General information on professional driver training.

General information on professional driver training.

We have several types of courses entitling you to work as a lorry or bus driver.

A category C or D driving licence is currently not sufficient to work as a lorry or bus driver. In order to drive these vehicles professionally, you also need to complete a course for the transport of goods or a course for the transport of people, which is officially called a qualification or pre-qualification course. Depending on how old the driver candidate is and to what extent they want to expand their qualifications, in Poland you can take these course:

• pre-qualification;
• ccelerated pre-qualification;
• supplementary pre-qualification;
• accelerated supplementary pre-qualification;
• periodic training

Basic information on the qualifications:

Mostly, we do not have to go through the full pre-qualification, and, for example, decide on an accelerated or supplementary one.

Here are the basic differences between individual courses for the transport of goods or people.

1. Pre-qualification (or full initial qualification) is intended for people who obtained a category C driving licence after September 10, 2009 and want to become a professional driver of a vehicle in the category C or C+E (i.e. lorries), but are not are over 21 years old; obtained a category D driving licence after September 10, 2008 and want to become a professional driver of a vehicle within category D or D+E (i.e. bus), but are under 23 years old.
2. Accelerated pre-qualification is intended for persons who obtained a category C driving licence after September 10, 2009, want to become a professional driver of a vehicle in the category C or C+E (i.e. lorryies) and are over 21 years old; obtained a category D driving licence after September 10, 2008, want to become a professional driver of a vehicle within category D or D+E (i.e. bus) and are 23 years old.
3. Supplementary pre-qualification is intended for persons who obtained a category C driving licence after September 10, 2009, completed their qualifications under the pre-qualification / accelerated pre-qualification for the category D/D+E/D1/D1+E and want to extended to category C/C+E/C1/C1+E, but are under 21 years of age, obtained a category D driving licence after September 10, 2008, completed pre-qualification/ accelerated pre-qualification for category C/C+ E/C1/C1+E and want to extend it to the D/D+E/D1/D1+E category, but are under 23 years old.
4. Accelerated supplementary pre-qualification is intended for persons who obtained a category C driving licence after September 10, 2009, completed their qualifications under the pre-qualification / accelerated pre-qualification for the category D/D+E/D1/D1+E, want to extend it to category C/C+E/C1/C1+E and are over 21 years old; obtained a category D driving licence after September 10, 2008, completed the pre-qualification/accelerated pre-qualification for category C/C+E/C1/C1+E, want to extend it to category D/D+E/D1/D1 +E and are 23 years or older.

Accelerated pre-qualification (category C and D).

The most important information about the accelerated pre-qualification Cat. C and D.

Before starting the training, we must obtain a professional driver profile (PKZ) in advance.

Persons aged 21 may sign up for the accelerated pre -qualification course, if they want to obtain the right to drive vehicles for the C/C+E category (i.e. lorries, also with trailers); 23 years old, if they want to obtain the right to drive vehicles fom the D/D+E category (i.e. buses, also with trailers).

Undergoing accelerated pre-qualification is also possible for people aged 18-21 (cat. C) or 21-23 (cat. D), except that there will be limits regarding vehicles that can be driven. And so obtaining the accelerated pre-qualification for the C/C+E category by a person aged 18-21 authorizes to drive vehicles included in the driving licence for category C1/C1+E. In the case of accelerated pre-qualification for the D/D+E category persons undergoing it at the age of 21-23 will receive permissions only for buses from the category D1/D1+E, in addition to a limited extent (driving only on regular lines, whose route does not exceed 50 km).

Accelerated pre-qualification is therefore recommended for people who are 21 years old (cat.0 C) or 23 years old (cat. D), because then they will not be affected by these restrictions due to the required age.

The course consists of a theoretical and practical part lasting a total of 140 hours. The theoretical one takes much longer, 130 hours. As part of the 10 hours of practical classes, the trainee drives 8 hours in road traffic and 2 hours under special conditions, which can be replaced with an hour-long ride on a simulating device. Theoretical and practical classes are divided into basic and specialized parts. Joining the specialized one is possible only after completing the basic part.

