Uploading drivers hours to the DSA's Driver CPC Recording and Evidencing (R&E) database via the Government Gateway - September 2010
We would now like to remind all approved training centres that from 9 September 2010, the requirement to upload drivers’ hours will revert to 5 working days.
Ref: Terms and condition of approval xv –Training centres must update the Driver CPC R&E database on courses delivered within five working days of the end date of the course. (A Guide to Periodic Training, Annex 7, page 15).
Updated Guide to Periodic Training - July 2010
We are pleased to announce that the latest version of the Guide to Periodic Training and associated forms are available for download here.
Licence Checks and Periodic training.
Further to the reminder notice issued in April 2010, can DSA reiterate that it is the responsibility of the approved training centre to check all drivers’ licences for identity purposes but also to confirm that the driver holds the appropriate licence if taking periodic training which involves driving a vehicle.
Only periodic training hours for UK licence holders who wish to maintain their Driver CPC qualification should be uploaded to the DSA Driver CPC Recording and Evidencing (R&E) database.
Any training incorrectly uploaded after Monday 12th July, will not be subject to a routine refund.
The Guide to Periodic Training is currently being revised and will give more information about licence checking and upload.
Periodic Training Administration for Non UK Licence Holders
DSA are developing a manual process for non UK licence holders (EU nationals normally resident/working in the UK and third country nationals authorised to work in the UK) that will enable them to obtain their Driver Qualification Card (DQC), provided they have completed some or all of their Driver CPC periodic training in the UK. This process will be available in the later part of this year.
On that basis DSA have developed two distinct methods for dealing with drivers for the purposes of Driver CPC and issuing them with their DQC:-
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UK licence holders’ periodic training should be uploaded onto the Driver CPC Recording and Evidencing (R&E) database and their DQC card will be issued once the required periodic training (35 hours within a 5 year period) has been completed.
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Non UK licence holders’ (EU nationals normally resident/working in the UK and third country nationals authorised to work in the UK) who complete 35 hours of periodic training, should obtain and keep their records of attendance (issued to them by approved training centres after completion of a periodic training course). Such licence holders’ should then apply to DSA for their DQC (on the appropriate form, available later this year) enclosing copies of their records of attendance (with translations if necessary) along with their driving licence, a passport sized photograph, supporting ID and the relevant fee to the following address:
Driver CPC (DQC)
DSA
PO Box 280
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE99 1FP
Therefore with immediate effect, even if a non UK licence holders’ (EU nationals normally resident/working in the UK and third country nationals authorised to work in the UK) has a UK D9 paper counterpart, could all approved training centres please refrain from entering such driver details onto the R&E system.
Identity Card Reminder
Please be aware that from 27 April 2010, a valid UK Identity Card (issued under the Identity Cards Act 2006) will become an acceptable document for establishing a person’s identity for DSA purposes. Thus, persons holding an “old style” paper licence can present either a valid passport (as at present) or a valid UK ID card to confirm their identity.
Please note that further guidance will be included in the revised Guide to Periodic Training when the new version is launched on 1 July 2010. In the meantime, more information about ID cards can be found here.
http://www.dsa.gov.uk/News.asp?id=SX7A96-A7834C37
Changes to ID requirements for driving tests and Driver CPC periodic training
The DSA has been working closely with the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) so they can accept UK Identity Cards issued by IPS as an alternative means by which candidates may confirm their identity for all types of driving tests and Driver CPC periodic training.
Candidates for driving tests and periodic training need to produce evidence of their entitlement to drive the relevant vehicle and prove their identity before the test or training can commence. Candidates may currently do this by way of a driving licence. Where the licence does not contain a photograph a valid passport is also required.
Candidates will still need to confirm their driving entitlement by producing their driving licence but, with effect from 27 April, candidates who do not have a photocard licence will be able to use a valid UK ID Card issued by IPS as an alternative to their passport.
Any candidate who is unable to satisfy the examiner of their driving entitlement or identity will have their test cancelled and may lose their fee. The orginal news release can be read here.
Changes to Terms and Conditions of Centre/Course Approval
The Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) relating to centre and course approval (contained within the Guide to Periodic Training) are being revised and this is formal notification on behalf of the competent authority of those revisions in line with the current T&Cs (Annex 3, page 19, T&C vii refers).
