There has been a lot of confusion surround driver CPC for qualified drivers since the introduction of Driver CPC and even today we still get asked lots of questions from people who find the legislation confusing. I have created this blog to give you the facts and tell you exactly what you need to know.
Here’s everything you need to know…….
Having ‘acquired rights’ means that you didn’t have to take the Driver CPC initial qualification because of your existing driving experience.
You have acquired rights if you got your vocational licence before the dates shown in the table below
Acquired rights drivers must complete 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years to keep your Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) to drive a lorry, bus or coach.
You only need to complete one set of training every 5 years even if you drive both Lorries and buses professionally.
You have to do the training in the country where you work or normally live.
You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving professionally without Driver CPC.
Your Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualification lasts for 5 years. To keep your Driver CPC you need to do 35 hours of training before your 5-year deadline.
The deadline to do your training is shown on your DQC* card. (A DQC card is what you are given once the 35 hours training is complete, you get a new one every five years)
It’s up to you when you take the training courses, as long as you do them within the 5-year period.
Your Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualification lasts for 5 years. To keep your Driver CPC you need to do 35 hours of training before your 5-year deadline.
The deadline to do your training is shown on your card.
It’s illegal to drive professionally if you haven’t done your training by your deadline.
It’s up to you when you take the training courses, as long as you do them within the 5-year period.
Drivers with acquired rights have deadlines to complete the periodic training by. The deadlines are detailed in the image below.
*You have 6 years to do your second block of training if you have acquired rights for both lorries and buses and finished your first block of training by 9 September 2013.
If you miss your deadline, you can’t drive professionally until you’ve finished your training.
You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving professionally without the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).
Your next deadline will be set for 5 years after the date you finish your training.
Only approved Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) courses count towards periodic training.
You can choose which courses to attend but the training provider you use MUST be approved by JAUPT (Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training).
You’re allowed to take the same course more than once in each 5-year period, e.g. you could take a first aid course in the first and last year of the 5-year period.
Training providers set their own prices for courses - there’s no maximum price. Prices tend to increase as the deadlines get closer. Most training providers advise drivers to carry out one driver cpc training session per year.
You must take one of these to your Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) training course as proof of identification:
a photocard driving licence
a valid passport
a digital tachograph card
a Driver CPC card
The training centre will put your training on your Driver CPC training record within 5 days of completing the course. Your training is recorded on the DVSA R&E Database
You can check the hours logged on your record online.
You’ll get a certificate of attendance for any driver cpc courses you attend. It belongs to you - your employer isn’t allowed to keep it even if your employer paid for the training.
Once you have completed the required 35 hours of periodic driver cpc training you’ll get your Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). The card is sometimes called a ‘driver qualification card’ or ‘DQC’.
You must carry this card while driving a lorry, bus or coach professionally.
You can get a £50 fixed penalty for driving professionally without your card.
You must replace your card if it’s lost or stolen.
Your Driver CPC card will be sent automatically to the address on your driving licence. You need to change this address first if it’s wrong.
You only need to apply for your card if you did some of your periodic training in another EU country.
You need to apply for your Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) card in writing if you have a UK driving licence and took some of your periodic training in another EU country.
The Driver CPC card doesn’t have your address on it, so you don’t have to get a new one if your address changes.
The photo and signature on your photocard driving licence will be used on your Driver CPC card.
If you’ve done your periodic training and you’re waiting for your Driver CPC card to arrive you can still drive professionally and you won’t be fined for not having a Driver CPC card with you.
You should get your Driver CPC card within 20 days of completing your periodic training. Contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) if you don’t receive it.
If you lose your card or it doesn’t arrive due to being sent to an old address i.e. because you haven’t updated your driving licence. You will have to pay £25 for a replacement.
You can get a Driver Certificate of Professional (CPC) card from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) if you live or work in the UK and have a driving licence from any of these countries however At least the last 7 hours of your periodic training must have been done in the UK.:
an EU country (still applies at present even with Brexit)
Gibraltar
Guernsey
Iceland
Isle of Man
Jersey
Liechtenstein
Norway
Switzerland
So there you have it the basic facts on Driver CPC for qualified drivers.
Should you wish to undertake driver cpc periodic training we offer training courses nationwide at local venues or on customer premises. Our DCPC prices are £60+VAT per person. Click here for more information.