to regain your Driver CPC before you can resume driving in the freight, bus and coach industries professionally.

The existing ‘Transport Manager’s CPC’ also known as the ‘Operator’s CPC’ is a separate qualification and anyone holding one, who still drives professionally as part of their job, will also need to hold a Driver CPC.

Where to get your Driver CPC periodic training "Download Booking Form and Price List"

Only approved courses delivered by approved training centres will count towards Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) periodic training. The Joint Approvals Unit (JAUPT) manages the approval process for courses on behalf of the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) for Periodic Training.

ETS has Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT) to deliver periodic training for it’s training centre and courses. Every course and centre has to be assessed according to set criteria before approval or re-approval is given. The JAUPT will also ensure that audits are conducted to maintain and quality assure standards.

Sources include: Directgov

To reserve training places or for further information please call Andy on 01509 615050 or click here and complete an enquiry form.