The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will revise the training curriculum for the Taxi Driver’s Vocational Licence (TDVL) and Private Hire Car Driver’s Vocational Licence (PDVL) from March 2022. The updated curriculum keeps pace with regulatory and technological advancements to help taxi and private hire car (PHC) drivers adapt to new and evolving developments. It also places greater emphasis on the use of digital tools to aid their daily driving. LTA will also separate the training and testing functions of service providers from January 2022. This means that training and testing will be provided by different organisations appointed by LTA.
Updated Training Curriculum
2 In 2019, LTA commissioned Singapore Polytechnic’s Professional & Adult Continuing Education (PACE) Academy to develop an updated TDVL and PDVL training curriculum, to take into account the changing needs of the industry, and to align the training curriculum across the industry.
3 The updated curriculum was developed in consultation with various industry stakeholders. It places a greater focus on on-the-road competencies such as planning routes using mapping and navigational tools, as well as road safety practices. Additional topics covering new technologies such as electric vehicles and digitalisation will also be introduced to prepare drivers for the future and reinforce the need for drivers to upskill.
4 With the updated curriculum, there will be minor changes to the duration of the TDVL and PDVL courses from March 2022. However, there will be no change to the duration of the TDVL refresher course (please refer to the Annex). There will also be no change to the course fees.
PDVL to TDVL Conversion Course
5 As announced during the Committee of Supply in March 2021, LTA will also introduce a conversion course, to allow PDVL holders to obtain a TDVL without having to undergo the full two-day TDVL course and test. The 8-hour course will expand the driving options for PDVL holders.
Separating Training and Testing Functions
6 From January 2022, LTA will separate the Vocational Licence (VL) training and testing functions. Drivers who wish to apply for a VL or take up a refresher course may register for their TDVL and PDVL training or refresher courses with ComfortDelGro (CDG) Taxi[1] and NTUC LearningHub (LHUB)[2]. LTA will ensure that there is sufficient training capacity to cater to drivers’ training needs. Singapore Polytechnic was appointed as a new test centre in August 2020 and will remain as LTA’s appointed TDVL, PDVL and PDVL to TDVL conversion course testing provider.
7 The Singapore Taxi Academy (STA) will cease to be a provider of TDVL and PDVL training and testing following the expiry of its current service agreement with LTA on 31 December 2021. TDVL and PDVL applicants who are currently registered with STA may continue to attend courses and tests at STA until 31 December 2021.
8 The updated TDVL and PDVL training curriculum was made possible through extensive consultations with drivers, the National Taxi Association, the National Private Hire Vehicles Association, training and testing providers, and taxi/PHC operators. We would like to thank all our partners for contributing to the review. We will continue to work closely with our industry partners to support drivers’ training needs.
