NEW for 2025 - National and International Driver CPC

There are two types of Driver CPC training:

• National Driver CPC is only suitable for drivers who make journeys within the UK.
• International Driver CPC is more versatile as it is equally valid for drivers who make journeys within the UK and those who drive overseas.

If there is any possibility you might drive professionally overseas – even once – before your next Driver CPC renewal deadline, we recommend you choose International Driver CPC.

Courses can be delivered in a classroom setting, or remotely, via an online platform such as Zoom.

Both options allow up to of 12 hours of E-Learning to be included.

• International Driver CPC

  This is suitable for all professional PCV drivers:

  • Drivers who only make journeys within UK borders
  • Drivers who make journeys in the UK and overseas.

  International Driver CPC is identical to the familiar format of Driver CPC which has been in place since the introduction of periodic training in 2008.

  Drivers completing International Driver CPC must attend:

  • Five seven-hour courses across each five-year period
  • A total of 35 hours of International Driver CPC training across each five-year period

  Courses will be delivered in 7 hour modules, although these can be broken into two 3.5 hour sessions within a 24 hour period.

• National Driver CPC

  This new option is:

  • Valid for drivers who only undertake journeys in the UK
  • NOT valid for those who drive professionally, even occasionally, outside the UK

  National Driver CPC has introduced a new training option, in the form of 3.5 hour modules.

  Drivers completing National Driver CPC must attend:

  • Five seven-hour courses across each five-year period
  • OR up to ten 3.5-hour training courses across each five-year period
  • OR a combination of 3.5-hour and seven-hour courses
  • A total of 35 hours of National Driver CPC training across each five-year period

  Courses can be held in a classroom, face to face, or via remote learning, using Zoom.

• Driver CPC Return to Driving course

  The UK Government has introduced a Return to Driving course for drivers whose DQC has recently expired. If your DQC has been expired more than 60 days, but no more than 2 years, you can attend a 7 hour Return to Driving course and be issued with a DQC.

  This will entitle you to drive in the UK only. You must also attend further Driver CPC courses in your first year of driving.

  Following your Return to Driving course, in the next 12 months, you must also attend:

  • 4 seven-hour International or National Driver CPC courses
  • OR up to 8 3.5-hour National Driver CPC courses
  • OR a mixture of seven-hour and 3.5-hour courses
  • A total of 28 hours of periodic Driver CPC training

  Novadata will be offering the Return to Driving course in the very near future. Please join our mailing list here so that we can alert you to course dates as they are available.

• Driver CPC E- learning courses

  Both International and National Driver CPD offer more extensive eLearning options, affording even greater training flexibility. Novadata will be offering exciting new eLearning course options very shortly.

• Newly qualified drivers

  If you passed your PCV driving test recently, to obtain your first DQC you may need to take Initial Driver CPC training. Please contact us and a member of our team will be happy to advise you. Call 01376 552999 or email info@novadata.co.uk.

Our courses are all available to book above. For advice and guidance or to book by phone, call us on 01376 552999. You can also email us at info@novadata.co.uk.

Plan your Driver CPC PCV training carefully:

When planning your Driver CPC courses, please keep in mind:

• ‘Unnecessary repetition’ of courses is not permitted by the DVSA
• Attending the same course multiple times may mean that some hours will not count
• If you don’t reach a 35 hour total due to undue repetition, your DQC may be revoked

You may repeat a first aid course every three years in order to renew a first aid certificate. Other topics should ideally be covered only once every five years, unless there is a major legislative change which requires you to update your knowledge.

Plan ahead, and book a good selection of courses in plenty of time to renew your DQC. Our five-day Driver CPC courses all contain a good variety of topics.

Driver CPC training at your own premises

If you have a group of drivers who require Driver CPC training, we are happy to provide one or more of our popular JAUPT/DVSA approved courses at a location of your choice. You may have enough drivers to fill a course, or you may wish to gather a group from other organisations in your area. We are happy to send one of our expert trainers to deliver Driver CPC training at your own premises or locally hired venue.

Please contact us on 01376 552999 or email info@novadata.co.uk and we will explain the options for training at your own site.

New FAQs

• Should I choose National or International Driver CPC?

  Since the beginning of 2025, you have had two routes that you can follow to complete your periodic Driver CPC training. For both National and International Driver CPC, you must complete 35 hours of Driver CPC training over each period of five years, ensuring that you attend a total of 35 hours of training before your renewal deadline.

  If you choose to complete International Driver CPC, you will complete five seven-hour courses, in a range of subjects, just as you did before the changes.

  If you follow the National Driver CPC option, you can still attend five seven-hour courses, but you also now have the option to attend shorter courses of three and a half hours each. You would need to attend 10 shorter courses, or a mixture of one-day or half-day courses, to reach your 35 hour total.

  If you complete International Driver CPC, you are fully covered to drive both in the UK and overseas. If you choose National Driver CPC, you may only drive in the UK; you cannot drive professionally outside the UK, not even occasionally.

  Therefore, if you think there is even a slight possibility that you will be required to drive outside the UK, you would be wise to follow the International Driver CPC option.

• What is a Driver CPC Return to Driving course?

  Return to Driving courses were introduced in 2025. These seven-hours courses allow Drivers whose DQC had expired more than 60 days, but no more than 2 years before the course date, to get back into driving without delay.

  Drivers who complete a Return to Driving course will be issued with a DQC which allows them to drive again professionally straight away – but only in the UK. They must also complete a further 28 hours of Driver CPC training within 12 months of their Return to Driving course.