If you are interested in any of the additional courses listed above please call us on 01753 683972, email us at info@drivetrain-training.co.uk or complete the online questions form.

We are adding new courses all the time so if what you are looking for is not in the list just call and ask.

1. How much training you need to do

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

You can check how many hours of training you’ve done in the current 5-year period.

You only need to complete one set of training every 5 years if you drive both lorries and buses professionally.

You have to do the training in the country where you work or normally live.

2. When to take training

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 up to you when you take the training courses, as long as you do them within the 5-year period.

If you miss your training deadline:

It’s illegal to drive professionally if you haven’t done your training by your deadline.

You can be fined up to £1,000 if you drive professionally without Driver CPC.

Drivers with ‘acquired rights’

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.

Type of vehicle Vehicle categories included When you got your vocational licence

Lorry C, C1, C+E and C1+E Before 10 September 2009

Bus or coach D, D1, D+E, D1+E Before 10 September 2008

Bus or coach (not for hire or reward) D(101) After 1991

Minibus (not for hire or reward) D1(101) Before 1997

Training deadlines for drivers with acquired rights

You still need to take periodic training, but there are set deadlines.

Training block Lorry driver Bus or coach driver Dual-category driver (lorry, bus and coach)

First block of training 9 September 2014 9 September 2013 9 September 2013

Second block training 9 September 2019 9 September 2018 9 September 2019*

Third block training 9 September 2024 9 September 2023 9 September 2024

*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 didn’t do your first block of training

You can finish your training or take extra tests if you have acquired rights and didn’t finish your first block of training by the deadline.

More about CPC Training