Course Overview
This course will allow you to gain your PCV Category D License which includes a passenger carrying vehicle with more than 16 passenger seats.
The PCV D entitlement will also allow you to drive coaches, double-decker and bendi buses. You do not need to have held your licence for a certain period of time.
This course is available as part of a Personal Learning Account (PLA). PLA is an initiative from the Welsh Government which offers people the chance to access free, part-time courses with flexible and convenient learning that fits around their existing lifestyle (subject to eligibility).
… anyone aged 19+, living in Wales, in employment and earning less than £35,796 a year
… anyone that already holds a car driving licence. You do not need to have held this for a certain period of time
… competent drivers looking to upskill and pursue a career in the transport industry as goods vehicle drivers
… individuals who wish to join the emergency services and drive an ambulance
Category D driver training course is typically completed on a 1-to-1 basis.
Course Duration: 2 full days, returning for your practical test on the third and final day
During your course you will:
- Introduced to the vehicle
- Build your confidence driving large passenger carrying vehicles
- Correct your driving style in preparation for your driving test
- Complete the reverse exercise training and assessment
- Practice the “show me, tell me” questions you will be asked at the start of your test
The practical driving test is made up of two parts:
- Module 3A: an ‘S shaped’ reverse exercise into a loading bay. During your driver training course, you’ll practice this exercise at our private reversing area, and we’ll test you when you feel confident.
- Module 3B: a 60-minute on-the-road drive. A DVSA driving examiner will conduct this at the end of your practical training course. You will take your test on the same roads that you train on.
We use fully automatic vehicles for training purposes. By passing in a vehicle with an automatic transmission, you will still be issued a full manual PCV entitlement. We carefully source our training vehicles to ensure your driver training is as easy as possible.
Prior to practical training, you will need to:
- complete a medical assessment in order to apply for your provisional licence
- pass the relevant PCV theory tests
Funding will not be fully approved until these elements have been completed. These can be arranged on your behalf but must be self-funded – the cost will not be covered under PLA. You will have up to 3 months to complete the elements.
The PLA programme intends to provide quality career advice and guidance to participants before, during and after their learning.
Prior to being enrolled onto your PLA funded course, a individual learning plan will be discussed with you to ensure that the right learning has been considered.
This will include a general discussion on the following topics:
- formal education or qualifications in related fields
- prior experience within the industry or field
- career aspirations
- dedication of time required
This will also include specific discussion on the below areas for this course:
- prior medical/provisional or theory tests completed previously
- career aspirations in becoming a driver and for gaining licence
- reason for choosing selected licensing category
- prior experience in driving larger vehicles or machinery
- additional support needs for medical or theory tests
- access to laptop/PC/tablet/smartphone to complete theory revision and time commitments for this
