Guidance

Set up a Driver CPC training centre

How to set up a training centre and get approval to provide Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) periodic training courses.

From:
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Published
27 October 2015
Last updated
13 November 2024 — See all updates

How to set up a centre

You must get approval from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to run Driver CPC periodic training courses.

You have to apply for approval for:

  • your training centre - this lasts for 5 years
  • each course you want to run - this lasts for one year

You can apply for both at the same time, but the courses will not be approved until your centre is.

Find out how to get a Driver CPC training course approved by DVSA.

  1. Apply for approval for your training centre - this lasts for 5 years.

  2. Apply for approval for each course that you want to run - this lasts for one year.

You can apply for both at the same time, but the courses will not be approved until your centre is.

When you apply, you need to give proof that your organisation will operate in a professional and consistent way.

Apply to get approved

To apply to get your centre approved, you need to send:

  • a centre approval application form
  • a ‘scheme of control’ (this sets out how you’ll make sure you provide high-quality training)
  • other supporting documents

Check the guidance on how to fill in the Driver CPC training centre application form (PDF, 511 KB, 11 pages) before you fill in the application form.

Application for training centre approval

PDF, 268 KB, 6 pages

Send your applications and supporting documents to DVSA by email or post.

DVSA Driver CPC applications
[email protected]

DVSA

Suite 208, Cubix
Noble House
Capital Drive
Linford Wood
Milton Keynes
MK14 6QP

Pay the application fee

You have to pay £1,500 to apply. You can pay the fee by:

  • credit or debit card (DVSA will call you to take the payment after you have applied)
  • cheque made payable to ‘DVSA’
  • postal order
  • BACS

What happens next

Your application will:

  • usually be dealt with in 15 working days
  • be delayed if you do not include all the right information

You might be asked to send extra information. You should do this within 30 working days.

Your application can be refused and you’ll lose your fee if you do not send the extra information.

Scheme of control

You need to complete a scheme of control. This is the way your organisation will make sure the training it provides is to a high standard all the time.

It needs to give details of what you’ll do to reduce risk in these areas of providing Driver CPC training:

  • operation
  • communications
  • internal quality assurance
  • trainer skills, qualification and development
  • course evaluation

Download a scheme of control template.

Scheme of control (template)

ODT, 9.09 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

Check the guidance on what to include in a scheme of control (PDF, 113 KB, 2 pages).

Apply as a consortium of 2 or more organisations

You can set up a consortium of 2 or more organisations to provide Driver CPC training.

The consortium lead has to apply to set up the consortium. They must give proof that all its organisations follow the approval conditions.

Consortium lead’s responsibility

As the consortium lead, you’re responsible:

  • for all the consortium members providing training for you
  • if the training falls short of the standard required

Your whole consortium can have its approval withdrawn if any part of it does not meet the standard required.

How to apply as a consortium

You apply in the same way as a single organisation, but you will need to give details in the scheme of control of how you will monitor and manage your members.

Being monitored when you’re approved

Your centre will be audited when you’re approved. This is to make sure that you’re keeping to the right standard.

Checking your centre

DVSA will audit your centre at least once within the first year of your approval. Your centre can be audited more than once during your 5-year approval.

They can inspect:

  • centre documents like training delivery records
  • evidence of compliance for every site used
  • information held on trainers’ qualifications and fields of expertise
  • resources used to deliver the training courses, such as, premises, training materials, and information on vehicle fleets
  • procedures for uploading training hours to the recording and evidencing system, including password control
  • that you comply with statements in your application and details in your scheme of control

To prepare for your audit you can download a:

Having your approval suspended or withdrawn

Your approval can be suspended or withdrawn if you do not run your centre and courses within your approval conditions.

A consortium can have its approval suspended or withdrawn if a single member does not follow the approval conditions.

Appeal against suspension or withdrawal of your approval

You can appeal to DVSA within 28 days if you’re told that your centre approval might be suspended or withdrawn.

Your appeal will be taken into account and you’ll be told the decision.

You can appeal to the General Regulatory Chamber if you disagree with the decision.

Read the DVSA personal information charter to find out how DVSA collects, uses, stores and shares your personal data.

Updates to this page

Published 27 October 2015
Last updated 13 November 2024 + show all updates

  1. Updated self-assessment checklist for a centre audit. Removed information on how to get a Driver CPC training course approved by DVSA.

  2. Updated course application form and guidance with information about e-learning courses.

  3. Updated guidance on how to fill in CPC course application form.

  4. Updated example of a Driver CPC course summary, guidance on how to fill in the Driver CPC training course application form, application form for training course approval and guidance on the details you need to provide for each trainer.

  5. Updated guidance on what to include in a scheme of control, application for training centre approval and guidance on how to fill in the training centre application form.

  6. Added self-assessment checklists for centre and course audits, templates for CPD register and trainer qualifications and experience.

  7. Updated the templates and examples with the latest versions.

  8. Updated forms for: - Application for training centre approval - Application for training course approval - How to apply for training course approval (guidance notes)

  9. Updated Application for Driver CPC Training Centre Approval form.

  10. Updated to include the latest version of the application form for training centre approval.

  11. Updated the Driver CPC training course approval form.

  12. Updated the address for JAUPT.

  13. Added guidance on how to evidence your trainers' skills, knowledge and experience, a template you can use to record details of your trainers and their qualifications and experience, and guidance about how to apply for training course approval.

  14. Updated application form for training course approval.

  15. Apply for centre approval - updated criteria for driver CPC training centre appraisal.

  16. Updated 'Application for training centre approval' form to latest version. Updated Section 4: Compliance' added section 4.2.16 to Confirmatory statements.

  17. Updated 'Application for training course approval' form to the latest version

  18. Edited Apply for course approval section - updated Driver CPC course appraisal criteria link to newer version

  19. Updated Section 2.8.3. of 'Application for training course approval' form.

  20. Updated 'Application for training centre approval' form to latest version.

  21. Updated to latest version of application for training course approval form.

  22. Updated the application form for Driver CPC course approval to January 2021 version.

  23. Clarified that modular courses can still be taken in 2 parts over consecutive days.

  24. Updated the application form for Driver CPC training centre approval, the scheme of control template, and the guidance on writing a scheme of control.

  25. Application for training centre form updated.

  26. Updated the application form for training centre approval with the latest version.

  27. Updated the application form for training centre approval to include a new question on the proposed start date for the centre.

  28. Updated the Driver CPC application form for training centre approval and the Driver CPC application form for training course approval with the latest versions.

  29. Updated the example course summary.

  30. Updated the email address to send training schedules to, and changes to where and when you will be running training courses.

  31. Updated the application form for course approval.

  32. Updated the example course summary.

  33. Updated the application form for training centre approval, scheme of control template and scheme of control example.

  34. First published.

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