FAQS

The Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) is EU legislation introduced to improve the standards of professional HGV and LGV drivers across Europe.

​The short answer is ‘most HGV drivers.’ If you want to earn money from driving, you need it. If you legally need the CPC and you don’t take it, you’re driving illegally. Driving without a licence can gain you 6 points on your licence and £1000 fine for both you and your employer.

The bit that is confusing is how the Driver CPC applies to you, and what bit of it you need to complete.

As the rules on Driver CPC is quite complicated, we are available and ready to answer your CPC questions, and advise you how CPC legislation affects your personal circumstances.

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However, as a general guide:

• If you’re new to professional HGV / LGV driving you must get the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) Initial Qualification.

• When you qualify you will be issued with a Driver Qualification Card (DQC) which you must keep with you when you are driving professionally.

• The Driver CPC Initial Qualification must be completed if you are under 21 years of age (whatever reason you are driving for).

• It must also be taken if you passed your car test after January 1997 and do not have a 7.5 tonne (Category C1) entitlement on your Driving Licence.

• If you passed your vocational licence before 10th September 2009 (C1, C1+E, C or C+E) and are over 21 you have “acquired rights” and do not need to take the Driver CPC Initial Qualification because of your experience. BUT you still need to complete 35 hours of Driver CPC periodic training every 5 years.

• Latest legislation changes at the DSA allows you to obtain your First Driver Qualification Card by taking the INITIAL TEST.This however includes completing both Module 2 case study exam and Module 4 Practical Demonstration Assessment. Unfortunately you can not proceed to Module 4 without passing Module 2. Both of these are pass or fail.

In effect, the legislation affects anyone who intends to drive a HGV or LGV vehicle for financial gain. But if you’re only driving for personal use (e.g. driving a horsebox or hiring a vehicle to move personal possessions) and are over 21 – the legislation does not affect you.

Most HGV / LGV drivers will need to take the Driver CPC Initial Qualification as a first step but ALL drivers need to comply with the Driver CPC periodic training requirements.

Protea Training Co Ltd offer a range of courses to help you gain or retain your CPC qualification. Periodic training is carried out either at our training centre in Wakefield or at a site of your choice. Module 2 and 4 can be completed using a local Driving school.​​​

The training you need depends on where you want to drive.

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Driving in the UK and Europe

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You must complete 35 hours of only International Driver CPC Training Courses.

If you include any National training courses, you will get a National Driver CPC and will not be able to drive professionally in Europe.

Use the https://www.gov.uk/check-your-driver-cpc-periodic-training-hours  service to 'opt out' and stop any National courses counting towards your training hours.

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If you receive a National Driver CPC card, any International hours on your record cannot be reused to get an International Driver CPC card. 

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Driving in the UK only

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You must complete 35 hours of training. You can choose one of the following:

• National Driver CPC training courses only

• a mix of National and International Driver CPC training

The training you need depends on where you want to drive.

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Driving in the UK and Europe

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DVSA has updated its guidance on 'opting out' for Driver CPC training for qualified drivers.

The change applies to individuals who intend to drive professionally in Europe and have already completed a National Driver CPC training course.

To keep your Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) to drive a lorry, bus or coach, you must do 35 hours of training every 5 years.  

If you want to drive professionally both in the UK and Europe, this training must come only from International training courses.   

You can now stop any National courses counting towards your overall training hours by using the check your Driver CPC periodic training hours service and selecting ‘opt out’.

If any National training courses are included in your Driver CPC training when your driver qualification card (DQC) is generated, you will get only a National Driver CPC.

This means you won’t be able to drive professionally in Europe, and you can't reuse any international hours to generate a new International DQC.

For more information on the Driver CPC training for qualified drivers: How much training you need to do - GOV.UK