International and National Driver CPC

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).

The Driver CPC Reforms came into force on 3 December 2024, providing more flexibility for people who drive professionally in the UK only. 

The changes affect:

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

Staying qualified

You can now 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 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 you take must be at least seven hours long
• if a course is split over a day, it must be completed on two consecutive days
• a maximum of 12 hours e-learning can be taken as part of your overall 35 hours of periodic training

National Driver CPC

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

If you only want to drive professionally in the UK, you take either:

• 35 hours of National Driver CPC training every five years

or

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

National Driver CPC 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
• do not need to be completed on two consecutive days if it is a split course - training providers will be free to set their own time limits
• can be 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
• allow a maximum of 12 hours e-learning to be taken as part of your overall 35 hours of periodic training

Summary of options to stay qualified

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

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

• Find Driver CPC training courses - (DVSA Training Accreditation)(external link opens in a new window / tab) 
• Check your Driver CPC periodic training hours(external link opens in a new window / tab)

Returning to professional driving

Previously, if your Driver CPC had expired and you wanted to return to driving professionally, you had to take 35 hours of periodic training before you were allowed to return. 

This changed on 1 February 2025. 

If your International or National Driver CPC expired up to 2 years ago

If your International or National Driver CPC has been expired between 60 days and two years, you now have four options.

Option 1: International Driver CPC training

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

Option 2: National Driver CPC training

1. take 35 hours of National Driver CPC training
2. start driving professionally again in the UK

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

1. take a seven-hour ‘return to driving’ training course
2. start driving professionally again in the UK
3. take 28 hours of other International Driver CPC training within 12 months of finishing the ‘return to driving’ course
4. start driving professionally again in the EU as well as the UK

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

1. take a seven-hour ‘return to driving’ training course
2. start driving professionally again in the UK
3. take a further 28 hours of National Driver CPC or a combination of National and International Driver CPC training within 12 months of finishing the ‘return to driving’ course
4. continue to drive professionally in the UK

If your International or National Driver CPC expired more than 2 years ago

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

This means you still need to either:

• take 35 hours of International Driver CPC training before you can drive again in the UK and EU

or

• 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

Taking a Return to Driving CPC course

You can take a Return to Driving CPC course if your Driver CPC expired both:

• more than 60 days ago
• less than 2 years ago

If you want to drive in the UK:

• complete the seven-hour Return to Driving CPC course 
• you can start driving professionally as soon as your training provider has recorded the training 
• you must also complete 28 further hours of Driver CPC training within 12 months of finishing the course to stay qualified
• the remaining 28 hours of further Driver CPC training can be National or a mix of International and National Driver CPC training.

If you do not complete 28 hours of further training in your first year, you will not be able to continue driving professionally in the UK.

If you want to drive in Europe:

• you must complete 35 hours of International Driver CPC training
• this can include a 7-hour Return to Driving CPC course

You cannot drive professionally in Europe until you’ve completed all 35 hours of Driver CPC training.  You cannot drive professionally in Europe if you completed a mix of International and National Driver CPC training.

You can only take a Return to Driving CPC course once every 5 years.

Getting qualified

You’ll need to check that your driving licence:

• is still valid – View or share your NI driving licence information
• has not expired
• renew your licence if it has - Renew your driving licence online

What you need to do next depends on when you originally got your bus or lorry licence.

If you need to complete Driver CPC training, which type of training you do will depend on whether you want to drive professionally in the UK only or in the EU and UK.

Some employers offer help with the cost of training.

If you got a lorry licence before 10 September 2009 or a bus licence before 10 September 2008

You must either:

• complete 35 hours of Driver CPC training by finding and taking training courses - DVSA Training Accreditation

or

• take and pass the Driver CPC part 2 (case studies) and the Driver CPC part 4 (practical demonstration tests CPC for new professional lorry, bus and coach drivers

If you’ve already taken parts 2 and 4 of the Driver CPC tests, you cannot take them again. You must take 35 hours of training instead.

If you got a lorry licence on or after 10 September 2009 or a bus licence on or after 10 September 2008

You must complete 35 hours of Driver CPC training by finding and taking training courses DVSA Training Accreditation(external link opens in a new window / tab)

Any training you’ve done in the last 5 years counts towards the total. The training is valid for 5 years from the date you took the course.

If you have not got a lorry or bus licence

You need to complete the Driver CPC modules for the relevant vehicle to drive professionally.

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 affect which type of Driver CPC you have from that point on.

After you’ve completed your training or tests

Your new Driver Qualification Card (also called a DQC or Driver CPC card) will be sent to the address on your driving licence when you’ve completed your training or tests.

Driver Qualification Cards (DQCs)

The rules around carrying DQCs (sometimes called a Driver CPC card) have not changed.  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.

DQC for International Driver CPC

This card will look the same as the current DQC. 

DQC for National Driver CPC

This card will look similar to the current DQC but will include the text ‘DOMESTIC UK USE ONLY’.