Earn your D1 Category Licence to get a start in your career as a School and Private Bus Driver, a Tourist Coach Driver or a Bus Driver for Community Facilities.
Earn your D1 Category Licence to get a start in your career as a School and Private Bus Driver, a Tourist Coach Driver or a Bus Driver for Community Facilities.
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 D1 category driving test the first time. Our D1 vehicles are Ford Transit Minibuses – 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, the largest Driver Recruitment Agency in Ireland within the Transport and Logistics sectors.
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To apply for a Category D1 learner permit to drive a Minibus, you must first pass the Bus Theory Test and, if required, the Driver CPC Case Studies exam. Both exams can be booked through theorytest.ie, and study materials are available through the official theory test app, book or disc. You will also need a completed driver medical report before your NDLS appointment. Once these steps are completed, you can apply for your D1 learner permit on NDLS.ie, where the fee is €45. Bring your medical form and identification with you on the day. These steps must be completed before you can begin Minibus (D1) lessons.
Driver CPC is required for anyone who intends to drive a Minibus professionally within the passenger transport sector. To complete CPC, you must pass the CPC Case Studies exam in addition to the Bus Theory Test. When applying for your Minibus driving test, you may also apply for your CPC Practical Test (walk-around exam), which evaluates your understanding of vehicle safety checks, daily inspections and regulatory compliance. Whether or not CPC is required depends on your intended driving role, but many D1 learners complete CPC to broaden professional employment options.
ISM offers a structured 6-hour Minibus training course (3 × 2 hours) plus use of the Minibus for the driving test, including a pre-test session. The total cost is €650, or €700 if the Minibus is also required for your CPC walk-around exam. However, the number of lessons each person needs will vary depending on skill level, confidence and experience. The key is to undertake enough training to consistently reach RSA test standards. Throughout your lessons, your instructor will assess your progress and let you know when you are ready for your D1 test. Social welfare learners may be eligible for funding support.
Minibus lessons are delivered at the ISM Finglas Training Centre, located beside Dublin’s only RSA heavy vehicle test location. This ensures learners can practise manoeuvres, reversing and route-driving in the same environment used for the RSA D1 driving test. ISM’s Minibuses are Mercedes 16-seater vehicles equipped with dual controls, providing a safe and professional learning environment. The centre also offers dedicated reversing bays and direct access to the likely test routes, helping learners become familiar with the road layout before their test.
The RSA Category D1 driving test takes approximately 70 minutes. It includes on-road driving over a range of routes, reversing manoeuvres at the test centre, vehicle safety questions and a detailed walk-around inspection. These sections assess your ability to drive safely, control the Minibus and understand essential safety procedures. The RSA test fee is €120, and the CPC Practical Test (if required) costs €32. ISM instructors ensure you are well-prepared for each part of the exam.
Yes. ISM offers flexible Minibus lesson times, including weekdays, evenings and weekends. This allows learners working in shift-based, part-time or full-time roles to complete their training at times that suit them. Lessons are delivered at ISM Finglas using fully equipped 16-seater Minibuses for consistency and safety.
Once your instructor confirms that you are test-ready, you may book your Category D1 driving test through the RSA. At the Finglas Test Centre, waiting times average around 8 weeks, although earlier appointments may become available if you apply for a cancellation test. Many learners complete their full training and test within a short timeframe, depending on availability.
Pre-test lessons are delivered at the ISM Finglas Training Centre, focusing on reversing manoeuvres, route practice, safety questions and common driving faults. Completing a pre-test session close to the exam helps you feel confident and fully prepared. After obtaining your D1 licence, ISM supports drivers through the ISM Recruitment Driver Agency, offering temporary and permanent driving roles with many of Ireland’s leading bus and minibus operators.
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