Driver Vehicle Standards Agency
You normally need to pass 4 Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) tests before youre allowed to start driving a heavy goods vehicle (HGV), bus or coach professionally.
If youre taking certain training courses, you can apply to start driving professionally after you pass all of these tests:
- Driver CPC part 1 (theory)
- Driver CPC part 3a (off-road exercises)
- Driver CPC part 3b (on-road driving)
You can then drive professionally for up to 12 months before you take both of these tests:
Doing this is called having a national vocational training (NVT) concession.
Eligibility
To apply to defer taking the Driver CPC part 2 and 4 tests, you must have:
- passed the DriverCPCpart 1 and part 3 tests
- not used an NVT concession before
- registered for an eligible training course or apprenticeship that lasts for at least 6 months and leads to a qualification
HGV driver training courses
These courses are currently eligible:
- Apprenticeship: Large goods vehicle (LGV) driver C and E (level 2)
- Highfield Level 2 Certificate in Driving Goods Vehicles
- Highfield Level 3 Diploma in Driving Goods Vehicles
- ICQ Level 2 Certificate in Driving Goods Vehicles
- Pearson Edexcel Level Certificate in Driving Goods Vehicles
- ProQual Level 2 Certificate in Driving Goods Vehicles
- SQA Level 2 Certificate in Driving Goods Vehicles
- SVQ in Driving Goods Vehicles at SCQF level 6
Bus or coach driver training courses
These courses are currently eligible:
- Highfield Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Passenger Carrying Vehicle Driving (Bus and Coach) (RQF)
- ICQ Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Passenger Carrying Vehicle Driving (Bus and Coach) (RQF)
- Pearson Edexcel Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Passenger Carrying Vehicle Driving (Bus and Coach)
Other training courses
Your course may also be eligible if its:
- at Level 2 or above on the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) register
- at Level 5 or above on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF)
- accredited by a national awarding body thats externally regulated by either Ofqual, the Scottish Qualifications Authority, or the Department of Education
Contact the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT) to check if your course is eligible.
JAUPT enquiries
enquiries@jaupt.org.uk
Telephone: 0844 800 4184
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
What it costs
It costs 25 to apply. If your application is unsuccessful you will not be refunded.
Apply for the concession
When you send your application form, youll need to include this supporting evidence:
- a scan or photocopy of your Driver CPC part 1 (theory) certificate
- a scan or photocopy of your Driver CPC part 3 (driving ability) certificate
- proof of your registration on an eligible training course
Send the form by email
Download and fill in the form.
Save the form on your computer or device.
Email the form and your supporting evidence to enquiries@jaupt.org.uk.
Pay the 25 fee by credit or debit card (youll need to do this by phone after you have applied).
Send the form by post
You can also send the application and supporting e