Subjects & Qualifications

Introduction

This document gives details about the arrangements for the examinations for Dangerous Goods Safety Advisers. It mentions other documents produced by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) which give further information. Details of how to contact us are given at the end of this document.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is responsible for the implementation in the UK of the European Community Directive 2008/68/EC on the inland transport of dangerous goods. The directive requires EU member states to apply the provisions of ADR (road), RID (rail) and ADN( Inland waterway. These provisions include a requirement for certain organisations involved in the transport or related to loading or unloading of dangerous goods by road, rail or inland waterway to appoint one or more Dangerous Goods Safety Advisers (DGSAs).

Before their appointment, DGSAs must gain a Vocational Training Certificate (VTC) by passing approved examinations. The DfT is responsible for the approval of the examinations and it has appointed SQA as its agent. SQA is responsible, in conjunction with the DfT and its advisory panel, for:

developing and issuing the syllabus for the examinations
developing, conducting and marking the examinations
issuing Vocational Training Certificates
Examinations are offered at centres throughout the UK. SQA provides a list of examination centres and dates.
The examination questions are prepared and moderated by experts in the industry. For each subject, a Principal Examiner, Reviser and a team of question setters are appointed by SQA, in consultation with the DfT. Markers are also appointed by SQA.

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