Professional qualifications
How many training hours are needed to renew a CQC?
The 35 hours of periodic training, the five-year renewal cycle and the checks to make before a CQC course.
CQC renewal requires periodic training every five years; the Ministry's syllabus specifies a 35-hour course. Confirm with an authorised provider how attendance is divided and recorded.
The 35-hour requirement
To renew a CQC (Driver Qualification Card), the MIT specifies periodic training every five years. The relevant syllabus provides for 35 hours of classroom lessons, arranged in modules under the Ministry's rules. The updated course must be taken with an authorised provider; watching online content or attending unrecorded lessons is not enough to renew the qualification.
Courses cover a common section and topics specific to the transport of goods or passengers. Before enrolling, tell the provider which qualification you hold and when it expires; ask whether the schedule meets the requirements for that expiry date and which documents you need. Attendance matters and must be certified. An informal certificate or proof of payment alone does not show that you completed the course correctly.
Planning your renewal
Check the expiry date on your CQC and do not wait until the last minute to look for a course. Ask the authorised provider how lessons are divided, what the absence rules are, and how attendance is reported to the Motorization Authority. Delivery arrangements may change through circulars; do not assume that an old emergency exemption for distance learning still applies.
Your driving licence and CQC have different expiry dates and procedures. If your driving licence also needs a medical renewal, plan both steps but do not treat them as interchangeable. Check whether your CQC is for goods or passenger transport and that the details are correct. If it has already expired or the qualification is suspended, ask the Motorization Authority before starting a standard course.
What to ask the provider
Before committing, check that the provider is authorised, the course covers your area, the 35 hours are counted under the current syllabus, and attendance is recorded using the required procedure. Ask whether there are common and specialist modules, which documents to bring, what happens if you miss a lesson, and when you will receive final confirmation. Also ask for the total course fee: there is no single national price that applies to every driving school.
At the end, keep the certificate and check that validity has been updated in the official systems. If there is no confirmation after a few days, contact the provider first, then the relevant UMC with the course details. Keeping evidence helps resolve discrepancies without having to start again.
A practical reminder
Set a reminder a few months before expiry and gather your CQC card, identity document and the authorised provider's contact details. If you work for a company, agree on time off and shifts before the course. The required hours are set by the rules, while dates, places and prices depend on availability: ask the provider directly for current information.
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Frequently asked questions
Does renewing a CQC require an exam?
No. Standard renewal requires attendance at a 35-hour periodic training course. An exam is required for the initial qualification or a new qualification; a renewed CQC is valid for another five years.
Can I complete all 35 hours online?
Standard renewal requires attendance at the prescribed modules, recorded by an authorised provider. The old extraordinary e-learning permissions were tied to the Covid emergency and are not a general rule today.