How many hours of Driver CPC training do you need?

35 hours every five years, in courses of at least seven hours. A new driver first completes the initial qualification — 280 hours, or 140 by the accelerated route; in the UK, 5 tests.

What is code 95 on a driving licence?

The harmonised EU code showing the driver holds the Certificate of Professional Competence. Where it can't go on the licence, the authority issues a driver qualification card instead.

What is the fine for driving without a Driver CPC in the UK?

Up to £1,000 for driving professionally without the qualification, and a £50 fixed penalty for driving without the card.

Term

Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence)

The Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) is the EU and UK qualification a professional truck, bus or coach driver needs on top of the licence. EU law requires an initial qualification and then 35 hours of periodic training every five years; the driver proves it with code 95 on the licence or a driver qualification card.

Also called Driver CPC, CPC card, driver qualification card, DQC, code 95, Driver CPC periodic trainingApplies in EU, UKUpdated 14 October 2026

What it takes

Stage	Requirement
Initial qualification	280 hours, or 140 hours by the accelerated route
Periodic training	35 hours every five years, in periods of at least seven hours, which may be split over two consecutive days
E-learning	No more than 12 hours of the periodic training
Proof	The harmonised Union code 95 on the licence, or a driver qualification card

Directive (EU) 2022/2561

In the UK

GOV.UK says anyone who drives an HGV, bus or coach as the main part of their job needs the full Driver CPC, which for a new driver is made up of 5 tests, followed by 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years. Driving professionally without it can bring a fine of up to £1,000, and driving without the card a £50 fixed penalty. Training providers set their own prices, with no maximum. The directive's exemptions are narrow — among them, vehicles with a maximum authorised speed not exceeding 45 km/h.

Worked example: one five-year cycle

35 hours = 5 courses × 7 hours · at most 12 of those hours online · all International courses → an International Driver CPC · any National course in the mix → a National Driver CPC, not valid for driving professionally in Europe

Hours from Directive (EU) 2022/2561 and GOV.UK; the course plan is illustrative.

The mistake people make

Mixing course types. In the UK, counting any National training course towards the 35 hours earns a National Driver CPC, and the driver can no longer drive professionally in Europe. All cards issued before 3 December 2024 are international, so the difference only shows at the next renewal.

FAQ