ADR - Driver Training Certificate

ADR basic and tanker specialisation exams are held twice a month in Dublin and once a month in Cork and Galway.

If you are sitting both exams on the same day, you will sit the ADR basic exam first, followed by a 15 minute break and then the tanker specialisation exam. 

All candidates must bring their notification letter and photo ID (e.g. driving licence/passport) with them on the day.

The ADR Driver Training Certificate is valid for 5 years.

Under ADR regulations all licence holders must attend a refresher course (ADR basic 1 day course/ tanker specialisation 1 day course) and sit a refresher exam(s) to be eligible for another 5 year ADR cert. 

This refresher course(s) and exam(s) can be done at any time in the last 12 months of the current ADR cert but must be completed before the expiration date. 

We recommend holders do the refresher course(s) and exam(s) early to allow for possible repeats if necessary. 

If your cert has already expired and no refresher course(s) or exam(s) have been taken then, under ADR regulations, the holder must repeat the full ADR basic training course (3 days) and/or tanker specialisation training course (2 days) before being allowed to sit the exam(s) again.

Candidates must attain an overall pass-mark of 24 or higher (out of 36) with a minimum of 8 questions out of 12 answered correctly in each section.  

NOTE:  Candidates sitting both the ADR basic and tanker specialisation exams must pass the ADR basic exam to be eligible for the licence.

Candidates will receive a letter informing them if they have passed or failed. It is not possible to provide results over the phone 

Candidates that have passed will be issued with an ADR Driver Training Certificate (also known as an ADR licence) by post. 

Candidates who have failed will receive a written notification indicating the areas that need to be addressed with instructions for arranging a repeat exam. 

A candidate may repeat each exam only once. If they are unsuccessful the second time they must attend ADR training again before they are can apply to sit the exam again.

Candidates must contact an approved ADR training course provider and arrange to attend a basic ADR and/or tanker specialisation course before applying to sit the exam(s).

On completion of ADR training, the course provider will give attendees an exam application. The provider will sign the declaration of attendance section of this form confirming the candidate’s completion of the course.

Candidates must sit the ADR basic exam within 12 months of completion of training.

All drivers of vehicles carrying dangerous goods must hold an ADR Driving Training Certificate issued by the competent authority or by an organisation appointed by that authority (CILT).

This ADR licence indicates that the holder has participated in an ADR training course and passed an exam on the particular requirements that have to be met during carriage of dangerous goods.

The ‘‘carriage of dangerous goods’’ applies to the carriage, in tanks, in bulk and in packages, of dangerous goods by road; including the packing, loading, filling and unloading of the dangerous goods in relation to their carriage.  

Those who specifically transport dangerous goods by tanker, in addition to the basic ADR training and exam, must also apply to do a tanker specialisation training course and exam. 

The ADR Certificate must be renewed every 5 years.