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

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

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Procedure details

If you wish to transport goods or passengers by road for professional reasons, you must provide proof of a 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.

A distinction is made between the basic qualification and the accelerated basic qualification.

You acquire the accelerated basic qualification by attending a training course at a recognized training centre and successfully passing a theoretical examination at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Participation in the course is mandatory. For the theoretical examination, there are again simplifications for holders of certificates of professional competence in accordance with the professional access regulations.

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").

You do not need to have a driving license for the accelerated basic qualification.

The type of test differs depending on the requirements:

  1. "Accelerated basic qualification" standard test
    You must take the standard test if you do not have proof of a certificate of professional competence in road haulage or passenger transport ("transport manager test") for the type of transport in question, nor have you successfully passed a (accelerated) basic qualification test for the other type of transport.
  2. Changeover examination "Accelerated basic qualification"
    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 "Umsteiger" 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. Lateral entry test "Accelerated basic qualification"
    You can take the "lateral entry" 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.

  • For the "accelerated basic qualification" test, you must have previously taken part in a corresponding training course.
  • The prescribed scope varies depending on the type of examination:
    • Standard examination: 140 lessons of 60 minutes each, including ten hours of driving a vehicle in the relevant category
    • Changeover: 35 lessons of 60 minutes each, including 2.5 hours driving a motor vehicle of the relevant category
    • Lateral entrants: 96 lessons of 60 minutes each, including ten hours driving a motor vehicle of the relevant category

For the accelerated basic qualification examination, you attend a training course and then register for the examination at your local Chamber of Industry and Commerce. The certificate of attendance from the training center is a prerequisite for registering for the written exam.

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

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

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

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
  • Transportation with motor vehicles whose maximum permitted speed does not exceed 45 km/h

are exempt from the obligation.

Status: 08.01.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag e.V.
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