CPC Update
The examination dates for the remainder of 2011 are Friday 9 September and Friday 2 December.
From 4 December 2011 new examination arrangements will apply.
The principal change is that the National and International syllabuses will be merged and new examinations will be created to cover both areas. It is thought likely that the new examinations, available from 2012 onwards, will comprise a two hour multiple choice paper and a second, two hour case study paper.
The DfT is keen to encourage awarding bodies other than OCR to offer examinations in this subject.
Whilst OCR has indicated its enthusiasm for continuing with CPC, it is not yet clear which (if any) other awarding bodies may wish to participate.
The DfT have stated that anyone who has not achieved a full National CPC by the end of the processing of the December 2011 series will lose the credit for any unit passes and will have to begin again in 2012 and sit the full combined National/International examinations.
Anyone who achieves a full National CPC by the end of 2011 will, though, have the opportunity to gain an additional stand alone International unit. OCR has pledged to offer a number of existing style Unit 6 (Freight) and 7 (Passenger) International examinations during 2012 for such candidates.