- The initial qualification and periodic training of drivers must have been completed by a person who performs transport operations as a driver under an employment contract or a contract governed by the law of obligations or as a self-employed person, unless otherwise provided for in an international agreement. Example:
- a lorry driver upon carriage of goods in a motor vehicle of category C or subcategory C1 or in a combination of vehicles of category CE or C1E under the Traffic Act, or
- a bus or coach driver upon carriage of passengers in a motor vehicle of category D or subcategory D1 or in a combination of vehicles of category DE or D1E under the Traffic Act.
Sections 36(3) and (4) of Road Transport Act list the exceptions to whom the requirement to complete professional and continuing training does not apply. The requirement does not apply to drivers who drive tractors or trolleybus.
The requirement does not apply to drivers who drive vehicles:
- whose maximum permitted speed does not exceed 45 kilometres per hour;
- used by a rescue service agency, the owner of an ambulance crew and the authority exercising state supervision, or the use of which is under their control;
- that is tested on roads for the purpose of technical development, repairs or maintenance and is a new or rebuilt vehicle that has not yet been put into use;
- that is used for eliminating the threat of an emergency or for resolving a rescue event within the meaning of the Emergency Act, State of Emergency Act or Rescue Act, including a vehicle that is used for non-commercial carriage of humanitarian aid;
- that is used for a driving lesson, driving test, driving instruction in initial qualification training or periodic training or taking an examination in initial qualification training or periodic training;
- that is used for non-commercial carriage of passengers and goods;
- that is used for carrying materials, equipment or machinery that the driver is using in their work, provided that driving the vehicle is not the driver’s main field of activity;
- that they maintain and for the driving of which a right to drive category D or category D1 vehicles is required and where the driving of the vehicle is not the driver’s main field of activity and they take a vehicle without passengers to or from a place of storage of the carrier to or from a nearby place of maintenance or repairs;
- in the course of practical initial qualification or periodic training, provided that the driver holds the right to drive vehicles of the respective category and is accompanied by a lecturer that holds the right to drive vehicles of the respective category or by a person holding a valid document certifying the completion of initial qualification or periodic training;
- outside a settlement that, within the meaning of the Territory of Estonia Administrative Division Act, is a city for the purposes of supplying an enterprise belonging to or used by the driver or their company, provided that it is not carriage for hire or reward and driving is not the driver’s main field of activity; or
- that is used by an agricultural, horticultural, forestry, livestock farming or fishery undertakings for the transport of their goods in their business operations within the radius of 50 kilometres from the seat of the enterprise, provided that driving is not the driver’s main field of activity.
A driver whom a category D1, D1E, D or DE driving licence has been issued before 10 September 2008 or whom a category C1, C1E, C or CE has been issued before 10 September 2009 Road Transport act subsection 74 (3) is released from the requirement of initial qualification training. At the same time, these individuals also have the opportunity to undergo initial qualification training if necessary.
- Citizens of a Member State of the European Union or of the European Economic Area or of the Swiss Confederation, or persons who have a temporary right of residence or temporary residence permit, a long-term residence permit or a permanent right of residence in Estonia can take part in initial qualification training.
- Persons other than those referred to in the previous clause who are employed under an employment contract or a contract governed by the law of obligations by a carrier or a person entered in the commercial register or the register of non-profit associations and foundations.
- To complete the initial qualification training of drivers, a person must have a valid right to drive of the category corresponding to the training.
- If a person does not have a valid right to drive of the corresponding category, they have two options:
- they undergo training and apply for a driving licence in the relevant category before undergoing initial qualification training and then undergo initial qualification training in the corresponding category, or
- they may attend initial qualification training combined with driving instruction for the right to drive in the relevant category. Please note that in this case, the application for a driving licence for the category will only be made after completing joint training.
- In order to participate in initial qualification training which includes driving instruction or which is carried out as joint training with instruction in driving a motor vehicle of the relevant category, a person must hold a valid health certificate.
- In the case of initial qualification training, a person who also acquires a category B driving licence as part of the initial qualification training, or who has not completed the final stage of initial training as a driver at the time of enrolment, must also complete the final stage of training during the initial qualification training course.
