NEW PCV QUALIFICATION FOR MINIBUS AND COACH DRIVERS
If you are learning to drive a bus or coach in Scotland and intend to drive in a professional capacity in the EU, from 10 September 2008 you must have a new qualification, the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC), in addition to your vocational licence.
All new drivers upgrading to a PCV must complete all four modules, let us take you through our step-by-step guide.
Step by Step Guide to a D1 Licence
Legal Requirement for minibus and coach drivers:
You must hold full (not provisional) category B entitlement (car) before you can take a PCV test. You must also gain a full D1 entitlement before taking a second test to add the trailer entitlement (+E). Not required for trailers that weigh less than 750 kg.
If you hold a valid licence and want to add provisional entitlement to drive Passenger Carrying Vehicles (PCV) you need to complete application form D2 to upgrade your licence (there is no fee required to upgrade your licence) along with the medical report form D4. The D4 must be completed by a doctor and you should ensure that all the relevant questions are completed. The doctor will charge you for completing the report, we offer a discounted service so speak to us on FREEPHONE 08000 52 54 56
It is also necessary to return original documentation confirming your identity. The address to send this information is The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea, SA99 1BR or you may be able to use the Post Office checking service
DVLA aims to deliver your driving licence to you within two weeks of receiving your application. It will take longer if your health or personal details have to be checked.
If you passed your category B or B automatic test before 1 January 1997 your licence will already show D1 & D1E. You can drive vehicles in these categories but not for hire or reward as you will be holding a 101 Restriction for hire and reward.
How to Gain Your Driver CPC
MODULE 1 - Licence Acquisition Multiple Choice Theory Test & Hazard Perception Test
The PCV theory test is divided into two parts. The multiple choice test and the hazard perception test. The two parts can be taken at different times but both parts must be passed within a 24 month period to obtain a valid theory test pass.
Part one - multiple choice A question and several answer options will appear onscreen and you will have to select the correct answer to the question. Some questions may require more than one answer.
You will be asked 100 questions in 115 minutes. You can navigate between questions and ‘flag’ questions that you want to come back to later in the test.
The pass mark for the multiple choice part of the theory test is 85 out of 100.
Part two - hazard perception You will be presented with a series of 19 video clips which feature every day road scenes. In each clip there will be at least one developing hazard, but one of the clips will feature two developing hazards.
To achieve a high score you will need to respond to the developing hazard during the early part of its development. The maximum you can score on each hazard is five. You will not be able to review your answers to the hazard perception test; as on the road, you will only have one chance to respond to the developing hazard.
The pass mark for the hazard perception part of the theory test is 67 out of 100.
MODULE 2 - The Driver CPC Case Study Test In addition to passing Module 1, if you wish to obtain your Driver CPC and drive professionally, you also need to pass the Case Study Test. With each Case Study based on a real-life scenario that you may encounter in your working life, the case study method tests your knowledge and basic understanding by examining how you put your skills into practice.
Questions are based around these scenarios, and you will be asked to answer in a number of different ways, for example
- Selecting from multiple choice answers
- Clicking an area of a photograph or image
- Giving a short text answer
There will be seven case studies, each with between six and eight questions. The test, including the introductory screens, will last for 1 hour 30 minutes.
MODULE 3 - The Licence Acquisition Practical Driving Test You will need to pass the Practical Driving Test if you are a new bus and coach driver. It will be slightly longer than before, to allow you to show the examiner how you drive in a wider range of situations and on different types of road.
MODULE 4 - The Driver CPC Practical Demonstration Test This is also a practical test, but it is only for new professional drivers who need to obtain their Driver CPC. It assesses your knowledge and abilities on matters of safety and security. For example, you will be required to show the examiner that you have knowledge of the following:
- Safe use of your vehicle, and the checks that you should make on the vehicle before driving
- Safe and secure loading
- How to check that your vehicle is secure from criminal acts and trafficking
- How to assess emergencies and risks.
D1 + E MINIBUS AND TRAILER:
If you have already passed your minibus test (Category D1) and you need to tow a trailer greater than 750kgs then you will need to take a minibus and trailer test (Category D1+E). You do not need to apply for provisional licence as you automatically have provisional D1+E entitlement added onto your paper counterpart licence when you pass the D1 test. All that is required is Module 3 which is the practical test.
DOCUMENTS YOU WILL NEED AT THE TEST: When you arrive at the test centre you will be expected to show both parts of your valid driving licence (the photocard and the paper counterpart).
If you have an old style licence you must take both your paper licence along with a valid passport. The DSA no longer accept any other form of photographic identification.
What we can do for you
Happy Hour can help you with the following:
- Assist with the paperwork for D2 application and D4 medical
- We can arrange for medicals at a cost of £45 excludes vat
- Assist with the training for theory and hazard perception – Module 1 (free of charge)
- Assist with the case studies – Module 2 (free of charge)
- Assist with booking practical test and setting up course – Module 3
- Assist with practical demonstration test – Module 4
- Happy Hour will book all tests online – with no booking fee charged for any test
- Happy Hour will stock all training materials required, which you can hire
HAPPY HOUR TRAINING COURSES:
Happy Hour Instructor Trainers are all fully qualified Approved Driving Instuctors (ADIs) and are LGV Fleet Registered through the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). The training courses can be delivered over 2 days, 3 days, 4 days or 5 days with a practical test at the end. The training programme will be structured to suit your individual needs and also structured to fit into your busy everyday life. The training can be carried out on a one:one ratio or two:one ratio. This will be down to the trainee’s discretion.
