MOT special notice 08-16: qualification, annual training and assessments
Published 31 October 2016
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
© Crown copyright 2016
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mot-special-notice-08-16/mot-special-notice-08-16
For all authorised examiners and nominated testers
1. Overview
From 1 April 2016 DVSA introduced a new approach to MOT training delivery in partnership with external training providers. We’ve developed new nationally recognised qualifications for both MOT testers and managers.
These new qualifications are:
- level 2 Award in MOT Testing in either,
- class 1 and 2 vehicles (group A)
- class 4 and 7 vehicles (group B)
- level 3 Award in MOT Test Centre Management
The new MOT tester’s qualification includes standards and procedures, safe working practices and professional development.
It also looks at working relationships – including how to deal with customers who don’t understand why their vehicle has failed its MOT.
The new MOT manager’s course not only looks at MOT legislation and compliance, but now also covers quality systems and audits, developing and supervising staff and customer service.
2. Tester training requirements
The requirements and procedures to become a tester along with a list of approved training providers can be found here
Following the introduction of the new MOT tester qualifications, MOT Annual Training and the MOT Annual Assessment, training requirements for testers as shown in Appendix 6 of the Testing Guide have been updated.
3. Become an MOT tester
To become an MOT tester you will need to:
- check that you meet the eligibility rules to become an MOT tester and to attend an MOT tester’s course
- gain a Level 2 Award in MOT Testing (classes 1 & 2 or classes 4 & 7)
- successfully complete a Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency MOT demonstration test
(For authorised testers that also wish to test Classes 3 & 5, contact the local DVSA area office)
Check that you meet the eligibility rules to become an MOT tester, and to attend an MOT tester’s course.
To be eligible, you must:
- have a current, full UK driving licence for the vehicle classes you want to test
- be a skilled mechanic with at least 4 years, full-time employment servicing and repairing the types of vehicles you’re going to test
- have no unspent convictions for criminal offences connected with MOT testing or the motor trade, or involving acts of violence or intimidation
DVSA is ultimately responsible for authorising testers, if a prospective tester is aware of any such factors that might affect their suitability to test, they should make representation to DVSA for consideration
Qualifications or accreditations you need:
You must have an accepted qualification or accreditation if you want to test class 3, 4, 5 or 7 vehicles (cars, private buses and light commercial vehicles).
For more details read our Become an MOT tester / eligibility section on GOV.UK website.
Gain a Level 2 Award in MOT Testing (classes 1 & 2 or classes 4 & 7)
Before the course
You need to show the training provider that you’re eligible to become an MOT tester.
A training provider will also ask you to supply a check code from the DVLA (View or share your driving licence information service), so they can verify the status and details of your driving licence.
How to apply:
Find an MOT tester qualification course and book it with the course provider. There is a charge for training, prices vary and are set by each course provider.
The course will cover theory and practical training needed to be an MOT tester. The course lasts at least 29 hours. You’ll spend at least 8 hours doing practical training.
There are 5 parts to the course:
- safe working practices in the vehicle test centre
- working relationships within the vehicle test centre
- managing your own professional development as an MOT tester
- carrying out pre-test checks for an MOT test
- carrying out an MOT test
Assessments in the course
The course also includes:
- a multiple-choice question test
- a practical assessment
You have to pass both to successfully complete the course. Your course provider will give you more information on the content and structure of their course.
After you’ve done the course
Having successfully completed the course, you will receive a Level 2 Award in MOT Testing in either:
- class 1 and 2 vehicles (group A)
- class 4 and 7 vehicles (group B)
Your certificate details will be required to enable you to request an MOT security card and take a Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency MOT demonstration test.
Log in to the MOT Testing Service and upload your Awarding Organisation qualification certificate details as soon as you receive it.
Once this is completed, you will have the option to order your security card. This can also be done from ‘your profile’.
Obtaining and activating the card before the demonstration test will allow you to start testing immediately after a successful MOT Demonstration Test.
Click here for further information on security cards.
DVSA MOT demonstration test
Candidates who have gained a Level 2 Award in MOT Testing can carry out the demonstration test at either:
- the training centre where you took the qualification course
- the MOT testing station where you work
Prepare for the demonstration test by:
- reading the MOT testing manuals and special notices
- practicing your inspection routine
- making sure you have all the necessary documents, e.g. your driving licence and qualification certificate
To book a demonstration test, (for which there is no charge)
Sign in to the MOT testing service and you will find the guidance you need in ‘your profile’ to request a demonstration test and to apply for your security card
Note: If you attended a training course delivered by DVSA, the process is slightly different, speak to your local DVSA area office for details but you must complete the demonstration test by 31 December 2016.
How the demonstration test works
Before the demonstration can take place, the DVSA Examiner must have sight of:
- a UK photo card driving licence (if you don’t have a photo card licence you will also need to take photo ID, e.g. a passport)
- level 2 Award in MOT testing certificate, these must be originals not photocopies
The examiner will ask you to:
- carry out a demonstration test
- record the result in a practise version of the MOT testing service
- answer some questions about the MOT
Test result
If you pass the demonstration test your status will be updated in the MOT Testing Service and you will then be authorised to carry out MOT tests at the approved testing station/s where you have been nominated to test.