The centre, course and course re-approval Terms and Conditions are being amalgamated into one set and there are two significant additions – one to cover licence checks in line with legislation and one to cover secure managing of passwords for the Driver Recording & Evidencing (R & E) Database. The revised T&Cs can be found here - the new ones are xvi and xxxi. The new T&Cs will take effect from 1 July 2010.
In addition, the Guide to Periodic Training is also being revised to take account of feedback from users on the layout/content of the application forms, add clarity where needed particularly around consortia and add reference to the Vehicle Drivers (Certificates of Professional Competence) Regulations 2007 where appropriate. The new revised Guide should be available from 1 July 2010 and will be shared with stakeholders for comment on the revisions prior to its release.
Amendment to "A Guide To Periodic Training"
Reference:
Page 4
Section 2 "Who is Affected by the Requirements of Periodic Training?"
Paragraph 2.2 Existing Drivers (PCV)
The paragraph in the Guide To Periodic Training currently states:
All drivers of PCV vehicles, holding a category D, D1, D+E or D1+E licence at 10 September 2008, will need to complete the 35 hours of periodic training before 10 September 2013, unless exempt (see 2.6). This also includes drivers who hold D1 entitlement by virtue of passing a car test pre-1997. After this, they will need to undertake a further 35 hours of training in every subsequent five-year period in order to retain their Driver CPC.
The paragraph should read:
2.2 | Existing Drivers (PCV)
All drivers of PCV vehicles, holding a full category D, D1, D+E or D1+E licence at 10 September 2008, will need to complete the 35 hours of periodic training before 10 September 2013, unless exempt (see 2.7). After this, they will need to undertake a further 35 hours of training in every subsequent five-year period in order to retain their Driver CPC.
Note: D1 licence entitlement by virtue of passing a car test pre-1997 (licence Code 101 – not for hire or reward). Any driver with this restriction cannot drive professionally.
Please amend any copies of the guide that you may currently hold.
Information for Trainers Who Provide Practical In Cab Periodic Training for Provisional Licence Holders
On page 23 of the Guide to Periodic Training the following is currently stated:
”Those trainers delivering practical training must comply with the accompanying driver rules' and must have held the licence for at least three years to comply with the accompanying driver rules, and meet one of the above criteria.”
From April 2010 if you are accompanying a learner in a D1 or C1 vehicle you must hold a C1 or D1 licence by passing the test, rather than by grandfather rights (pre-1997 car licence). If a trainer takes the test before April 2010 the time they have had the licence via 'grandfather rights' will be taken into account so they will still comply with the 3 year rule, but if they take their C1 or D1 test after April 2010 they will have to wait until they have held their licence for 3 years before they can accompany a driver.
More detailed information can be found on the DSA’s website. http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Category.asp?cat=607
Driver CPC Periodic Training Modular Course - Module Submissions
All modules must now be submitted at the same time as the initial modular course approval or re-approval, i.e. once a year. These approval anniversaries will apply to both sectors now that LGV and PCV are live. This will ensure that the JAUPT maintain a manageable administration system and an effective Quality Assurance process.
Please note- from the 4th January 2010 the Joint Approvals Unitwill only accept additional modules at the point of modular course re-approval stage. If you have planned to submit two or more additional modules outsidethe anniversary date of the modular course we recommend that you submit these for approval before 4th January 2010.
WARNING OF EXEMPTION CARD SCAM
VOSA and the DSA have issued a joint press release on the 7th September 09 warning people of this scam which involves the selling of the so-called ‘Driver Qualification Exemption Card’ or DQEC on the internet for £49. Please click here to download the full press release.
Drivers Qualification Card (DQC)
It is not currently within legislation that a driver with an 'old style' paper licence must exchange it for a photocard driving licence in order to obtain a Driver Qualification Card. However, the DVLA will not be able to automatically issue a driver with their DQC unless they hold a photcard licence. Therefore it is strongly recommended that drivers exchange their licence before they complete their Periodic Training.
COURSE APPROVAL FEES UPDATE - PLEASE READ
Please note that UK Driver CPC regulations for the course approval fees state that:
This means that if you submit a course of 7.5 hours in length, you will be charged for 8 hours, so it is advisable to only submit courses of full hours
Likewise, if you are using the modular approach for courses, it is advisable to submit even numbers of modules (e.g. 2, 4, or 6) at a time, not odd numbers, otherwise the extra half hour will be rounded up when payment is taken (e.g. if you submit 3 modules, this would be 10.5 hours, but you would actually pay for 11 hours).
