What's Periodic Training?
All minibus, bus and coach drivers who drive commercially must undertake periodic training in order to maintain their entitlement to continue driving. These new conditions will apply to both new drivers, who have recently acquired their licence through the initial qualification route, and to existing drivers who attained their PCV licence categories before 10th September 2008.
Periodic training is a method of continued professional development which carries on throughout the driver’s career - no matter how infrequently they drive professionally. Drivers will have to complete a minimum of 35 hours of approved training every 5 years. These 35 hours are broken down in to 5 days of 7 hours, so effectively drivers could undertake 1 day a year training, although there are no other legal stipulations requiring which combinations these are taken.
No pass or fail criteria
Periodic Training does not include any pass or fail criteria. Therefore, existing drivers can be rest assured that any PCV licence category already held cannot be lost or revoked by any trainer during or by attending any periodic training course. Unless however a driver is found guilty in a court of law for driving recklessly whilst on a periodic training course.
New drivers who attained their entitlement through the “initial qualification” route after 10th September 2008 must complete their first cycle of periodic training within 5 years from the date they acquired their Driver CPC. Whereas Drivers who attained their PCV category before 10th September 2008 must complete their periodic training before 9th September 2013, in order to continue driving commercially for the next 5 years, and so on.
Dual PCV & LGV category licence holders
If a driver holds both PCV & LGV licence categories; they will only be required to complete the one “35 hours” set of periodic training. Drivers who do not maintain their Driver CPC, i.e. because they leave the industries, but who want to start working as a professional driver again, must complete 35 hours of periodic training in order to regain their Driver CPC. They must complete the training before they can resume working professionally.
Will i loose my licence if i fail to undertake Periodic training?
Failure to maintain a Driver CPC through periodic training doesn’t mean your PCV licence category is automatically removed or revoked, as you still keep the respective category on your licence. It just simply means that you cannot drive within your respective category “professionally”. For example, you can drive a PCV to undertake a road test but you cannot drive with passengers on a Hire and reward basis.
Driver Qualification Card
On completion of the 35 hours Periodic Training, drivers who attained their PCV licence category before 10th September 2008 will be issued with a Driver CPC card. This card will be linked to records held by the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) and DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licence Agency) which will show that the Periodic Training has been completed. Current Driver CPC card holder’s details will be updated every 5 years and every time they attend any officially approved periodic training course. It will driver’s responsibility to carry this card “at all times” whilst they are driving commercially with penalties for drivers who are found to be driving without one.
If you already hold a PCV category on your licence and you drive commercially for either a minibus, bus or coach operator, then you will need to complete a series of Periodic Training modules in order to continue your entitlement to drive commercially.
Periodic training can only be offered by officially accredited training providers. A selection of accredited providers and registered courses to help you gain your Driver CPC qualification are available through this link.
Driver CPC Reference Guide
- What is the Driver CPC?
- Do I need a Driver CPC?
- What does the syllabus contain?
- What's an Initial Qualification?
- What's Periodic Training?
- Official DSA CPC study publications
- Officially approved Driver CPC training courses
- Driver CPC card, responsibilities & enforcement
