Changes to Driver CPC in 2024 and 2025

Introduction of changes

Reforms to Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) to come into law on 3 December 2024.  

The reforms coming into force on this date are:

• introducing a National Driver CPC that will cover driving a lorry, bus or coach in the UK
• allowing training courses to be done in blocks of three and a half hours, rather than the current seven hours, to allow greater flexibility
• decoupling e-learning from trainer led courses

The measure to speed up the process for drivers to return to driving a lorry, bus or coach in the UK if their Driver CPC has expired will come into force on 1 February 2025.

Overview

To be a heavy goods vehicle (HGV), bus or coach driver, you need a professional driving qualification called the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC).

It is not being scrapped, but there will be changes to Driver CPC to make it more flexible for people who only drive professionally in the UK.

The first changes will affect:

• how you can stay qualified
• how you can return to professional driving

Staying qualified

From 3 December 2024, you will be able to choose to stay qualified using either:

• International Driver CPC
• National Driver CPC

International Driver CPC

International Driver CPC is the new name for how Driver CPC previously worked. 

You will need to take 35 hours of International Driver CPC periodic training every five years to be allowed to drive professionally in the UK and EU.

There are no changes to how it works. 

This means that:

• courses must be at least seven hours long
• if a course is split over a day, it has to be completed on two consecutive days
• a maximum total of 12 of your 35 hours periodic training can be completed through e-learning

National Driver CPC

National Driver CPC is a more flexible version of the last Driver CPC.

If you only want to drive professionally in the UK, you’ll be able to take either:

• 35 hours of National Driver CPC training every five years
• a combination of 35 hours of National Driver CPC and International Driver CPC training every five years

The new flexibility means that with National Driver CPC courses:

• courses must be at least three and a half hours long - training providers will still be able to offer longer courses if they want to
• split courses will not need to be completed on two consecutive days as  training providers will be free to set their own time limits
• you will be able to take e-learning only courses - for example - you can take an approved three and a half hour long e-learning course at your workplace or home
• a maximum total of 12 of your 35 hours periodic training can be completed through e-learning

Summary of options to stay qualified

From 3 December 2024, you will have two options to help you stay qualified:

• take 35 hours of International Driver CPC training every five years to be able to drive professionally in the EU and UK

• take 35 hours of National Driver CPC training every five years (or a combination of 35 hours of National and International Driver CPC training) every five years to be able to drive professionally in the UK

If your training deadline is approaching

If your training deadline is before the changes are introduced, you must stay qualified using the options available to you at the time.

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

• Find Driver CPC training courses - (DVSA Training Accreditation) 
• Check your Driver CPC periodic training hours

Getting qualified

When you pass the qualifying tests, you will automatically have International Driver CPC for the first five years.

This means you will be able to drive professionally in the UK and the EU.

The type of periodic training you then take to stay qualified will then affect which type of Driver CPC you have from that point on.

Returning to professional driving

If your Driver CPC has expired and you want to return to driving, you need to complete 35 hours of training before you’re allowed to start driving again.

This will change from 1 February 2025.

If your International or National Driver CPC expired up to two years ago

From 1 February 2025, if your International or National Driver CPC has been expired between 60 days and two years, you will have four options:

Option 1: International Driver CPC training

The first option is the current process that’s available:

• take 35 hours of International Driver CPC training
• start driving professionally again in the UK and EU

Option 2: National Driver CPC training 

• take 35 hours of National Driver CPC training
• start driving professionally again in the UK

Option 3: International Driver CPC training with a ‘return to driving’ module

• take a new seven-hour ‘return to driving’ training module
• start driving professionally again in the UK
• take a further 28 hours of National Driver CPC or International Driver CPC training within 12 months of finishing the return to driving’ module
• start driving professionally again in the EU

Option 4: National Driver CPC training with a ‘return to driving’ module

• take a new seven-hour ‘return to driving’ training module
• start driving professionally again in the UK
• take a further 28 hours of National Driver CPC or International Driver CPC training within 12 months of finishing the return to driving’ module
• continue driving professionally in the UK

After you have requalified, you’ll need to stay qualified using the options available at the time. 

If your International or National Driver CPC expired more than two years ago

The changes in 2025 will not affect what you need to do if your International or National Driver CPC expired more than two years ago.

This means you will still need to either:

• take 35 hours of International Driver CPC training before you can drive again in the UK and EU
• take 35 hours of National Driver CPC (or a combination of 35 hours of National and International CPC training) before you can drive again in the UK

Driver Qualification Cards (DQCs)

The rules around carrying DQCs (sometimes called a Driver CPC card) are not changing.  You must still carry this card while driving a lorry, bus or coach professionally.

From 3 December 2024, depending on which option you choose to stay qualified with, you’ll get a different DQC.

When you pass the initial qualifying tests, you will get the DQC for International Driver CPC.

You can hold both types of DQC if you are qualified to drive both HGVs and buses or coaches professionally. For example, you will get both cards If you choose to stay qualified using International Driver CPC for HGVs and National Driver CPC for buses.

Further potential changes

Proposals to introduce a new National Driver CPC periodic theory test are also being considered. 

This has not yet been agreed and there is no planned date for when this test will be available. 

More information will be published before any proposals are agreed.