No. If you hold a bus licence prior to 10th September 2008 and a lorry licence prior to 10th September 2009 you will have ‘acquired rights’ which means you will not have to pass the initial qualification. However, you will still be required to complete periodic training every 5 years. This periodic training will consist of 35 hours of training to be taken over the 5 year period and will be in blocks of 7 hours. Drivers with ‘acquired rights’ will be required to complete their first 35 hours of periodic training within the first 5 years following implementation of CPC if they wish to continue to drive professionally.
New drivers who pass their theory and practical driving test after the date of implementation of CPC will be required to complete a CPC theory and practical test. A Driver CPC lasts for 5 years and drivers will need to complete 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years to retain their Driver CPC which entitles them to drive professionally.
It will involve 4 hours of theory testing and 2 hours of practical testing.
The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) are introducing modular tests so that drivers can obtain their driving licence and CPC at the same time. The CPC syllabus covers the additional knowledge a professional driver needs to have; it is not just about practical driving skills.
The 'Case studies' will be designed to suit the profile of the candidate and DVA is meeting both sectors to help develop the new tests. DVA envisages that the questions would be of the format where a situation or scenario was defined for the driver, and they are then asked questions relating to this situation. Case studies wherever possible will use diagrams, pictures and graphics.
The test will be delivered from existing theory test centres and will be screen-based, like the current theory test for driving licence acquisition.
Module 4 - initial driver CPC - 0.5 hours of practical 'show me, tell me' test using a vehicle.
"The increase in theory test questions and hazard perception clips, and subsequent splitting of the test, will apply to both PCV and LGV test candidates and will be introduced at the end of November 2008".
There are currently no vocational training schemes available in NI for LGV or PCV drivers. However the Directive does leave this option open. Setting up such schemes would not come under the scope of the work of DVA – other government agencies and educational bodies might be involved in this.
No, they cannot drive professionally except in a vehicle covered by an exemption. All new PCV / LGV drivers after 2008/2009 must pass both their driving test and their initial qualification to gain their CPC before they can drive professionally on public roads. Drivers cannot drive any vehicle professionally in any EU member state until this training is fully completed. The only exception to this is attendees of a vocational training scheme. Such drivers will be permitted to drive domestically on restricted journeys while they train for their CPC.
If you hold a CPC for category C (LGV) and want to drive a category D vehicle (PCV) training is only required on the additional 4 objectives within the Directive’s syllabus that deal only with category D licences. The Directive also sets out shorter course attendance for such drivers for their initial qualification. The situation is the same vice versa
One CPC covers all category C licences (LGV) and the other covers all category D licences (PCV). So if a driver holds a CPC for any of these categories they do not need a further one to draw a trailer for this category. This does not affect their requirement to pass the current driving test for the additional category.
Information on where to obtain study materials can be found at www.dsa.gov.uk (link opens in new window) Training material can also be found at the Stationery Office, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast (Tel: 028 90 238451) or any good bookshop
Driver CPC Initial Qualifications FAQs
