Driver CPC Periodic Training: The 35 Hours Explained

Every professional driver must complete 35 hours of Driver CPC periodic training in each five-year period. There is no exam, no pass mark, and you cannot fail it. You attend, the approved centre uploads your hours, and your card is renewed.

The only two ways it goes wrong are leaving it too late, and paying somebody for something GOV.UK gives you free.

How the 35 hours are taken

Courses run in blocks of at least seven hours, so the usual pattern is five separate days spread across the five years — one day a year is what most drivers settle into.

A seven-hour course can be split across two consecutive days, which suits drivers who cannot give up a whole day. You can also take all 35 hours at once if you would rather get it done. Approved e-learning can make up part of a course, but there are limits on how much, so check what a provider is actually offering before you book.

Check your hours — free

GOV.UK has a free service showing exactly how many hours you have completed and when your card expires. Search for the driver CPC periodic training hours service and sign in with your licence details.

Any site charging you to look that up is charging you for nothing. Check it once a year and you will never be caught short. Our guide to checking your Driver CPC hours walks through it.

What happens if you run out of time

If your five years are up and the 35 hours are not complete, you cannot drive professionally until they are. Your licence itself is unaffected — only the professional entitlement lapses — but there is no grace period and no discretion.

The practical risk is availability. Everyone who left it late is chasing the same course dates, so a driver who waits until the final month can end up off the road for longer than the training itself takes.

Grandfather rights, properly explained

Drivers who already held vocational entitlement when the Driver CPC came in were granted initial CPC without sitting Module 2 and Module 4. That is what grandfather rights means, and it is widely misunderstood.

It covers the initial qualification only. Every driver, however long they have been on the road, still needs 35 hours every five years.

Choosing a course worth sitting

Because you cannot fail, the temptation is to book the cheapest seat going. But a good periodic day is genuinely useful — drivers' hours and tachograph rules that have changed since you last looked, load security, fuel-efficient driving, first aid, or the vehicle technology in the truck you are about to be given.

A bad one is seven hours of somebody reading slides at you. Ask what the day actually covers before booking, and ask whether the trainer has driven professionally.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours is Driver CPC periodic training?

35 hours in every five-year period, normally five seven-hour days.

Is there a test?

No. Attendance is the requirement — there is no exam and you cannot fail.

How do I check my Driver CPC hours?

Free on GOV.UK. Search for the driver CPC periodic training hours service and sign in with your licence details.

Can I do all 35 hours at once?

Yes, though most drivers spread it as one day a year. A seven-hour course can also be split over two consecutive days.

What happens if my Driver CPC expires?

You cannot drive commercially until the outstanding hours are completed. There is no grace period.

Do grandfather rights mean I skip the 35 hours?

No. Grandfather rights covered the initial qualification only. Periodic training applies to everyone.

What to do next

If you are qualifying for the first time, initial Driver CPC is built into our courses — we book and prepare you for both modules as part of your training package.

If you are an existing driver working out where you stand on periodic hours, call 01795 667 008. We will talk you through checking them free on GOV.UK and point you at training worth actually sitting.