If you want to be a knowledgeable driver, you need to have a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). To find out more about getting the initial Driver CPC, see the Learner PSV Driver section.
All taxi, bus and coach drivers who drive professionally must renew their Driver CPC status by completing 21 hours of coaching every three years. This training is important because it will help you refresh your skills and keep them up to date.
The training covers various aspects of professional driving. Exactly what’s covered in your training will depend on the type of work you do, but it might include:
- eco-safe and fuel-efficient driving
- defensive driving techniques
- first aid
- health and safety
- drivers’ regulations
- using technology.
Driver CPC is a qualification for professional PSV and HGV truck drivers. It is being introduced to improve road safety and maintain high standards of driving.
Professional drivers of HGV and PSV should obtain a Driver CPC in addition to a vocational driving licence.
New drivers obtain their Driver CPC by passing a series of initial qualification tests with both theory and practical sections. This must be maintained with 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years or the certificate will lapse.
Initial Qualification
The initial Driver CPC qualification is split into four parts. These include the theory and practical tests drivers will need to pass before they can gain their full vocational driving licence.
The other two parts are optional and need be taken only if the driver requires the full Driver CPC to allow them to drive buses, coaches, taxis or trucks professionally. This gives drivers the flexibility to obtain their vocational licence only or to gain full Driver CPC at the same time.
Driver CPC theory tests
Part one – Theory test.
The theory test is made up of 2 parts;
1) a multiple-choice test and
2) a hazard perception test.
The multiple-choice test lasts 1hr 55 minutes and contains 100 questions. The current pass mark is 85%. The hazard perception part of the theory test consists of 19 video clips, with a total of 20 score-able hazards. Every hazard is worth a maximum of 5 marks and a score of 67% is required to earn a pass.
The driver must take both tests separately and it doesn’t matter in which order the driver completes them. As long as both tests are passed within 2 years of each other the driver will get a theory test certificate. Once the driver has passed Driver CPC module 1 the driver must pass the Driver CPC module 3 driving test within 2 years, otherwise, the driver will have to pass the module 1 theory test again.
Part two – Case studies
The test consists of seven case studies the driver works through on a computer. The case studies are short scenarios based on situations that are highly likely to happen in one’s working life as a driver. The test has been written by industry experts and uses realistic scenarios that a driver may encounter when out on the road. The driver is asked between six and eight multiple-choice questions on each of the seven case studies. The whole test lasts for 1 hour 55 minutes and the pass mark is 80%.
A pass letter is valid for two years and the driver must complete and pass the Driver CPC module 4 practical demonstration test within the 2 years, otherwise, the driver will have to complete module 2 case studies test again.
Practical tests
Part three – Licence acquisition (practical test of driving ability)
The driving ability test is a practical test that lasts for 1 hour and 30 minutes and includes:
- Vehicle safety questions
- Practical road driving
- Off-road exercises
Part four – Driver CPC practical test (vehicle safety demonstration)
The Driver CPC Module 4 is an interactive test where the driver is expected to demonstrate and explain some operations that are required by a driver other than the driving itself. For this module, the driver is tested on being able to:
- Load the vehicle following the correct safety rules and ensure the load is kept secure
- Prevent trafficking in illegal immigrants
- Assess emergencies
- Do a complete walk round vehicle safety check
To get the full Driver CPC qualification, drivers must pass all four parts. If they want to get a vocational licence, but will not be driving for a living, they will only need to take and pass part one and part three.
Periodic training[edit]
All drivers need to complete 35 hours of periodic training every five years on an ongoing basis to keep driving for a living. Drivers can check their Driver CPC periodic training record online to see how many hours they have done.[2] Periodic training is delivered through courses that drivers attend over the five-year period for which their current Driver CPC is valid. There is no pass or fail element to these tests. The minimum length of a training course is seven hours, although they may be longer. Where a course of seven hours is split into two parts, the second part must start within 24 hours of the first part ending. Driver CPC courses must be approved by JAUPT. The training provider will upload the driver’s completed training hours to the DVSA website for a small administrative charge.
Each new five-year period will begin from the expiry date of the driver’s current Driver CPC qualification, and not from the date on which they reached the 35 hours minimum training requirement.
Drivers of PCV vehicles before 10 September 2008 had to complete their first block of 35 hours of training and have their DQC issued by 9 September 2013. The deadline to complete their second block of training is 9 September 2018.[3]
Drivers of LGV vehicles before 10 September 2009 had to complete 35 hours of training and have their DQC issued by 9 September 2014. The deadline to complete their second block of training is 9 September 2019.[4]
Drivers of both PCV and LGV vehicles only need to do one set of periodic training every 5 years.
Exemptions
Drivers do not need a Driver CPC if the vehicle they drive:
- has a maximum authorised speed not exceeding 45 kilometres per hour
- is used by, or under the control of, the defence force, civil defence, the fire service and forces responsible for maintaining public order
- is undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance purposes, or is a new or rebuilt vehicles which have not yet been put into service
- is used in states of emergency or assigned to rescue missions
- is used in the course of driving lessons for any person wishing to obtain a driving licence or a Driver CPC
- is used for non-commercial carriage of passengers and/or goods or personal use
- is carrying material or equipment to be used by the driver in the course of his or her work, provided that driving the vehicle is not the driver’s principal activity
- is on a technical road test (to diagnose a fault or validate after a repair.
External links
- ‘Driver CPC: the basics’ video
- Independent Driver CPC Training Overview
- Driver CPC for lorry, bus and coach drivers – GOV.BB
- Check your Driver CPC periodic training hours – GOV.BB
- Find Driver CPC periodic training courses – GOV.BB
- Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
References
- ^“How to become a lorry driver”.
- ^Check your Driver CPC periodic training hours: GOV.BB
- ^When to take Driver CPC training: GOV.BB
- ^When to take Driver CPC training: GOV.BB
- ^When you don’t need the full Driver CPC – GOV.BB
- ^Driver CPC exemptions: examples – GOV.BB
How do I become Driver CPC Qualified?
You should first check if you need to be Driver CPC qualified or if you are eligible to get Driver CPC qualified
To become Driver CPC qualified you have to complete some steps:
- Your truck or bus theory test
Apply for a learner permit
Take your case study test
Take some driving lessons
Take your practical driving test
Take your walkaround test
Apply for your full licence
Once you have qualified for Driver CPC, you have to maintain it over 3 years to continue to be Driver CPC qualified.