The accelerated pre-qualification exams are held at Provincial Road Traffic Centres. They cost PLN 50.00.

The exam is conducted in the form of a test consisting of 30 questions: 20 on basic knowledge, 10 on specialistic knowledge. To pass the exam, you must correctly answer at least 16 questions from the basic part and 5 questions from the specialistic part. The whole exam takes 45 minutes.

Passing the exam ends with the issuance by the Provincial Road Traffic Center of a certificate of positive completion of the accelerated pre-qualification course – i.e. the Certificate of Professional Competence. This cerificate must be submitted to the Department of Public Transport to which a person is assigned. On its basis, the Polish Security Printing Works will issue a new driving licence with the code 95 or for persons from outside the EU a Driver Qualification Certificate, which is valid for 5 years.

PAfter this time, one needs to undergo a medical and psychological examination again and then undergo periodic training.

Periodic training of drivers in 2023 – the most important changes.

From April 6, 2022, new regulations have been in force, which were introduced by the amendment to the Road Transport Act and the Act on vehicle drivers. The purpose of the amendment was to harmonize Polish legislation with the European Parliament Directive and of the EU Council 2018/645 of 18 April 2018.

From that date, each person who plans to take part in periodic driver training must obtain a professional driver profile (PKZ) in advance.

To create a profile, you need to report to the local Department of Public Transport and present a psychological and medical certificate stating that there are no health contraindications for further work as a professional driver. You will also need a colour photo, your ID and driving licence. The next step is to transfer your PKZ to the selected driver training center.

These are not the only changes that came into force in 2022. From April 2022, periodic training for professional drivers can be organized online. The new regulations also specify that periodic driver training must consist of 5 modules, including at least one section covering practical classes in road traffic and road safety. Another of the novelties introduced in 2022 is the driver qualification card, i.e. a solution addressed to drivers who do not live in Poland permanently, and therefore do not meet the conditions for having a Polish driving licence with the code 95.

How often should a professional driver’s licence be renewed?

The Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure of March 25, 2022 on the training and examination of drivers performing road transport did not bring any changes in this matter – periodic training for professional drivers should be held once every five years.

How many hours does periodic training for drivers last?

According to the latest regulations, the training is divided into 5 modules, and each of them must be covered in one day. This gives a total of 5 days, but they do not have to be consecutive (e.g. from Monday to Friday) – it is possible to adjust classes to the availability of the driver.

How many hours does periodic training for drivers performing road transport last?

As in previous years, it is 35 hours. The training program covers issues such as the application of traffic regulations, maintaining safety at work, driving economy, securing the load, first aid. There are also topics covering domestic and international road transport of goods, road transport of special loads and customer service.

The regulations of April 6, 2022 indicate that the periodic training of drivers must include at least one module related to maintaining road safety and practical classes in road traffic or practical classes on driving in special conditions.

Is there an exam after periodic training?

This is one of the issues in which 2022 did not bring any changes – periodic training for drivers is not completed with any form of theoretical or practical exam. A prerequisite for issuing a certificate of professional qualification is participation in all training modules and obtaining the necessary medical certificates (before the start of classes). The participant should deliver the obtained certificate of professional qualification to the Department of Public Transport, where they will be able to pick up a new driving licence with the completed code 95 and the appropriate expiry date.

Can a driver complete only one periodic training for all driving licence categories?

The law provides for this possibility. If the driver has a driving licence for category C and D, they can extend teir licence and obtain both certificates of professional qualifications by participating in only one of the periodic trainings. However, it should be remembered that both, a medical and psychological examination confirming the absence of contraindications for road transport must be valid for both categories of driving licence.

Can periodic driver training be done online?

In recent years, we have observed a significant increase in the popularity of remote learning and working, which was largely influenced by the coronavirus pandemic. Is it possible to complete periodic driver training in this way?

