IRTEC accreditation is not a single qualification with a single route. The scheme is structured around what a technician actually does from day to day, which means choosing the wrong licence type is a straightforward mistake to make if you approach it without the right information.
This is the question we hear most often from technicians and employers contacting Lloyd Morgan Group for the first time: which licence do I need? The answer depends on your job role, your vehicle sector, and your level of experience. The full list of IRTEC licence types is set out on irtec.org.uk, but the descriptions alone do not always make the distinctions clear. This article breaks them down in plain terms so you can make the right choice before booking.
IRTEC licences are awarded at five levels, and the level you need is determined by your job role, not seniority or ambition. Each licence also sits within a vehicle discipline: Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV), Public Service Vehicle (PSV), or Heavy Vehicle Trailer (HVT). You will need to specify both the level and the discipline when applying.
All licences are valid for five years, with one exception: the Large Electric Vehicle licence runs for three.
This is the entry-level IRTEC licence and the most common starting point for workshop technicians. It is for technicians who carry out routine servicing, mechanical and electrical repairs, fault diagnosis, and maintenance work on commercial vehicles. If your role does not involve formal safety inspections, this is almost certainly the licence that applies to you.
The minimum entry requirement is two years of relevant industry experience, or a Level 2 S/NVQ alongside at least one year of experience. That lower experience threshold reflects the nature of the work: technically demanding, but distinct from the compliance-focused discipline of vehicle inspection.
Assessment covers five practical areas: braking systems, engine electrical systems, engine mechanical systems, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, and wheel alignment and steering. Each runs for 50 minutes and is preceded by a 30-question theory test.
The IRTEC Service Maintenance Technician accreditation is available across three disciplines: Large Commercial Vehicle (truck), Bus and Coach, and Heavy Vehicle Trailer.
If your role involves carrying out formal safety inspections of HGVs, PSVs, or trailers, including defect categorisation and the production of inspection records that meet DVSA and Operator Licence requirements, the Inspection Technician licence is the one you need.
The entry requirement is higher than for Service Maintenance: three years of relevant experience, or a Level 3 S/NVQ with at least one year of experience. This reflects the greater regulatory responsibility attached to the role.
Assessment consists of a 40-question online theory test with a 70% pass mark, followed by a practical assessment lasting between one and two hours depending on vehicle type. The theory test is open book: candidates can refer to the DVSA HGV or PSV Inspection Manual and the Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness during the test.
This licence is most directly linked to operator licence compliance. Traffic Commissioners and the DVSA recognise IRTEC-accredited inspectors as evidence of a workshop meeting the standard expected under the Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness. For fleet operators, this is frequently the first licence they invest in for their team.
The IRTEC Inspection Technician licence covers HGV (over 7,500kg), Medium Goods Vehicle (3,500kg to 7,500kg), PSV, and Heavy Vehicle Trailer.
The Advanced Technician licence is for experienced technicians who work across the full range of major vehicle systems, including complex diagnostics and advanced repair. It covers the same vehicle types as Service Maintenance (truck and Bus and Coach) but assesses at a higher level of technical competence.
Assessment spans five practical areas: engine electrical systems, mechanical systems, braking systems, chassis systems, and electrical systems. Each runs for 60 minutes rather than 50. Entry requirements are the same as for Inspection Technician: three years of experience, or a Level 3 S/NVQ with one year of experience.
An important point that catches people out: the Advanced Technician licence is not a progression from the Inspection Technician licence. The two are parallel routes for different job functions. A technician who does both maintenance and inspection work may legitimately need both, and many do. You can read more about that on our IRTEC Advanced Technician course page.
The Master Technician licence sits above Advanced and is aimed at technicians in senior or supervisory positions who lead a workshop team, transfer technical knowledge to others, and handle the most complex diagnostic work. The minimum experience requirement rises to five years, or a Level 4 S/NVQ with at least one year of post-qualification experience.
