Professional driver; registration for the examination to obtain the basic qualification

Drivers in commercial road haulage or passenger transport must provide proof of a special qualification in addition to their driving license.

Description

If you wish to transport goods or passengers by road for professional reasons, you must provide proof of the so-called basic qualification for professional drivers in addition to your driving license.

This applies to drivers of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of more than 3.5 tons in road haulage and works transport or of vehicles with more than eight passenger seats in passenger transport, provided that a C or D class driving license is required to drive the vehicle/vehicle combination.

If you obtained your driver's license before 10.9.2008 (bus) or 10.9.2009 (truck), you do not have to provide proof of basic qualification ("acquis").

Training as a professional driver is also recognized as a basic qualification for passenger and freight transport. Training as a driving specialist is only recognized as an initial qualification for passenger transport, while training as a road warden and plant firefighter is only recognized for freight transport

The "basic qualification" examination comprises a theoretical examination and a practical examination.

You do not have to take any preparatory courses to take the test.

A driving license is also not required at the time of taking the test.

If you have certificates of professional competence in accordance with the professional access regulations for road haulage and passenger transport (GBZugV and PBZugV), there are simplifications in the theoretical parts of the examination. However, you must pass the practical examination in full.

The type of examination differs depending on the prerequisites:

  1. "Basic qualification" standard examination
    You must take the standard examination if you cannot provide proof of a certificate of professional competence in road haulage or passenger transport ("transport manager examination") for the relevant mode of transport, nor if you have successfully passed an (accelerated) basic qualification examination for the other mode of transport.
  2. "Basic qualification" changeover examination
    You can take the "changeover" examination if you have already successfully passed the standard examination for the type of transport that is not the subject of the changeover examination. This means that the accelerated basic qualification "changeover" training only deals with the special features of the mode of transport. For example, the future bus driver is taught how to behave in relation to passengers, as this was not part of their first basic qualification in freight transport.
    This also applies to drivers who obtained their driving license for the other mode of transport before the respective cut-off date (acquis).
  3. "Basic qualification" lateral entrant test
    You can take the "lateral entrant" test if you have valid proof of a specialist knowledge test for the type of transport for which the test is to be taken.

As not all the knowledge that a driver must have is tested in the certificate of professional competence, you must also obtain the basic qualification as the holder of a certificate of professional competence.

Prerequisites

  • For the "Basic qualification" test, you need a suitable test vehicle to take the practical test. If you are unable to provide a suitable test vehicle, the IHK can arrange a suitable test vehicle for you on request.
  • Furthermore, you must provide a driving instructor for the practical test who is in possession of a valid driving instructor license for the driving license classes CE for goods transport or DE for passenger transport. If you are unable to provide a driving instructor who meets the above requirements, the IHK can arrange a suitable driving instructor on request.

Procedure

You register for the examination at the local Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the examination dates (theoretical and practical examination) are coordinated.

  • The IHK confirms your registration for the exam
  • You take the theoretical examination.
  • After passing the theoretical examination, you will take the practical examination.
  • After passing both parts of the exam, you will receive a certificate from the IHK, which you present to the driving license office.

Special notes

Journeys for specific purposes, such as:

  • Police vehicles, fire department, emergency rescue by recognized rescue services that carry out transport as part of their duties
  • agricultural and forestry transport

are exempt from the obligation.

Processing time

As a rule, you will receive notification of whether you have passed or failed the examination approximately 2 weeks after taking it.

Required documents

  • In order to be admitted to the examination, you must submit the following proofs to the responsible IHK with your registration:

    1. for regular examination:
      • No proof required
    2. for changeover examination:
      • Proof of the type of transport that is not the subject of the changeover test - Proof of having passed the "basic qualification"/"accelerated basic qualification" test in accordance with the BKrFQG or
      • Driving licence with a valid entry of the code number 95 or
      • a driving licence with a driving licence class that was acquired before the respective key date or
      • a driver qualification certificate in accordance with Annex II of Directive 2003/59/EC of 15 July 2003 (OJ No. L226/4 of 10.9.2003) or
      • a driver attestation in accordance with Annex 3 BKrFQV, or
      • a driver attestation in accordance with section 5 paragraph 3 BKrFQV
    3. for lateral entry examination:
      • certificate of professional competence in accordance with the model in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009 for the type of transport that is the subject of the lateral entry examination.

Fees

  • The examination fee is based on the applicable fee schedule of the local Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

Legal bases

Links to more information

Related issues

Status:29.11.2023

Responsible for editing:Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag e.V.

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