Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC): what it is

You must have a Driver CPC before you can drive a passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) for a living.

The Driver CPC test has 4 parts

Driver CPC parts and cost
1	Theory test	£26
1	Hazard perception test	£11
2	Case studies	£23
3a	Off-road exercises	up to £40
3b	On-road driving test	£115 weekdays (£141 other)
4	Practical demonstration test	£55 weekdays (£63 other)

Part 1 Driver CPC theory test

Resources - Driver CPC theory test

Advice: Theory test preparation for PCV drivers

Resources to help you prepare for your theory test.

Practice theory test for bus and coach drivers (1 of 2)

Test your knowledge with this free practice test.

Part 2 Driver CPC case studies

7 case studies (short stories based on situations)
50 questions (6-8 multiple choice questions on each case study)
You have 1 hour 15 minutes
Questions may be single response, multiple response, audio or click on a hot-spot
Score at least 40 out of 50 to pass

Resources

Buy: Driver CPC: the official DVSA guide for professional bus and coach drivers

Explains the skills required to pass the Driver CPC tests. Includes essential information about case studies and vehicle safety demonstrations.

You do not need to pass the Driver CPC part 1 theory test before you book part 2.

If you're re-qualifying contact DVSA to book parts 2 and 4.

Book Driver CPC tests on GOV.UK

Part 3 Driver CPC off-road exercises and on-road driving test

Part 3a: off-road exercises

Lasts up to 30 minutes
Includes an ‘S’ shaped reverse into a bay

Part 3b: on-road driving test

Vehicle safety questions (see GOV.UK 'show me, tell me' links below)
At least 1 hour of on-road driving

Buy: The Official DVSA guide for professional bus and coach drivers

Contains sections on Driver CPC, the national standard for driving buses and coaches and essential guidance on practical driving skills.

Part 4 Driver CPC practical demonstration test

The test covers 5 topics from the Driver CPC syllabus

Score at least 15 out of 20 for each topic
Achieve an overall score of at least 80 out of 100.

Your test may include being able to

ability to load the vehicle with due regard for safety rules and proper vehicle use
security of the vehicle and contents
ability to prevent criminality and trafficking in illegal immigrants
ability to assess emergency situations
ability to prevent physical risk

When you've passed all 4 parts

You’ll receive a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) Card, which you must carry with you whenever you're driving an HGV.

Acquired rights

If you’re already a professional driver, you may have ‘acquired rights’ to Driver CPC if you got your vocational licence (D, D1, D+E and D1+E) before 10 September 2009.

Having acquired rights does not exempt you from periodic training.

Renewing your Driver CPC for bus and coach

All professional bus and coach drivers must complete at least 35 hours of Driver CPC training every 5 years.

The training covers various aspects of professional driving and is delivered by independent training bodies.

What’s covered in your training is up to you and your employer, but it might include:

fuel-efficient driving
defensive driving techniques
first aid
health and safety
drivers’ hours regulations
using tachographs.

One day’s training every year is ideal. It allows you to respond to each year’s priorities for your own continuing professional development and your employer’s changing business needs.

It can severely impact business planning and keep you off the road if too much of your training is left to the end of your card’s validity period. You also might not be able to find a trainer if demand is high.

It is illegal to drive professionally if you fail to complete your 35 hours periodic training by the deadline.