Understanding the Driver CPC 35-Hour Rule

Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) is a mandatory qualification for professional HGV and PCV drivers. If you hold a Category C, C+E, C1, D, D+E or D1 licence and drive for a living, you're likely required to hold a valid Driver Qualification Card (DQC), with some exemptions depending on your circumstances.

What the 35-hour rule means

To keep a DQC valid, drivers must complete 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years. That training doesn't need to happen in one block. Training Advantage Group runs both 3.5-hour sessions and full 7-hour sessions, and each counts proportionally towards the 35-hour total, so drivers can fit sessions around rotas and operational demands.

What the modules cover

DVSA-approved Driver CPC training is delivered across a set of core modules, including:

• Drivers' Hours & Working Time
• Emergency First Aid
• Vulnerable Road Users
• Vehicle Safety & Security
• Health & Safety for Drivers
• Tachograph Use & Records
• Load Security
• Eco-friendly Driving
• Customer Relations
• Road Traffic Law

Classroom or remote

Driver CPC training is available as classroom sessions at our Bothwell, Motherwell and Glasgow centres, or remotely online for drivers who have a computer or tablet with a webcam and a stable internet connection. As a JAUPT-approved training provider (consortium reference AC00591), TAG uploads completed hours directly to the DVSA JAUPT system, so there's no separate paperwork for drivers to submit.

Assessment is attendance-based rather than exam-based: drivers who participate and engage throughout the session receive their certificate, with hours typically uploaded to DVSA within 3 working days of completion.