Driver Qualification Card and Driver CPC

Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) training is continual professional development which carries on throughout a professional bus, coach or lorry driver's career. Once you pass your Driver CPC, you'll be issued with a Driver Qualification Card (DQC).

Receiving a DQC

You’ll get your Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) card when you’ve done 35 hours of periodic training.

The card is sometimes called a ‘driver qualification card’ or ‘DQC’.

You must carry this card while driving a lorry, bus or coach professionally.

You’ll get your new Driver CPC card straight away if you complete your training in the 12 months before your deadline.

If you complete your training more than a year early, you will not get your new Driver CPC card until nearer the time your current card expires.

Your Driver CPC card will be sent automatically to the address on your driving licence. You need to change this address first if it’s wrong.

You only need to apply for your card if you did some of your periodic training in an EU country.

The Driver CPC card does not have your address on it, so you do not have to get a new one if your address changes.

The photo and signature on your photocard driving licence will be used on your Driver CPC card.

Waiting for your card

You can still drive professionally while waiting for your card if both of the following apply:

you’ve done your periodic training
your training provider has recorded the training (they must do this within 5 working days of the training ending)

If your card does not arrive

Contact DVA if you do not receive your new card within 3 weeks of completing your training or tests.

Driver & Vehicle Agency - Certificate of Professional Competence | nidirect

You’ll have to pay £25 if:

you take longer than eight weeks to tell DVA it has not arrived
it’s sent to an old address because you have not updated your licence

For more information on Driver CPC periodic training and receiving a DQC see:

CPC for new professional lorry, bus and coach drivers

Carrying proof of your Driver CPC status

You must always carry your DQC as evidence of your Driver CPC status while driving professionally. If you don't, you will be liable for penalties.

The Driver CPC is enforced in all European Union (EU) member states. If you are driving in another EU country, you must still hold a valid Driver CPC, and carry your DQC, unless you have an exemption.

Lost and stolen cards - applying for a replacement DQC

If your DQC has been lost, stolen or damaged, you must report it to the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) immediately.

For more information on reporting lost or stolen cards and applying for new cards, see the link below:

Driver & Vehicle Agency - Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) section

There is a £25 fee to replace and issue new cards.

For GB licence holders information is available from the following links:

Driving while you wait for a replacement

You can continue to drive professionally while you wait for your new DQC to arrive. If it does not arrive within 15 days of you making the application, contact the DVA to confirm your application has been received and is being processed.

You should keep a copy of correspondence and get certificates of posting (which are free of charge for letters posted at a Post Office), as evidence of when you contacted the DVA.

DVA recommends that you let your employer know if your card has been lost or stolen.

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