Driver CPC Periodic Professional Training

The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) training is a standard of professional development that continues throughout the driver's career. Drivers must complete a minimum of 35 hours of approved training every 5 years.

You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving professionally without Driver CPC

Newly qualified drivers must complete their first cycle of periodic training within 5 years of the date they acquired their Driver CPC. You only need to complete one set of training every 5 years if you drive both LGV or HGV lorries or Bus and Coaches professionally. You have to do the training in the country where you work or normally live

There is a different process if you live in Northern Ireland.

Periodic Training Requirements

The 32020 EU Amending Directive allows or requires training courses in periods of at least 7hrs, but may be split over two consecutive days. This is a slight increase in flexibility from what was already available in GB.

The directive emphasises that the content of any training shall take into account the training needs specific to a driver’s role within the transport operation carried out. This can include all relevant legal and technological developments and should take into account the needs of the driver.

Repeat Training

Unlike previously, training must cover a range of different subjects covering the 35 hours of periodic training. Operators should retain records of correspondence with drivers, memos, etc. for audit purposes. It should be noted, that DVSA could remove hours if they feel the course content is not justified. If an operator requires its drivers to undertake repeat training, there must be justifiable circumstances for doing so, such as:

Maintaining a qualification such as first aid
Remedial training, where a driver did not understand the course or additional training is required
Where repeat training is paramount as a matter of safety or a requirement for insurance purposes
Where a change in regulation or ‘best practice’ is accepted by law

Minimum qualifications and training requirements

A number of changes were evident to Annex 1 of 2003/59/EC, which became apparent in July 2020. The changes in question mainly concerned course content and were applied across a range of subjects, namely...

Technical characteristics and operation of the safety controls of the vehicle in order to control it, minimise wear and tear and/or prevent the vehicle from malfunctioning
Ability to load the vehicle in accordance with safety rules and correct vehicle use
Knowledge of the social environment of road transport and the rules that govern it
Fuel Consumption

Training Records

Drivers are able to obtain information on their CPC training via the DVSA at the link below.

https://www.gov.uk/check-your-driver-cpc-periodic-training-hours

Operators employing new drivers should ensure they have sight of an up-to-date copy of a driver CPC training to confirm the training modules that are valid.

It is as much the operator’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of all driver CPC training and therefore should maintain a spreadsheet of all valid driver CPC training. This can be maintained on a simple spreadsheet.

Acquired rights for drivers returning to the industry

Drivers with acquired rights wishing to return to the industry as a driver can undertake either 35 hours of periodic training or obtain their first DQC only by completing modules 2 and 4 of the Driver CPC qualification.

It should be noted, that completing modules 2 and 4 are for drivers' first DQC only and cannot be repeated for subsequent DQC’s. After the first DQC, all subsequent DQC’s can only be obtained via 35 hours of periodic training.

Drivers can request a statement of their training from JAUPT at cpcre@dvsa.gov.uk or they can call 0844 800 4184. Whatever method a driver chooses, the driver must include the following personal information;

A request for a statement to be sent to their home address
Full Name
Date of Birth
Driver Licence Number
Home address

If you lose, damage or your Driver Qualification Card is stolen; it can be replaced following an application to the relevant authority – DVSA (GB) or DVA (NI). The cost to replace the card is £25. If the card is not replaced within 20 days (GB) or 15 days (NI), then contact the relevant authority to confirm it's being processed.

Offence and Penalties

It is an offense to drive an HGV or PCV without holding a DQC (if required) and/or to cause or permit another person to do so.

Offence	Maximum Penalty
No driver CPC held by the driver when required	£1,000 fine
Causing or permitting the above	£1,000 fine
Driver failing to carry DQC whilst driving	£1000 fine or £50 fixed penalty may be offered
Failing to notify of lost, damaged, or stolen DQC, or failing to return the lost card if found later	£1,000
A person guilty of forgery or false statements	Prison sentence up to 2 years, a fine or both.

A current list of approved training centres can be found on the JAUPT website.