E-learning is a form allowed by the new regulations, but only to a limited extent.

Classes conducted online may include one day of theoretical training, and therefore one seven-hour module.

The legislator also provids for requirements for training centers in this matter – as we can read in the Road Transport Act: “Training in the form of distance learning with the use of computer techniques and the Internet is conducted only by an entrepreneur who has been running a training center continuously for at least 3 years in the field of appropriate programme block.”

What tests should be performed to extend the licence of a professional driver?

Drivers carrying goods or people are subject to restrictive health requirements. Medical examinations concern eyesight and hearing, neurological examinations are also carried out, motor coordination and the general condition of the driver are assessed. The tests cover not only the physical state, but also the mental state – for this purpose, psychotests are carried out to verify cognitive abilities, reaction time and the ability to cope with stressful situations.

What does the periodic training of drivers over 60 years old look like?

All the rules look the same, the only difference is the need to perform tests more often – drivers at this age should pass them every 2.5 years and update the medical certificate at the Department of Public Transport.

Our training center organizes medical and psychological examinations.

A medical examination costs PLN 200.00, and a psychological one PLN 150.00.

How to plan and pay for training?

Periodic driver training should be planned well in advance, so that the current licences do not expire – you need to take into account the training time and the waiting period for a new driving licence, which is up to 4 weeks.

Who pays for periodic driver training?

Here, the regulations clearly indicate that the employer is obliged to reimburse the costs of medical examinations and psychotechnical tests, but does not have to cover the costs of the training itself.

After completing the training, a participant will always receive a personal or company invoice from us.

We pay for periodic training in cash or by credit card.

Driver Qualification Card (KKK).

It must be made by people with qualifications for the transport of goods or persons, but who do not have a Polish driving licence. In short – foreigners from outside the EU.

How to get a driver qualification card?

What is a driver qualification card? – Nothing else but the mentioned code 95 which is entered in the Polish driving licence.

People with a driving licence issued in another country must therefore take care of the issue of another document that will confirm the possession of the required rights.

The driver qualification card has this function – after it is issued, the code 95 will be placed in it.

The driver qualification card is therefore a document confirming the fulfillment of the requirements for the profession in the category C/C+E or D/D+E, if it is not possible to place such information in the national driving licence. In fact, it does not apply to drivers with the driving licence which already includes code 95.

Where to get a driver qualification card? How much is it?

The driver qualification card is valid from April 6, 2022.

Poviat Office assigned to the driver’s place of residence is responsible for issuing this document.

Obtaining a driver qualification card costs PLN 150 + a record fee of PLN 0.50.

To obtain a driver qualification card, you must prepare and take the following documents to the Poviat Office:

1. Application for a driver qualification card;
2. A medical certificate stating the lack of health contraindications to perform work as a driver, along with photocopies;
3. Psychological certificate stating the lack of psychological contraindications to perform work as a driver, along with photocopies;
4. Professional qualification certificate (if previously issued) with a photocopy;
5. Driver qualification card KKK (if it was previously issued) along with a photocopy;
6. Colour photograph with dimensions of 35 × 45 mm, meeting the requirements specified in the regulation;
7. A copy of your driving licence;
8. Proof of payment for issuing a driver qualification card and record fee; 9. Your ID card or other document with a photo confirming identity.

Before visiting the office, it is advised to carefully check whether the office assigned to us does not require other documents, e.g. a certificate of the date of obtaining a category C or D driving licence for the first time. Especially that on a current driving licence there is a lack of such information (usually it applies to people coming to the country e.g. from the Philippines).

Professional Driver Profile (PKZ). What is it and how to start i?

Professional Driver Profile is an electronic document identifying a future professional driver.

In addition to personal data, it contains information about medical and psychological examinations, as well as entries about already obtained professional qualification certificates and the driver’s qualification card.

Along with taking subsequent courses, a PKZ is updated, made available and archived in the information and communication on regular basis.

What is the Professional Driver Profile PKZ needed for?

