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Who can provide courses

You must be an approved training centre to provide Driver CPC periodic training courses.

You have to apply to get approval for:

• your training centre
• any courses you want to provide

Provide privacy information when drivers book your course

You must provide privacy information to drivers at the time you collect their personal data from them.

You can do this using a privacy notice. This must be easy to understand and easily accessible.

You can download an example of a Driver CPC course privacy notice (ODT, 13.2 KB).

As a data controller, youre legally responsible for making sure your actual privacy notice is accurate and explains how you collect and use data.

Check the Information Commissioners Office guidance on how to write a privacy notice and what goes in it.

Send joining instructions

Send joining instructions to each driver before the course takes place. These should include:

• the courses start and end times
• the length of the course (for example, 7 hours excluding breaks)
• details of your cancellation policy
• whether lunch is provided
• a contact number so drivers can tell you about any special requirements

You can download an example set of Driver CPC course joining instructions (ODT, 16.6 KB).

Register delegates and check their identities

Its the centres responsibility to record attendance and ID checks. If you want to use the example above, this guidance will help you complete it.

You can download an example of a Driver CPC course attendance register (ODT, 35.1 KB).

Comments section

It should include a comments section to note if the course was not delivered to a delegate because:

• their licence was not valid
• the delegate did not finish the course because they were unwell
• of other reasons, for example, the driver was late for the course and was turned away

Write the details of an identity check the comments section.

Write Do not upload if the delegate did not finish the course and cross through the record.

The attendance record should show when your course runs over 2 consecutive days or if 2 modules are taken each day.

Check the identity of drivers

You must check the identity of all drivers using one of these forms of photo ID:

• a photocard driving licence
• a valid passport
• a digital tachograph card
• a Driver CPC card (also known as a driver qualification card or DQC)

Check the driving licence entitlement

You must check that all drivers have the right entitlement on their licence. Only drivers with large goods vehicle (LGV) or passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) entitlement can have periodic training recorded for them.

Introduce the course

You should set enough time for a welcome and introduction session. This should include:

• a health and safety briefing
• information about welfare facilities
• the course aims and objectives
• an opportunity for drivers to share their experiences and knowledge
• timings for the course
• the conduct expected, such as use of mobile phones, mutual respect and confidentiality

Train the drivers using your approved course

Drivers should complete 7 hours of training a year and aim to cover a range of subjects.

They should not repeat the same course unless there is a specific need. If DVSA believe you have knowingly allowed a driver to repeat courses, they may revoke the drivers periodic training hours, or their Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) card.

DVSA may also take action against you for knowingly delivering repeat training.

You must:

• link the course content to the syllabus - training requirements are contained in Annex 1 in Directive 2003/59 EU, amended by the Annex in the revised Directive 2018/645 EU
• be up-to-date with current legislation

You do not have to cover the full content of the syllabus - you can focus on parts of it.

You can include content that goes beyond the content in the Directive (2003/59 EU) and the revised Directive (2018/645 EU) as long as its linked to the syllabus and is an expansion on a Directive topic.

Course content rules

Your course content must be equivalent to at least a level 2 vocational qualification.

The UK qualifications regulator defines a level 2 as:

Competence which involves the application of knowledge and skills in a significant range of varied work activities, performed in a variety of contexts. Some of the activities are complex or non-routine, and there is some individual responsibility and autonomy. Collaboration with others, perhaps through membership of a work group or team, may often be a requirement.

Training should:

• have specific emphasis on road safety, health and safety at work, and the reduction of the environmental impact of driving
• cover a variety of subjects including one road safety-related subject
• take into account developments in relevant legislation and technology
• consider the specific training needs of the driver

Training can be delivered:

• as classroom teaching
• as practical training
• as e-learning (this should not exceed 2 hours in each 7 hour course)
• on top-of-the-range simulators

E-learning

You can apply to have e-learning included in your Driver CPC course. Drivers attending your course can access this training before classroom training. E-learning is limited to a maximum of 2 hours per 7 hour course with the other 5 hours being delivered in a classroom setting.

If you want to deliver training this way you will need to:

• make sure the standard of training is the same level as classroom-based training (at least a level 2 vocational qualification)
• only select subjects that can be taught digitally
• be able to verify the identity of the trainee and prove they have participated and keep evidence of this for audit purposes
• provide devices on-site for those who do not have their own
• monitor start and finish times and be able to show the e-learning module was completed in full

Courses for LGV or PCV drivers or both

Your course content should apply to the LGV or PCV sector, or it can be for both. The course content can be very different for each.

You can run the course to a mixed group of drivers and extend the course time if you need to, so that both LGV and PCV drivers get full training.

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