The first reforms to the Driver CPC qualification will begin on 3 December, introducing a National Driver CPC, confirmed by the Department for Transport. This qualification will only be valid for driving within the UK.
New vocational drivers will still receive the International Driver CPC for their first five years, enabling them to work abroad. Periodic training for international drivers remains the same, although the EU is reportedly considering its own reforms.
From February 2025, an expedited requalification process will allow drivers whose CPC cards expired within two years to requalify through a seven-hour ‘return to driving’ module. This applies to both National and International CPC holders.
In December, separate qualification cards will be introduced, clearly marking those for the National CPC. National CPC training requirements will remain 35 hours every five years but with added flexibility:
Courses must be at least 3.5 hours long.
Split courses no longer need to be completed on consecutive days.
E-learning courses will be allowed and can be taken at work or home.
Further changes, such as a pass/fail system for the National qualification, are still under consultation.
The RHA has welcomed these updates, with Policy Lead for Skills Sally Gilson highlighting the importance of flexibility for operators and drivers. However, the RHA opposes renewing the National qualification through periodic tests alone.
