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Driver CPC is a Certificate in Professional Competence for professional bus and truck drivers. Its purpose is to set and maintain high standards of safety and driving among drivers of trucks and buses.
Driver CPC was introduced in Ireland on the 10th September 2008 for bus drivers, and the 10th September 2009 for truck drivers. From these dates on, professional drivers need to take part in continuous training.
If a driver has a full licence for a truck or bus before Driver CPC came into force on the 10th September 2008 for buses and the 10th September 2009 for trucks, they will automatically have Driver CPC without having to complete more exams. This is called having CPC acquired rights.
The driver’s licence should have the date of issue before the 10th September 2008 (for bus drivers), or 10th September 2009 (for truck drivers), which will be evidence of the Driver CPC acquired rights.
To keep the Driver CPC acquired rights, the driver must complete 35 hours of periodic training (seven hours per year) over five consecutive years from 2008 for buses and 2009 for trucks. A driver who has completed all of their periodic training will receive a CPC Driver Qualification card recording their Driver CPC start and expiry date, photograph and signature. If a driver is not up to date with their periodic training they should not work as a professional driver as they and their employer can be subject to a fine.
The seven hour per year 1 day attendance only courses are broken up into 6 modules. These modules need and can only be completed once in the 5 year cycle.
Modules 1 to 4 are to be completed by both bus and truck drivers, Module 5 is specific to truck drivers, Module 6 specific to bus drivers. If a driver has a dual licence with both truck and bus they have to complete all 6 modules in a 5 year cycle, (the final year they will need to complete two modules).
The cycle start date for acquired rights drivers is 9th of September. A module should be completed before this date every year.
From 9th of September 2020 Bus Drivers with acquired rights that have been using their licence professionally should have completed 12 Modules, which are Modules 1, 2, 3, 4 & 6, completed twice and then any two of the 5 completed from their third cycle. Truck drivers should have 11 Modules, which are modules 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5, completed twice and then one of the 5 modules from their third cycle.
Modules cannot be completed early, however if a driver for some reason did not complete a module they should have completed, they can sit this module so they are compliant to drive. This late completed module will appear on their portal as completed but not compliant and a reason will have to be submitted to the RSA when renewing their Driver Qualification card.
If a driver has acquired rights but has not been using their licence to drive professionally or if they have moved to Ireland from another EU state or ‘recognised licence exchange’ country they will need to complete the five modules for their licence (or 6 if they have a dual licence) before starting to drive professionally.
Once completed they will need to sign an affidavit in front of a commissioner of Oaths to say they have not been using the licence professionally. They will then need to continue the one days training per year to keep their cpc qualification valid. This also applies to drivers from another EU state that have received the licence after this date but have completed the CPC exams in their own EU country. Their yearly cycle start date will be shown on their CPC Driver Qualification Card.
If you have a full licence for a truck or bus before Driver CPC came into force on the 10th September 2008 for buses and the 10th September 2009 for trucks, you will automatically get your Driver CPC without having to take more tests. This is called having CPC acquired rights
In order to keep your Driver CPC acquired rights, you must do 35 hours of periodic training (seven hours per year) over five consetutive years from 2008 for buses and 2009 for trucks. When you complete all of your periodic training you will get a card recording your Driver CPC, photograph and signature. If you are not up to date with your periodic training you cannot work as a professional driver. Any driver who has acquired rights and has not completed Driver CPC and wishes to start to work as a professional driver will need to complete all of the CPC Modules before starting employment.
Please see our Courses section below to book or call us on 045-879969
If a driver received their full commercial licence (or is in the process of completing their full licence) after CPC came into effect or if they hold a full commercial licence from a non-EU state or non ‘recognised licence exchange’ country and want to become a professional bus driver or a professional truck driver they will have to complete Driver CPC examinations. The examination includes:
The date the driver passes the third practical part of the CPC exam process is the start date of their 5 year cycle which should be printed on their CPC card and is the date that they need to complete one module by each year. The first module being completed before the first year is finished.
If you drive any of the vehicles listed below, you do not need Driver CPC. These are:
Multiple choice questions (MCQ) theory test €72 (official driver theory test book or cd €22)
Case studies theory test €72 (learning to drive a truck by RSA €8.99)
* Information for applying for driver CPC Theory on www.theorytest.ie, Truck Driver CPC Section
Study material also available to purchase, only on www.theorytest.ie, Truck Driver CPC Section
Driving test €120 (Standard RSA Test) (If you have a full truck licence already this does not need to be done). Practical CPC test €32.