Certificates of Professional Competence admin overview

Whether you're new to OCR, or already offer our qualifications, you might find our admin overview useful. This outlines the main administration processes for our Certificates of Professional Competence (Passenger Transport and Road Haulage), and will guide you to the relevant, detailed information on our website.

These qualifications are offered on behalf of the Department for Transport to meet the requirements of the current EU Directive, which requires all passenger transport and road haulage businesses to employ someone who is professionally competent.

1. Get approved

The first step to offering CPC is to become an approved centre. For this, you'll need to complete the vocational centre approval form.

A fee is payable for each venue you use, and we'll need to make an inspection visit to each one.

If you want to run the multiple-choice assessment as an on-screen test (rather than paper-based), you’ll also need to sign up to get access to Surpass, the on-screen test system.
2. Apply for access arrangements

You may need to apply for access arrangements to enable students with special needs, disabilities or temporary injuries to access assessments. Apply as soon as possible before the assessment.

See the access arrangements page for more information.

3. Make entries

For CPC you need to make named unit test entries. These provide us with details of each learner, the qualification they are taking and the venue for the exam:
- Paper-based tests take place in September, December, March and June. You need to make entries via Interchange by the relevant entry deadline.
- On-screen tests for multiple choice tests are available on-demand so entries can be made using Surpass at any time.
4. Return candidate ID forms

Once you've made entries, download and return a signed candidate identification form for each candidate.

You must include the candidates's place of birth on the form. Without this information, the EC certificate, which CPC holders must have, cannot be issued.

5. Conduct tests

Paper-based question papers are sent approximately ten days before the test date. See the assessment page for more details.

On-screen tests can be conducted at any time. See the on-screen test section.
6. Receive results

Paper-based test results will be issued on results days (approximately six weeks after the test date).

On-screen test results are available from the Surpass website immediately and will then be confirmed via Interchange within five working days of the test.

7. Receive certificates

We'll issue unit and full qualification certificates five working days after the results are published.

If the candidate's place of birth is given on the candidate ID form, we’ll also produce an EC certificate, which will arrive a few days later.

Candidates will need this for Operator Licensing purposes.
8. Query results

If you have questions about results, including missing results, use one of our post-results services.

You can request access to marked scripts for the case study exams within six weeks of the receipt of results.

If you're still unhappy with the post-results decision then you may be able to appeal.

Check the fees for each service.

1. Get approved

2. Apply for access arrangements

3. Make entries

4. Return candidate ID forms

5. Conduct tests

6. Receive results

7. Receive certificates

8. Query results