If you fail the demonstration test, the examiner will give you feedback, and tell you what to do next.
For more detailed information about becoming an MOT tester, MOT training requirements and locating a training provider, read our Become an MOT tester section on the GOV.UK website.
Testers who have completed the Level 2 Award in MOT testing (classes 1 & 2) or (classes 4 & 7) will be exempt from completing the MOT Annual Training and MOT Annual Assessment for the year in which they successfully complete their Demonstration Test, as this will be included in the course content but those that completed DVSA delivered courses (not resulting in a Level 2 Award) must complete the current Annual Training and Annual Assessment.
Full details can be found here with supplementary information being found in Special Notices.
(Note: the Annual Assessment year runs from 1 April to 31 March each year.)
4. MOT Manager training
The requirements for MOT Manager training detailed in the MOT Testing Guide remain unchanged, however where a new AEDM would have attended a DVSA MOT Managers Course, they will instead have to gain a Level 3 Award in MOT Test Centre Management, delivered by an approved training provider.
In addition to new AEDMs requiring the Level 3 Award in MOT Test Centre Management, other management team members within a VTS would also be encouraged to benefit from the new qualification, enabling them to have a far greater understanding of the management roles within a VTS.
Whilst not mandatory, current DVSA trained AEDMs and existing AEDMs granted authorisation before 1 April 1995, would similarly be able to gain the Level 3 Award in MOT Test Centre Management and receive the advantages that the new qualification would bring to them.
How to apply
Find a Level 3 Award in MOT Test Centre Management course and book it with the course provider.
There is a charge for the course, which varies being set by the individual course provider. The prices vary and are set by each course provider.
Course content
The course will cover the knowledge, skills and responsibilities of becoming an MOT Manager. The course lasts at least 16 hours.
There are 4 parts to the course:
- understand how to manage the legislative and compliance requirements of a vehicle test centre
- know how to deal with customer service problems within a vehicle test centre
- understand how to develop and supervise staff within a vehicle test centre
- understand vehicle test centre quality system and quality audit
Assessments in the course
The course also includes:
- a multiple-choice question test, which must be passed in order to qualify
Your course provider will give you more information on the content and structure of their course.
For more detailed information about MOT Manger Training, and locating a training provider, read our Set up an MOT test station section on the GOV.UK website.
After you’ve done the manager’s course
In the case of a new authorisation, as part of the VT01 Application, or a change to the authorisation, the trained AEDM will need to activate their security card before they can assign roles and commence testing.
Following the successful completion of the course, a copy of the certificate must be sent to the Area Office as evidence of completion of the course (The original will be checked at the time of authorisation).
The applicant can then be given the role of AEDM and linked to the appropriate AE. The AEDM should logon to the MOT Testing Service to see when this has happened.
Once this has been done the AEDM can order an MOT security card using the MOT Testing Service. The AEDM must receive and activate his card before he can allocate roles to any other user, purchase MOT slots or conduct MOT Tests.
Note: it may take up to 5 working days to receive an MOT security card from when it has been ordered.
Click here for further information on security cards.
Note: where the course has been taken for development purposes and is not part of a VT01 application, there is no requirement to upload the certificate details.
5. MOT Annual Training and MOT Annual Assessment
The MOT Annual Training year which runs from 1 April 2016 - 31 March 2017.
This is a reminder to all MOT Testers that they must carry out their MOT Annual Training (minimum 3 hours) and also complete and pass their online MOT Annual Assessment.
The MOT Annual Assessment consists of 30 multiple choice questions that are related to the following topics:
| the MOT Annual Training Syllabus (for either Class 1 & 2 or Class 4 & 7) | 70% |
| MOT General Standards & Procedures | 20% |
| current Special Notices | 10% |
The MOT Annual Assessment pass mark is currently set at 50% with a very high pass rate from those MOT Testers who have completed the test.
Recording your MOT Annual Training
MOT Annual Training Logs
All Testers are required to complete and retain an MOT annual training log detailing what they have done, which will eventually cover the rolling five year period.
The log should at least contain:
- name and User ID
- which vehicle groups the MOT Annual Training covered
- the date(s) when the MOT Annual Training took place
- which topics that were covered and the duration
- notes on what was done, how it was carried out, and what was learned
Training logs may be held in paper or electronic format; whichever format is adopted it must be retained for at least five years, and readily available to be viewed on request. An example of the training log can be found here.
Note: A tester may have evidence of having carried out their MOT Annual Training (e.g. external training provider), however this is supplementary information, it is the information recorded in the testers MOT Annual Training log that will be assessed for audit purposes.
Refer to Special Notice 5/2016 for more information
Recording your MOT Annual Assessment
Having carried out and recorded your MOT Annual Training, and successfully completed your MOT Annual Assessment, you are required to enter the results of your MOT Annual Assessment on to the MOT Testing Service.
Evidence of the assessment result should be held in either a paper or electronic format, for data entry and audit purposes, and be retained for a minimum of five years from the date of issue.
To record your MOT Annual Assessment result, sign in to the MOT testing service and you will find the guidance you need in ‘your profile’.
For more detailed information about MOT Annual Training and the MOT Annual Assessment, read Being an MOT tester on GOV.UK website.