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:
- "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.
- "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).
- "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.