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Professional drivers

What it is

The Certificate of Professional Competence explained. 

Driver CPC is a Certificate of Professional Competence for professional bus and truck drivers. It sets and maintains high standards of safety and driving among drivers of trucks and buses.

It is illegal to drive professionally without a Driver CPC card and there are penalties if you do not comply. 

To become a professional bus or truck driver you need to:

  • have a full car licence
  • be over 18 to get truck Driver CPC
  • be over 21 to get bus Driver CPC
  • be  medically fit  fit to drive a bus or truck


Who needs driver CPC?

You will need Driver CPC if you work professionally for yourself as a sole transport operator or if you are employed by a company in a professional driving capacity. If you wish to work as a professional truck or bus driver you need both a full driving licence for the category of vehicle you wish to drive and a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence. 

Who doesn't need driver CPC?

If you drive any of the vehicles listed below, you do not need Driver CPC:

  • vehicles not allowed go more than 45 kilometres per hour
  • vehicles used or controlled by the Defence Forces, Civil Defence, the Fire Service and forces responsible for maintaining public order
  • vehicles undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance, or new or rebuilt vehicles which have not been put into service
  • drivers of vehicles for non-commercial purposes, e.g. driving as a non paid volunteer, drivers of emergency or rescue vehicles
  • vehicles used by Registered RSA Approved Driving Instructors who are giving driving instruction for anyone who wants to obtain a driving licence or a CPC
  • vehicles used for carrying passengers or goods for personal use and not for business
  • vehicles carrying materials or equipment that the driver uses as part of their work, as long as driving the vehicle is not the driver’s main activity.

Drivers with acquired rights

There are a number of circumstances where an established driver with acquired rights is not required to sit any exams. However, you still need to complete Driver CPC complete Driver CPC periodic training training to maintain your Driver CPC qualification and drive professionally.

The steps

There are 10 steps involved in becoming a professional CPC driver:

  1. Prepare
  2. Theory test
  3. Case study test
  4. Learner permit
  5. Professional Driving lessons
  6. Driving test
  7. Walkaround test
  8. Driving licence
  9. Driver CPC card
  10. Compliant driving and staying qualified

You can start your certification journey as a new bus or truck driver, taking all of the steps. You only need to take and pass the case study and walkaround tests to become eligible for a Driver CPC card if you already have a full, valid truck or bus driving licence. 

The RSA recommends that you take a course of driving lessons with one of our Approved Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) in preparation for your practical driving test. As every driving school set their own fees for tuition, we suggest that you shop around for the most suitable training program for your needs.

Once you have qualified for Driver CPC, you must maintain it by taking annual CPC CPC Training Modules over a five year cycle to continue to be qualified.