Any driver obtaining a vocational licence after 10th September 2009 will have to pass the "initial qualification" BEFORE they are legally able to drive on the road.
The initial qualification involves 4 hours of theory testing and 2 hours of practical testing. (The test for driving licence acquisition currently comprises of a 1.5 hour theory test and 1.5 hour practical test. So the extra testing would be 2.5 hours of theory testing and 30 minutes of practical testing.) The tests must be at the equivalent of NVQ level 2.
DSA are introducing modular tests so that drivers can obtain their driving licence and CPC at the same time. The CPC syllabus covers the additional knowledge a professional driver needs to have; it is not just about practical driving skills.
The Theory test will be in 3 parts:
The "Case studies" will be designed to suit the profile of the candidate. DSA envisages that the questions would be of the format where a situation or scenario was defined for the driver, and they are then asked questions relating to this situation. Case studies wherever possible will use diagrams, pictures and graphics.
Test presentation will be screen-based, like the theory test for driving licence acquisition, and will be delivered from existing theory test centres.
The Practical test will be in 2 parts:
