CPC initial qualification part 1
Introduction
The Driver CPC initial qualification applies only to drivers who acquire their vocational licence after the relevant implementation dates:
• 10 September 2008 for PCV
• 10 September 2009 for LGV
who are intending to work as a professional driver.
Driver CPC does not apply to certain exempt groups (see ‘Driver CPC evidencing, enforcement and exemptions’).
The initial qualification does not apply to current/existing drivers.
To minimise cost and inconvenience, the Driving Standards Agency will offer new drivers the opportunity to take the initial qualification at the same time as they obtain their vocational driving licence.
Completing the whole process will involve four hours of theory testing and two hours of practical tests, split into the following sections / ‘modules’:
• 2 hours 30 minutes theory test
• 1 hour 30 minutes theory test (case studies)
• 1 hour 30 minutes practical test
• 30 minutes practical demonstration of vehicle safety
This table illustrates how the modular approach allows someone to acquire a vocational licence and Driver CPC / just a vocational licence (if they belong to one of the exempt categories) / just Driver CPC (if initially, they were exempt from it but then began driving professionally and needed to obtain it).
|
Module 1Theory Test |
Module 2Case studies |
Module 3Practical Test |
Module 4Driver CPC Practical Test |
Licence Acquisition only |
* |
|
* |
|
Full Driver CPC |
* |
* |
* |
* |
Upgrade to Driver CPC |
|
* |
|
* |
For the full Driver CPC modules 1 and 2 can be taken in any order, as can modules 3 and 4. However candidates must complete module 1 before they can take module 3 and must complete module 2 before they can take module 4. In other words the theory test must be taken before the practical part.
The table illustrates how the modular approach allows someone to acquire a vocational licence and Driver CPC OR just a vocational licence (if they belong to one of the exempt categories) OR just Driver CPC (if initially, they were exempt from it but then began driving professionally and needed to obtain it).
The following sections give more detail on each of the new test modules.
Module 1 - Theory test
This module now allows the multiple choice and hazard perception clips to be taken as two separate stand-alone tests in either order.
The multiple choice test contains 100 questions, of which at least 85 must be correct to obtain a pass.
The hazard perception test contains 19 clips, one of which will contain two scoreable hazards. Each hazard is worth a maximum score of 5 points; a score of at least 67 out of 100 is required to obtain a pass.
Candidates will be allowed 2 hours for the multiple choice and 30 minutes for the hazard perception element.
Module 2 - Case Studies
This module is computer based and uses realistic scenarios a driver may encounter in their working life; aiming to test their knowledge and how this is put into practice.
Written by experts from the industries, questions will be based around the case study and a candidate will be asked to answer in a number of different ways such as multiple choice answers, clicking an area on a photograph/image or by typing in a short answer.
Module 2 is effective from 1 September 2008 for PCV candidates and will be introduced in 2009 for LGV candidates.
Each test will be made up of 7 case studies, each one with 6-8 questions, with a possible maximum score of 50 (of which the pass mark will be 38).
Candidates will be allowed 1 hour 30 minutes to complete this module.
This can be taken at the same test centre as Module 1.
Page last updated: 17/10/2008