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PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS

What is CPC

The Certificate of Professional Competence explained.

Driver CPC is a Certificate of Professional Competence for professional bus and truck drivers.

It sets and maintains high standards of safety and driving among drivers of trucks and buses.

It is illegal to drive professionally without a Driver CPC card and there are penalties if you do not comply.

To become a professional bus or truck driver you need to:

have a full car licence
be over 18 to get truck Driver CPC
be over 21 to get bus Driver CPC
be medically fit to drive a bus or truck

Who needs driver CPC?

You will need Driver CPC if you work professionally for yourself as a sole transport operator or if you are employed by a company in a professional driving capacity.

If you wish to work as a professional truck or bus driver you need both a full driving licence for the category of vehicle you wish to drive and a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence.

Who doesn't need driver CPC?

If you drive any of the vehicles listed below, you do not need Driver CPC:

vehicles not allowed go more than 45 kilometres per hour
vehicles used or controlled by the Defence Forces, Civil Defence, the Fire Service and forces responsible for maintaining public order
vehicles undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance, or new or rebuilt
vehicles which have not been put into service drivers of vehicles for non-commercial purposes, e.g. driving as a non paid volunteer, drivers of emergency or rescue vehicles
vehicles used by Registered RSA Approved Driving Instructors who are giving driving instruction for anyone who wants to obtain a driving licence or a CPC vehicles used for carrying passengers or goods for personal use and not for business
vehicles carrying materials or equipment that the driver uses as part of their work, as long as driving the vehicle is not the driver’s main activity.

Drivers with acquired rights

There are a number of circumstances where an established driver with acquired rights is not required to sit any exams.

However, you still need to complete Driver CPC periodic training to maintain your Driver CPC qualification and drive professionally.

The steps

There are 10 steps involved in becoming a professional CPC driver:

Prepare
Theory test
Case study test
Learner permit
Professional Driving lessons
Driving test
Walkaround test
Driving licence
Driver CPC card
Compliant driving and staying qualified

You can start your certification journey as a new bus or truck driver, taking all of the steps.

You only need to take and pass the case study and walkaround tests to become eligible for a Driver CPC card if you already have a full, valid truck or bus driving licence.

The RSA recommends that you take a course of driving lessons with one of our Approved Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) in preparation for your practical driving test.

As every driving school set their own fees for tuition, we suggest that you shop around for the most suitable training program for your needs.

Once you have qualified for Driver CPC, you must maintain it by taking annual CPC Training Modules over a five year cycle to continue to be qualified.

How can I get a driver CPC card?

Newly qualified drivers

Once you've passed the four exams (Theory Test, Case Study Test, Driving Test, Walkaround Test) and you receive your full driving licence, you need to apply for your Driver CPC card by completing and returning this driver CPC declaration form. (Please note, you must have the relevant category/categories on your full licence before you can apply for the CPC Card.)

Your card will be sent to the address you have provided within 20 working days of application.

Existing professional drivers

To renew your Driver CPC card you must complete at least 35 hours of periodic training within a 5-year cycle (or 42 hours if you hold both bus and truck) before the expiry date of your current Driver CPC card.

Returning to professional driving

You may qualify for a Driver CPC card if you’re a driver who:

has not driven professionally for more than five years
has not maintained your Driver CPC qualification
has been living and working as a professional driver outside of the EU member states where Driver CPC was not required

In the above cases, you don’t need to sit any exams.

However, you need to re-establish your right to Driver CPC by undertaking the 35 hours of pweiodic training (or 42 hours if you have both bus and truck categories) and completing a Driver Qualification Card Application Form