Assessment includes Electrical System Diagnostics, Computer Based Test Equipment, Diesel Fuel and Emission Systems, Instructional Support, and Effective Communication. Those last two reflect the supervisory and training responsibilities the role carries.
Available since 2021, this specialist licence covers the isolation, reinstatement, and safety procedures for high-voltage driveline systems on large electric vehicles, including electric HGVs and M2/M3 category PSVs.
It sits alongside an existing IRTEC Service Maintenance or Advanced Technician licence rather than replacing it. Entry requires at least three years of relevant experience plus a current IRTEC licence at one of those levels, or a Level 5 S/NVQ with one year of post-qualification experience.
This licence runs for three years rather than five, reflecting the pace of change in electric vehicle technology and the need for more regular revalidation.
| IRTEC Licence | Your day-to-day work involves… | Min. experience | Licence valid |
| Service Maintenance Technician | Repairs, servicing, fault diagnosis, and maintenance on commercial vehicles or trailers | 2 years (or Level 2 NVQ + 1 year) | 5 years |
| Inspection Technician | Safety inspections of HGVs, PSVs, or trailers; defect identification and compliance records | 3 years (or Level 3 NVQ + 1 year) | 5 years |
| Advanced Technician | Complex diagnostics and advanced repairs across all major vehicle systems; senior workshop roles | 3 years (or Level 3 NVQ + 1 year) | 5 years |
| Master Technician | Supervisory or senior positions; training and mentoring other technicians | 5 years (or Level 4 NVQ + 1 year) | 5 years |
| Large Electric Vehicle | Isolation, reinstatement, and safety work on high-voltage driveline systems in electric HGVs or PSVs | 3 years + current SMT or Advanced licence | 3 years |
As well as choosing the right licence level, you will need to select the vehicle discipline that matches the fleet you work on. The table below shows which disciplines are available at each licence level.
| Licence Level | HGV (Truck) | PSV (Bus & Coach) | Trailer (HVT) |
| Service Maintenance | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Inspection Technician | Yes (HGV / MGV) | Yes (PSV) | Yes (HVT) |
| Advanced Technician | Yes | Yes | No |
| Master Technician | Yes | Yes | No |
| Large Electric Vehicle | Yes (over 3,500kg) | Yes (M2/M3) | No |
Yes. Many technicians hold both a Service Maintenance licence and an Inspection Technician licence, particularly in smaller operations where one person covers both functions. Employers often fund both where budget allows, as the combination provides the broadest demonstration of workshop competence to the DVSA and Traffic Commissioners.
If you work across more than one vehicle type, for example trucks and trailers, you would need the appropriate discipline for each. Licences are issued per discipline, not across all vehicle types globally.
IRTEC and NVQ are often confused because one can be an entry route into the other, but they are not the same thing. An NVQ Level 3 combined with one year of experience is a valid entry route for the Inspection Technician and Advanced Technician licences. However, holding an NVQ does not make you IRTEC-accredited, and the reverse is also true.
The practical approach is to identify the inspection and maintenance functions your team carries out, then match those to the licence types above. For most fleet operators, the priority is getting at least one technician accredited as an Inspection Technician, as this is the level most directly referenced in DVSA guidance and at public inquiries.
Service Maintenance accreditation for the broader workshop team supports overall compliance and demonstrates that repair and maintenance work meets the same industry benchmark, not just inspection.
IRTEC is a voluntary scheme, but the absence of accredited technicians can be raised at public inquiries and during DVSA investigations as a negative factor. If you are unsure where to start, or if your team spans multiple functions, speak to an assessment centre before booking.
Lloyd Morgan Group is one of the UK’s largest IRTEC assessment centres, delivering assessments across all licence types for HGV and PSV technicians. Our team can confirm which licence applies to your role, discuss the entry requirements, and schedule an assessment at a time that works around your shift pattern, at our centre in Cannock or on-site at your workshop.
Get in touch via lloydmorgangroup.co.uk/irtec/ or call 01543 897505.
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