- To be eligible for accelerated initial qualification training, a person must be of the minimum age for obtaining the right to drive the relevant category of motor vehicle and hold a category B driving licence.
- Initial qualification training – at least 280 lessons of which at least 20 must be driving instruction.
- Accelerated initial qualification training – at least 140 lessons, of which at least 10 must be driving instruction.
- Initial qualification training for a person who has completed initial qualification training (280 lessons) or who is competent in one category of driving licence and who wishes to be competent in a new category of driving licence – at least 70 lessons, of which at least 5 must be driving instruction;
- Initial qualification training for a person who has completed accelerated initial qualification training (140 lessons) or who is competent in one category of driving licence and who wishes to be competent in a new category of driving licence – at least 35 lessons, of which at least 2.5 must be driving instruction.
- Initial qualification training can be carried out as joint training. In this case, the training volume is increased by the volume of training for the corresponding category of driver (see regulation No 60):
Example:
- For category B, a minimum of 28 theory lessons and 30 driving lessons in addition to at least 4 theory lessons and 2 driving lessons for the final stage of training.
- For category C and C1 subcategory, at least 20 theory lessons and 10 driving lessons.
- For category D and category D1, at least 20 theory lessons and 20 driving lessons.
- For categories CE and DE and categories C1E and D1E, at least 10 theory lessons and 10 driving lessons.
- The structure and the alternation of initial qualification lessons must ensure the acquisition of the knowledge and skills prescribed in §§ 9 and 10 of regulation No. 29, and the necessary preparation of the student for independent work.
- Persons whose permanent place of residence is in Estonia or who work for a carrier or a person entered in the commercial register or the register of non-profit associations and foundations on the basis of an employment contract or a contract under the law of obligations are accepted for further training.
- The person must have (or have had) a certificate of competence or a corresponding entry in their driving license.
See also "Exemptions from requirement of initial qualification training."
- Periodic training shall comprise at least 35 lessons.
- The structure and the alternation of periodic training lessons must deepen and refine knowledge of the subjects and areas of study provided for in the curriculum and update the essential knowledge and skills required for work, taking into account the needs of the student and focusing in particular on initial qualification and road safety, initial qualification health and the reduction of environmental impact.
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Drivers who have (or have had) a truck driver's or bus driver's certificate of competence or a corresponding entry in their driver's license must complete continuing education for truck drivers OR bus drivers. This means that one periodic professional development course is sufficient to extend both qualifications/entries on the driving license. The person can choose which periodic professional development course to complete.
- There are requirements for the organisation of training, which can be found here.
- The organiser of the training must have an activity licence for providing the training. You can check whether they have an activity licence here: Register of Economic Activity.
- The organiser of the training must have a website where the curricula, timetables, lecturers and teachers are published. If you notice that this information is missing from the website of the training provider, please inform the Estonian Transport Administration.
- The length of one theory or driving lesson is 45 minutes.
- There can be no more than 9 lessons per day and no more than 45 lessons in seven days.
- One day of periodic training shall be at least 7 lessons.
- Up to 30% of initial qualification training can be completed electronically. Make sure that the study material distributed by the training provider is up-to-date and meets your expectations. If you have any questions, ask the training provider..
- Up to 40% of initial qualification training may be completed as an apprenticeship with an undertaking that holds an activity licence for the relevant category of paid cargo or passenger carriage. You can check whether they have an activity licence here: Register of Economic Activity
- Please note that any independent learning prescribed by the training provider does not count towards the training volume.
- Up to 12 lessons of the periodic training may be taken electronically. Ensure that the study material distributed by the training provider is up-to-date and meets your expectations. If you have any questions, ask the training provider..
- Please note that conducting initial qualification and periodic training together is not permitted. If you notice this, please report it to the Estonian Transport Administration.
- An exam will be held at the end of the training. Please note that the certificate issued by the trainer is only a basis for applying for a certificate of competence or a corresponding entry (code 95) in your driver's license. You are not allowed to work as a professional driver based on the training certificate alone. You can apply for a certificate of competence or a note for your driver's license from the Transport Agency after completing the training.
