Become a qualified dangerous goods (ADR) vehicle driver
Taking a training course
The training courses can last up to 7 days, depending on which qualification option you choose. This includes the time to take the exams at the end of the course.
You will need to show one of the following forms of ID to take your training course:
- a photocard driving licence
- a valid passport
- a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) card
- a professional body photo ID card
- an HM Services ID card
- a driver qualification card
- a Petroleum Driver Passport
- a valid dangerous goods (ADR) driver card
What the training course covers
The training course covers the core module and additional modules for each qualification. For example, training to transport explosives will involve taking the core module and the Class 1: explosives module.
If your course is delivered remotely, the practical exercises will be replaced with discussions and demonstrations.
One or a small number of dangerous goods classes
You’ll need to take:
- the core module
- the packages module or tankers module (or you can take both)
- the module for the dangerous goods class or classes you want to qualify in
| Module name | Minimum training time |
|---|---|
| Core | 9 hours |
| Packages | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Tanks | 7 hours 30 minutes |
| Class 2: gases | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Class 3: flammable liquids | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Class 4: flammable solids | 45 minutes |
| Class 5: oxidising substances | 45 minutes |
| Class 6: toxic substances | 45 minutes |
| Class 8: corrosive substances | 45 minutes |
| Class 9: miscellaneous substances | 45 minutes |
Groups of similar dangerous goods
Some dangerous goods classes have common characteristics. They’re split into 2 groups:
- group A classes (2, 3, 6, 8)
- group B classes (4, 5, 9)
You can qualify for these groups rather than taking the individual modules for each class within the group.
You must take:
- the core module
- the packages or tankers module (or you can take both)
- the common characteristics module
- the group A classes module or group B classes module (or you can take both)
| Module name | Minimum training time |
|---|---|
| Core | 9 hours |
| Packages | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Tanks | 7 hours 30 minutes |
| Common characteristics | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Group A classes (2, 3, 6, 8) | 3 hours 45 minutes |
| Group B classes (4, 5, 9) | 1 hour 30 minutes |
Explosives or radioactive materials
You must take:
- the core module
- the class 1 module or class 7 module (or you can take both)
| Module name | Minimum training time |
|---|---|
| Core | 9 hours |
| Class 1: explosives | 6 hours |
| Class 7: radioactive materials | 6 hours |
If you qualify to transport explosives and radioactive materials and want to add extra dangerous goods classes at a later date, you’ll then need to train and pass the exam for the packages or tankers module (or both) as well as the modules for the extra classes you want.
Problems with a training course
You can email SQA if you think the training provided was not to the right standard, for example the course did not last as long as it should have.
SQA dangerous goods training complaints
adr@sqa.org.uk