The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) is a qualification for people who drive a bus, coach, or lorry as the main part of their job.
This qualification must be held in addition to a driving licence.
All drivers must complete an initial Driver CPC qualification before driving professionally. This involves:
- a theory test
- case studies
- a practical test
- vehicle safety demonstration
To keep this qualification, all drivers must complete at least 35 hours of Driver CPC every 5 years on a continuous basis.
If you drive lorries and buses, you only have to complete one set of training.
Driving without a CPC licence
If your Driver CPC has expired, you cannot legally drive a bus, coach, or lorry until you have completed your training. If you drive without the qualification, you could be fined up to £1000.
Training course options
To help you get the training you need before your CPC expires, North Ayrshire Council Training Centre offers a variety of approved training courses taught by qualified instructors.
Courses last 7 hours and cover several disciplines, including:
- driving the law and you
- managing space in a commercial role
- health and safety when driving and operating a LGV
Modular Courses - choose any 2 modules from:
- urban and rural driving risks
- vulnerable users off the road
- drivers daily walk around checks
- fuel efficiency driving
- fitness to drive
- drivers' hours and tachographs
We are approved by the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT). All of your course data will be logged on the official JAUPT system.