If you have a valid Driver CPC from another EU country (an EU drivers licence & EU Driver CPC card, or an EU drivers licence with code 95) you can drive professionally in Ireland.  There is no need to exchange these for an Irish drivers licence/Driver CPC card, and you can drive professionally up to the expiry date of the drivers licence or CPC qualification (whichever has the earliest expiry date). Drivers should complete their CPC training modules during this time. 

Please note when your EU drivers licence/CPC qualification expire you must renew them in Ireland. 

You will need to complete Driver CPC training modules in Ireland to renew your Driver CPC qualification – please allow enough time to complete all training (5/6 CPC training modules) to make sure that you get your new CPC card before your current Driver CPC (card or code 95) expires.  The RSA recommend that drivers complete a minimum of one CPC training module per year.       

If you have completed Driver CPC training in another EU country, this training might be accepted as part of the training you have to complete in Ireland as long as this training meets EU directive 2003/59/EC requirements. You can contact the RSA at the address below to confirm this. Training completed outside of the EU cannot be counted towards a CPC qualification.

You must send us the following:

• a copy of the front and back of your current valid driving licence
• your name and address
• your phone number
• your email address
• your original training certificates from the other EU country (you must include the original documents - photocopies are not accepted). If the documents are not in English you need to send them with an English translation on headed paper from a translator or embassy.

Send your documents to:

CPC Qualifications
Driver Education Section
Road Safety Authority
Moy Valley Business Park
Primrose Hill
Ballina
Co. Mayo F26 V6E4

After we review your documents

We will tell you if any of the training you have completed in another EU country is accepted as part of your periodic training in Ireland.

We will contact you to let you know how many of the Irish Driver CPC modules you still need to complete to get your Irish Driver CPC card. We will also return your original documents to the address you supplied.

Once you qualify for Driver CPC you must comply with driver hours and tachograph rules.

If you have a full driving licence for a bus and/or truck and it was issued before 10 September 2008 for buses or before 10 September 2009 for trucks you must:

• Exchange your driving licence for an Irish one
• If you exchange your licence for an Irish one that has the same bus or truck category, you will have the right to CPC in Ireland for that category without having to do the two theory tests and CPC vehicle walk-around test.
• Complete 35 hours training (five modules for a truck or a bus, or six if both truck and bus). Please contact an RSA-Approved Driver CPC training organisation to complete this training.
• When you have finished your 35 hours training with the RSA-Approved Driver CPC training organisation you can send us a completed application form for your CPC qualification card.
• When we receive your application form and photographs, having verified everything is correct we will send you your CPC card.
• Your CPC card will be valid for five years from when you have completed the necessary steps.
• On receipt of your CPC card, you must complete CPC periodic training modules over five years. You must complete one CPC module in a training day every year in an RSA Approved Driver CPC Training Organisation (six days if you need to keep both truck and bus CPC).

If you have a full driving licence for a bus and/or truck and it was issued on or after 10 September 2008 for buses, or on or after 10 September 2009 for trucks you must:

• Exchange your driving licence for an Irish one
• Complete both CPC theory tests - the multiple choice theory test in Truck and/or Bus category and the relevant Case Studies.
• Take the CPC practical ‘vehicle walk around’ test.
• Send us a completed application form for the CPC qualification card.
• When we receive your application form and photographs, having verified everything is correct we will send you your CPC card.
• On receipt of your CPC card, you must complete CPC periodic training modules over five years. You must do one CPC module in a day of training every year in an RSA Approved Driver CPC Training Organisation (six modules/days if you need to keep both truck and bus CPC).

Once you qualify for Driver CPC you must comply with driver hours and tachograph rules.

You must go through all the steps to get an Irish Licence and CPC:

• Apply for and pass a theory test for a Car (Category B).
• Get a Category B learner permit.
• Complete Essential Driver Training (EDT) sessions with an RSA Approved Driving Instructor (Reduced EDT may apply).
• Apply for and pass the Category B driving test.
• Get a full Category B driving licence.
• Apply for and pass the CPC multiple choice theory test in truck (Category C) and/or Bus (Category D) and relevant case studies.
• Get the bus and/or truck learner permit.
• Take driving lessons with an RSA Approved Driving Instructor (optional but advised).
• Apply for and pass a bus and/or truck driving test and CPC practical vehicle walk-around test, and apply for the bus and/or truck category to be added to the full driving licence.
• You need to send us a completed application form for the CPC qualification card.  When we receive your application form and photographs, having verified everything is correct we will send you your CPC card.
• On receipt of your CPC card, you must complete CPC periodic training modules over five years. You must do one CPC module in a training day every year in an RSA Approved Driver CPC Training Organisation (six modules/days if you need to keep both truck and bus CPC).

Once you qualify for Driver CPC you must comply with driver hours and tachograph rules.