Category C + E Professional Driver Programme

Successful candidates will qualify as a Cat C+E licence holder which enables you to drive Lorries weighing over 3,500kg with trailers weighing more than 750Kg. These lorries are also known as Articulated (Arctic trucks) and are the largest vehicles on the UK’s roads.

If you are planning on a career as a professional driver and have already obtained the Cat C licence then this course is ideal.

This course does not include DCPC which is a requirement for all commercial drivers.

If you have completed Category C within the military prior to Sep 2009 or obtained your Car licence prior to 1997 then you may book onto the periodic training with CTP. For those who gained the Category C after Sep 2009 within the Military you will be required to complete Parts 2 and 4 of the initial DCPC.

For more information please: see here.

A list of useful FAQs is available to download at the bottom of this page.

Category C+E Licence

All candidates applying for this course must be in possession of a FULL Category C licence. Although there is no pre-requisite to have a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) prior to attending this course – the DCPC is a requirement for anyone wishing to attend a CWA or to gain employment.

This course is delivered by 2 Start Training at the following locations:

Hilsea (Portsmouth, PO3 5HU)
Otterbourne (near Winchester SO21 2DY )
Worthing ( BN18 9PY )

Training consists of up to 16 hours practical training delivered over a 4 or 5 day period. During the training week, all attendees will be required to pass two tests:

Test 3a, which is a reversing test, taken earlier in the week
Test 3b, which is the road driving test to be taken at the end of the week

We plan to ensure that 3a is taken as early as possible to allow an opportunity for retest prior to advancing to 3b test which will place on the final, fifth day of the course, however this may be later and is dependent on the workload of the local test centre. Extra time may be added for testing.

As driving is a skill that some will develop faster than others, it is important for all Service leavers to understand that the average commercial first time pass rate is in the region of 60%. This course provides full training on the skills required to pass the test, successful candidates will be those who apply the skills taught during the course.

Please Note: Whilst it is not a requirement to have completed DCPC (initial or periodic) to attend this course, you MUST have completed either (depending on your circumstances) prior to attending any work attachment or taking up employment as a driver for hire or reward. For further information see here.

Test Fees: Please note that in order to secure a test during the course the booking is made and paid in advance therefore test fees are non-refundable. In the instance that a Service leaver is not ready for the booked test then the time previously allocated for this activity will be spent on further training. Test fees will be £155 for 3a and 3b from 01/12/2021

To read a useful list of frequently asked questions from our associate provider see here.

There are currently thousands of employment opportunities UK wide for professional drivers and we frequently advertise opportunities on our Rightjob website where Employers are keen to receive applications from Service leavers.