The Professional Driver Profile works in a similar way as the Driver Candidate Profile (PKK) for people who want to obtain a driving licence.

The establishment of PKZ opens the door to expanding the professional profile with qualifications necessary to take up professional work in the transport of goods or people – that is, mainly to obtain the so-called code 95 for the driving licence.

Depending on what qualifications a future professional driver will want to obtain, PKZ will inform whether they include: driving licence category C/C+E/C1/C1+E; category D/D+E/D1/D1+E ; pre-qualification; accelerated pre-qualification; supplementary pre-qualification; periodic training.

The Professional Driver Profile PKZ can be downloaded from the Department of Public Transport assigned to your place of residence.

What’s important, you don’t have to pay anything at the time of setting up the profile. However, you will incur costs in the amount of PLN 100.50 when collecting your driving licence.

However, before we go to the Department of Public Transport in order to obtain the Professional Driver Profile, we need to do a medical and psychological examination confirming the lack of contraindications to work as a driver (necessary condition).

You should also bring a colour photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm, with the image on the front), an identity document (ID card, passport or residence card) and a driving licence.

What happens after setting up the Professional Driver Profile PKZ?

After obtaining the PKZ, the center where we start the course we are interested in, temporarily blocks the Profile and unlocks it at the end of the training.

It ends with obtaining an electronic (not as before – paper) Professional Qualification Certificate, which will go to the databases in the Professional Driver Profile. Having it at your disposal, you can now exchange your driving licence for a driving licence with code 95, which ultimately confirms obtaining the right to work as a professional driver.

How much does the course for the carriage of goods and the course for the carriage of passengers cost? Price (2023)

Due to the largest number of hours, the full pre-qualification course costs PLN 5,500.00.

Accelerated pre-qualification – PLN 3,500.00

Periodic training for drivers – PLN 800.00

Exemptions from the obligation to hold a professional driver’s licence.

An update of exemptions from the obligation to hold medical examinations and a certificate of professional qualification was also introduced.

These requirements do not apply to the driver of the vehicle:

1. the design of which limits the speed to 45 km/h;
2. used by or at the disposal of the armed forces when the carriage is performed in connection with tasks entrusted to the armed forces;
3. used by civil defense formations, fire protection units or units responsible for maintaining security or public order or remaining at their disposal when the transport is performed in connection with the tasks entrusted to these services;
4. subjected to road tests for the purposes of technical development by manufacturers, research institutes, universities or the Łukasiewicz Research Network and road tests for the purposes of repair or maintenance, or a new or renovated vehicle that has not yet been put into service;
5. which is required to be driven by a category D or D1 licence and which is driven unoccupied by passangers by maintenance personnel to or from a maintenance center close to the nearest operating base used by the carrier, provided that driving is not the main occupation of the driver;
6. used in emergency situations or intended for rescue operations, including a vehicle intended for non-commercial road transport of humanitarian aid;
7. used for:

1. a) driving lessons for persons applying for a driving licence or a certificate of professional qualification,
   b) training of persons holding a driving licence,
   c) conducting a state examination for persons applying for a driving licence,
   d) additional on-the-job practical driving training when accompanied by another person holding a certificate of professional qualification or a driving instructor for the category of vehicle used for the training

– provided that the vehicle is not used for commercial road transport of passengers or goods at that time;

1. used for non-commercial road transport of passengers or goods;
2. used to transport materials, devices or equipment necessary for the driver’s work – provided that driving the vehicle is not the driver’s main activity;
3. a driver used in rural areas as part of their own business activity, who does not offer transport services, and the transport is occasional and does not affect road safety;
4. which is used or hired without a driver by an agricultural, horticultural, forestry farming or fishing enterprise for the transport of goods as part of its own business activity, unless driving is part of the driver’s main activity or driving exceeds a distance of 100 km from the main office of the farm or enterprise.

A professional qualification certificate is not needed to drive vehicles that require a category AM, A1, A2, A, B1, B or B+E driving licence.