- Your driving licence or provisional driving licence;
- Your identity document;
- Make sure your health certificate is valid. If necessary, be prepared to prove this to the training provider;
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When attending continuing education, a certificate of competence or a corresponding entry on the back of the driver's license (code 95);
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The trainer has the right to request additional information and documents proving the person's permanent residence or employment in Estonia.
What if I don’t know which training course I can take part in?
Ask the training provider. If you do not receive an answer, feel free to ask us.
The curriculum was not available on the training provider’s website. How will I know if training will be carried out according to the curriculum?
Be sure to pass this information on to the training provider so that they know to upload the curriculum. We also expect to receive information on this to guide the training provider, if necessary, and check compliance with the requirements for training courses.
I wanted to take part in initial qualification training course and learn category C, but the instruction provider sent me to apply for a driving license halfway through the course, saying that the queues for the exam were long. I read on your website that I can only apply at the end of the training. What do I have to do now?
If you are taking part in initial qualification training combined with category training, you can only apply for a driving licence and a certificate of competence or an entry for your driving licence at the end of the training course. Your training provider has misled you by giving you incorrect information. Be sure to inform us of such incidents so that we can guide the training provider.
I attended periodic training and then initial qualification training to gain new competences. I have passed both exams. The training provider now contacted me and told me that I have to retake initial qualification training because after the training it turned out that I did not have a valid health certificate at the time of the training and the exam. Are they correct in saying this?
You must have a valid driving licence for the relevant category to take part in initial qualification training. Driving rights are suspended if the health certificate expires. You can check the validity of your health certificate using the e-service of the Estonian Transport Administration. Therefore, the training provider should not have admitted you for initial qualification training. Please speak to your training provider and ask them to find the best solution for you.
You can take part in periodic training, but make sure you have a valid health certificate before you go out on the road, as this is the basis for a valid driving licence.
Issue of certificate of competence or making a respective entry on the driving licence
1. The training provider has submitted to the motor register an examination report attesting that the person has completed the initial qualification or periodic training. This requirement does not apply if the person exchanges a valid certificate of competence issued by a competent authority of a Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area or of the Swiss Confederation for an Estonian certificate of competence.
2. To apply for a certificate of competence, a person must submit the following to the Transport Agency:
- a document certifying the right to drive, if there is no such information in the motor register;
- their identity document;
- a valid medical certificate of the driver of a motor vehicle, unless there is valid information on the medical certificate in the motor register and the state of health of the driver has not changed, or the issuer of the medical certificate has submitted the information to the Estonian Transport Administration electronically;
- if necessary, an additional document certifying that the person meets the requirements for admission to vocational training or continuing education (proof of permanent residence in Estonia or employment);
- a photograph or facial image that corresponds to the identity document requirements (in Estonian), unless it is available in the motor register or in the identity documents database or unless it is more than five years old in said databases;
- a signature image, unless it is available in the motor register or in the identity documents database;
- information or a copy of the payment order for the state fee (can be paid during the application process);
- it is possible to apply for a new certificate to replace a lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate. In this case, the person must notify the Transport Agency in writing, and all of the above requirements apply.
Notification of loss/theft/destruction of document (digital) | 66.24 KB | pdf
3. An entry (code 95 with expiry date) will be entered on the driving licence to indicate that the person has undergone initial qualification and periodic training if, in addition to the requirements set out in point 1, the person meets the requirements laid down in the Traffic Act for applying for or exchanging a driving licence.
4. The Estonian Transport Administration will issue a certificate of competence or a driving licence with a respective entry within ten working days of the application.
5. At the request of the applicant, the certificate of competence or a driving licence with a respective entry can also be delivered by unregistered letter to a postal address in Estonia.
6. When a certificate of competence or a driving licence with a respective entry is delivered, the document previously issued will expire when the new document is delivered. If a new certificate of competence is delivered by unregistered letter, the document issued earlier will expire on the day following that on which the new document is prepared. Once a document has expired, its holder must render it unusable within a reasonable period of time.
7. If the person has not received their certificate of competence or driving licence with a respective entry by unregistered letter within ten working days of the date of application for the document, they must inform the Estonian Transport Administration and the latter will cancel the document. A new document will be issued to the person against signature at the Estonian Transport Administration.
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Last updated: 27.11.2025