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.

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, 268273 KB, 6 pages

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

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.

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:

• self-assessment checklist for a centre audit (PDF, 172 KB, 11 pages)
• template to record your internal quality assurance checks (ODS, 4.38 KB)
• template to monitor your trainers qualifications and experience (ODT, 9.84 KB)
• template to record your trainers' continuing professional development (ODT, 8.67 KB)

Having your approval suspended or withdrawn

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.