Becoming a taxi driver: the necessary steps

Everyone knows of the existence of taxis and the job of taxi driver that goes along with them. However very few people know much about the profession or the necessary qualifications to become a taxi driver. Becoming a professional taxi driver takes a long time and only those who are truly motivated will succeed. We have decided to write an article detailing the training and certificates needed in order to operate as a taxi driver in France.

Taxi driver: the professional journey

So what are the specific training courses one has to take in order to become a taxi driver? In an instant you will know all the steps necessary to take when attempting to become a taxi driver in France. A word of warning to begin though, if you are serious about this as a new career route you will need both patience and persistence in order to one day achieve the coveted title of ‘cabby’. To start with you have to obtain the diploma which gives you the right to drive a taxi in France. This diploma or license is known as the CCPT and signifies that your have passed the tests that show you have the professional capacity to operate an official taxi for an official taxi service. In order to obtain this diploma you need to go to a recognised school that has a specific course set up in order to teach this unique area of expertise. In the Paris region there are around thirty schools capable of providing this training. The certificate and license will, on passing the exams, be delivered by the local council and it is imperative that all taxi drivers have this license, if not and they are caught there are very serious sanctions that can be taken. But getting this diploma is no easy task as we will explain in the following paragraph.

Becoming a taxi driver: the training

In order to get a taxi license you will have to take a relatively long training course. A typical taxi driver training course in France will take between 200 and 500 hours or between three to six months according to the number of hours per week given over to the training. For more information on the training here is a further article on the course itself. The training ends with a three part exam: the first part is theory, the second is the practical and the third is first aid. On average the cost of the training to become a taxi driver is 2000€. It is a considerable investment and requires somebody who is truly committed to making a career of this profession.

Taxi driver: the required conditions for operating

Here, briefly, are a few conditions necessary aside from having the licence that are required in order to be able to operate as a taxi driver. Naturally, the applicant must have a driving licence type B and have held it for at least three months. The training is not a driving school and you are expected on starting to already know how to drive a car, and how to do so competently! What’s more if you have ever had your driving licence revoked for drunken driving or other serious infractions then you will not be eligible. In fact to become a taxi driver you will need to have a completely clean criminal record. You also have to pass a medical check-up and although this is a basic requirement for most jobs those with a history of heart problems are strongly advised to avoid this profession as it involves long periods of staying sat in the same position.

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