What is Driver CPC ?

Driver CPC is a Certificate in Professional Competence for professional bus and truck drivers. The Driver CPC was established to set and maintain high standards of road safety, health and safety and driving among professional drivers (those who drive for a living) of buses and trucks and to ensure that all professional drivers have good driving and safety standards and that those standards are maintained throughout the professional driver’s career.

The Driver CPC Periodic Training refers to the 35 hours of training that professional bus/coach and truck drivers must complete every five years (seven hours / one day per year) to keep their Driver CPC valid. There is no ‘pass or fail’ element (e.g., a test) for the drivers.

Only Training Centres that have been approved by the RSA will be able to provide the Driver CPC Periodic Training. In addition, only training materials that have been approved by the RSA are to be used by Training Centres. Periodic Training has been organised to provide drivers with a mechanism for keeping up to date with ever changing regulations throughout their career. Please see the syllabus for the module titles.

1. ‘Acquired rights’ to Driver CPC

If you got your bus licence on or before the 9 September 2008, or your truck licence on or before 9 September 2009, you are automatically entitled to Driver CPC. This is called “acquired rights”. To keep your Driver CPC, you must do 35 hours of periodic training over the next five years. Whilst attendance at Periodic Training is compulsory on a one day per year basis, there is no exam or assessment required. As and from the 10th of September 2013 all professional bus drivers must carry a Driver CPC card and from the 10th of September 2014 all professional truck drivers must carry a Driver CPC card.

Please note that from the dates above, it is illegal to drive professionally without a Driver CPC card. There are penalties in place for non-compliance.

Obtaining a Driver CPC card

• Option 1

If you have a Digital Tachograph card you can apply for your Driver CPC qualification card by giving the RSA permission to use the photograph and signature details that you previously submitted. To avail of this option you need to text the following three pieces of information to 51444 (low cost text)

1. Driver Number this can be found at item 5 on the paper Driving Licence or item 4d on the new plastic card Driving Licence (space)
2. Y which signifies Yes (space)
3. Surname

e.g. 123456789 Y Smith (Please insert a space in between Driver Number Y Surname)

• Option 2

You can also give your permission online by accessing the ‘MY CPC’ portal. You should first confirm that your contact details are correct.

• Option 3

Complete a Driver CPC declaration and forward to the Driver CPC Unit with the following items:

• A recent passport-sized photograph, please sign your name on the back
• For EU Licences not issued in Ireland - A photocopy of your current driving licence, which includes your bus/truck licence category.

2. New (Novice) Truck or Bus  Driver CPC

If you want to become a professional bus driver after the 10th Sept 2008 or a professional truck driver after the 10th Sept 2009 you will have to obtain an Initial Driver CPC examination. The examination includes:

• The new truck, the new bus or the new Combined Truck and Bus theory test as appropriate.  (This new test permits successful candidates to apply for their learner permit as well as counting as a Pass for CPC Step 1)
• Two-hour case study theory test (Known as CPC Step 2)
• The standard 90-minute driving test (Known as CPC Step 3)
• 30-minute practical test (Known as CPC Step 4)

In addition, you must then maintain your Driver CPC by completing the periodic refresher training of at least 35 hours of training over each five year period.  If you are maintaining both a bus and a truck CPC you must complete 42hours training over each five year period. For more details please contact RSA.