The Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) is a European wide training directive which has been introduced “to maintain driving standards and improve road safety.”

This was introduced in September 2008 for coach and bus drivers and on 10th September 2009 for lorry drivers. Under a new European Union Directive, professional bus, coach and lorry drivers need to hold a Driver CPC in addition to a vocational driving licence, any drivers of lorries over 3.5 tonnes and minibuses with 9 seats or more must obtain a Driver CPC.

New drivers obtain their Driver CPC by passing a series of initial qualification tests, theory and practical. This then must be followed by 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years if they want to keep their Driver CPC after that period.

Holders of a PCV, PSV or LGV licence prior to those dates will be able to continue driving professionally on the basis of having acquired “grandfather rights”, They will then have to undertake 35 hours of periodic training which must be completed within a 5 year period from the start date in order to renew their Driver CPC.

If you operate or wish to operate a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) in the UK you will need a CPC certificate,If you operate or wish to operate passenger carrying vehicles, PCV, PSV  buses and coaches in the UK you will need a CPC certificate, it is the law throughout Europe and it is the industry standard qualification for HGV operators, PSV operators including fleet and owner operators.

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