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This blog post was published under the 2015-2024 Conservative Administration

https://mattersoftesting.blog.gov.uk/improving-skills-and-standards-through-mot-annual-training/

Improving skills and standards through MOT annual training

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Annual training and assessment, News and updates, Videos

We’re introducing a new model of annual training and assessment to replace the former refresher course to help improve road and vehicle safety.

In the video below we spoke to testers who took part in the pilot to get their feedback.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJh96W7Rllk&feature=youtu.be

This new training follows a continuing professional development (CPD) model and will increase:

  • professionalism by introducing nationally-recognised qualifications
  • choice and flexibility by providing a wider variety of training options

You can read further information in our take MOT tester annual training and assessments guidance.

Completing your training

You can plan and complete your training in any way you like. This can be anything from 5 minutes every week reading MOT special notices and the MOT inspection manuals to taking part in a group question and answer session with your colleagues.

The only requirement is that you complete at least 3 hours of training every year before taking an annual assessment to maintain your tester status.

You can see more examples of how you can complete your annual training on GOV.UK.

Sitting your assessment

Between the start of April and the following March each year you’ll have to sit and pass an annual assessment for the vehicle classes you test.

The assessment is not there to test your ability to remember every detail in the MOT inspection manual, but to make sure you test vehicles to the correct standard.

The assessment will:

  • be online
  • take 45 minutes
  • consist of 30 multiple-choice questions
  • have a 50% pass mark
  • be ’open book’

By 'open book' we mean you’ll be able to use the MOT inspection manual, MOT special notices or your own notes during the assessment to help you answer any questions.

You can re-sit the test as many times you need but you’ll need to pass the assessment before the end of that training year.

You can read further information about the annual assessment on GOV.UK.

What will the assessment cost?

The cost of the assessment won’t break the bank and we expect it to be ‘reasonably priced’ between £25 and £75.

However, this price range could change over time and will depend on individual training provider rates and deals.

For further information about the new MOT annual training and assessment read our take MOT tester annual training and assessments guidance.

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131 comments

  1. Comment by Tom posted on

    I have found errors on the assessment questions.
    Who is reposible for setting the questions Dvsa or the training provider as i would like to pursue this issue.

    • Replies to Tom>

      Comment by Matters of Testing posted on

      Hi Tom,

      Please email this information along with which awarding organisation delivered the assessment to MOT@vosa.gsi.gov.uk.

      Regards

      Thomas

      • Replies to Matters of Testing>

        Comment by mark posted on

        again dvsa letting the tester sort out the mess

      • Replies to Matters of Testing>

        Comment by stoker posted on

        Thomas that e mail is incorrect ?

        • Replies to stoker>

          Comment by Matters of Testing posted on

          Hi Stoker,

          Yes that email is correct. Please send any issues or queries about the annual training and assessment to MOT@vosa.gsi.gov.uk. You can also use this email to send any feedback or comments you have about the MOT testing service.

          Regards

          Thomas

          • Replies to Matters of Testing>

            Comment by stoker posted on

            Thanks email sent.
            The standard of the assessment test is very poor with duplicated questions, no correct answers listed, and poorly composed questions.
            A little quality control by an experienced person could have avoided this.
            The test results will not give DVSA any useful information relating to testers knowledge ,test standards and training quality.
            Its embarrassing being part of such a poorly run DVSA service , the motor trade as a whole suffers when DVSA get things as badly wrong as this .

  2. Comment by Gerard harkins posted on

    Complete joke.. this is cost cutting of the highest order, what's next.? Factor in a new computer & printer, test slots plus all the stationary costs, paper ink cartridges ect, then equipment calibrations & updates, now this, paying for training in our own time, whilst the MOT cost remains the same. Increse the MOT fee or add VAT to the test..

  3. Comment by Tom posted on

    I would like to do my own training but cannot find any information relating to this years topic .
    I have called Dvsa but nobody could tell me
    How do I find out what the topic is ?
    Tom

  4. Comment by dave posted on

    MUST ADD TO MY COMMENT,RUN OUT OF TIME AND YOU HAVEN'T ANSWERED ENOUGH QUESTIONS TO GET 50% AND YOU HAVE FAILED AND HAVE TO PAY AGAIN,SO BE CAREFUL WATCH THE TIME BAR,NOT ENOUGH TIME TO READ THE QUESTION AND CHECK YOUR ANSWER IN THE MANUAL,BUT YOU CAN STOP AND COME BACK TO IT,I TRIED TO DO IT IN ONE GO BUT THE CLOCK BEAT ME ,THINK ITS A BIT BIZARRE GETTING QUESTIONS ON PRE 1950 CARS AND EVEN 1977 CARS

  5. Comment by Dave posted on

    Just sat test,passed with 76% after running out of time,got some questions wrong but don't know which ones hope to find out ,but watch the clock ,because run out of time and thats it another £35 but at least that's it for this year

    • Replies to Dave>

      Comment by Stephen posted on

      We're still waiting to hear,who or how we;ll be retrained. RMI say they've spoken to my boss but that's it. Know more information.
      At least with the old system you booked course and you knew when it was, no worries job done.

    • Replies to Dave>

      Comment by Roger posted on

      I thought you could sit it as many times as you like,I hope so just say it now and on 10th question it wouldn't let me move forward then after 20 minutes I got it to respond but it did so by telling me there is an error with website and administrator needs to fix it.So far I have wasted 5 hours trying to do this test as I was given wrong login details to start with but luckily they give themselves an 0845 number for you to ring!!!

  6. Comment by Totallyconfuseddotcom posted on

    I'm still confused about the practicalities of taking the annual online mot testers assessment.

    The Gov.uk website states:
    You have to pass an online annual assessment to maintain your testing status. You can take this at:
    a training provider
    your own VTS
    home
    It also states that there is a charge between £25 and £75 and that it must be booked through one of three organisations.

    Can you tell me how, and why, I must pay that fee if taking it in my own time in my home or at my VTS?

    • Replies to Totallyconfuseddotcom>

      Comment by Tony S posted on

      You'll be lucky to get an answer to this one from DVSA
      I've been trying to for months

  7. Comment by Denis Calvert posted on

    All smells of cost savings by the government to me I always enjoyed the refresher courses at Manchester I got to speak to other testers and the tutor I had was always knew is stuff and put it across brilliantly

  8. Comment by dennis posted on

    dennis they can have my licence i am only part time as and when required and cannot afford to pay the test fee so thats one tester one tester they are down the garage cannot afford to pay for my test

  9. Comment by mark posted on

    just got the email about annual training vosa have really done well this time making the humble mot testers life more stressing than ever round of applause

    • Replies to mark>

      Comment by jim posted on

      jim , did your e-mail come to your vts station via a special notice , or by matters of testing e-mail , many thanks

  10. Comment by Andy C posted on

    Money making stunt
    Would like to see all the costs the same there seems to be a big variation between ABC . IMI n C&G

  11. Comment by julian posted on

    is there any news on start date for testing us or cost of test as now 22 June

  12. Comment by Ian posted on

    Could someone please shed me some light on this mot training ? what website do i go on to do the training where do i sit the test ? this is a joke ? alot of testers are struggling as it is without making things more akward . time to leave the trade i think!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  13. Comment by Stephen posted on

    It's now May 31st 2016, and still NO news on when or how we start training. Please DVSA pull your fingers out.
    If us QC's miss a QC check or if an NT misses something on a test and gets caught we're done fore.
    How can you set the standard of testing when the training program isn't in place.???/