Earn your CE Category Licence to get a start in your career in Heavy Goods Transportation, Distribution and Logistics.
Earn your CE Category Licence to get a start in your career in Heavy Goods Transportation, Distribution and Logistics.
The lessons are suitable for drivers who wish to professionally drive minibuses in private, school, healthcare service, and community development settings or to upgrade their private licence enabling them to hire a minibus.
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With access to Dublin’s only off-road practice Reversing Bay, you will gain the confidence and skill to pass your CE category driving test the first time. Our CE vehicles are DAF and MAN Trucks fitted with digital tachographs – the newest training vehicles in Ireland.
Learning with ISM offers a natural path for professional drivers to permanent and temporary jobs within our own in-house Recruitment Agency, which is the largest Driver Recruitment Agency in Ireland within the Transport and Logistics sectors.
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To apply for a Category CE learner permit, you must already hold a full Category C (Rigid Truck) licence. Once eligible, you can apply for the CE learner permit through NDLS.ie, where the fee is €45. Before attending your NDLS appointment, ensure you have completed your required driver medical report and bring it with you on the day. These steps must be completed before beginning Artic Truck (CE) lessons.
Many learners progressing to Artic Truck (Category CE) already hold a Driver CPC card from their rigid licence. If you do not yet hold CPC, you must complete the CPC Case Studies theory exam as part of your training pathway. When you apply for your CE driving test, you can also apply for the CPC Practical Test (walk-around exam), which assesses your knowledge of safety checks, vehicle operation and regulatory requirements. CPC is mandatory for anyone driving heavy goods vehicles professionally.
There is no set number of Artic Truck lessons required by the RSA. The training time required varies based on your previous experience, reversing skill, coordination with a trailer, and overall familiarity with articulated vehicles. A key part of CE training is learning to reverse an articulated truck confidently and consistently. Your ISM Instructor will assess your progress throughout your lessons and advise when you meet the driving test standard. Learners are encouraged to complete enough lessons to feel confident and capable in both manoeuvres and on-road driving. Social welfare learners may also be eligible for funding support.
Artic Truck training is delivered at the ISM Finglas Training Centre, located beside the only RSA HGV Test Centre in Dublin. This allows learners to train in an environment that closely mirrors the conditions of the official Category CE driving test. The centre features dedicated reversing bays, space to practise a range of manoeuvres, and immediate access to test routes. ISM operates one of the largest and newest training fleets in Ireland, including dual-controlled vehicles equipped for learner safety and comfort. The combination of location, facilities and experienced RSA-approved instructors helps learners prepare effectively.
The RSA Category CE driving test takes approximately 70 minutes. It includes on-road driving around multiple routes, reversing manoeuvres at the test centre, structured vehicle safety questions and a full walk-around inspection. These elements assess your ability to safely operate and control an articulated truck. The RSA fee for the driving test is €120, and the CPC Practical Test (if required) costs €32. Your ISM instructor will ensure you are familiar with all aspects of the test before your appointment.
Artic Truck lessons cost €215 for a 2-hour session, and learners pay as they book. The training is delivered using modern articulated vehicles maintained to professional standards. Learners who receive social welfare support may be eligible for grants to help fund their lessons, and ISM can provide guidance on the application process where applicable.
Once your ISM Instructor confirms that you are ready, you can book your Category CE driving test through the RSA. The average waiting time at the Finglas HGV Test Centre is approximately 8 weeks, although many learners request cancellation tests to bring the date forward. The full training and test process can be completed within a relatively short timeframe, depending on test slot availability and your personal schedule.
Pre-test Category CE lessons take place at the ISM Finglas Training Centre, where instructors focus on reversing, trailer control, cab checks, and test route familiarisation. These sessions are typically completed close to your test date and help reinforce the key skills assessed in the RSA exam. After passing your Category CE test, drivers can access employment opportunities through the ISM Recruitment Driver Agency, which supports temporary and permanent driving roles across the transport and logistics sector.
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