Book and take a dangerous goods safety adviser exam
How to apply to book and take an exam if you want to become a dangerous goods safety adviser (DGSA) or renew your DGSA certificate.
Apply to book a dangerous goods safety adviser exam if you want to:
- qualify as a dangerous good safety adviser (DGSA)
- renew your DGSA certificate if you are already qualified
To qualify you need to pass dangerous goods safety adviser exams on:
- all dangerous goods classes
- the core module
- either road, rail or inland waterways聽
You have to pass these exams every 5 years to stay qualified.
Dates of the exam
The next exam is on 11 September 2025.
| Date of exam | First date you can apply | Last date you can apply |
|---|---|---|
| 11 September 2025 | 13 June 2025 | 28 August 2025 |
| 20 November 2025 | 12 September 2025 | 6 November 2025 |
Where you can take the exam
You have to take your exam in person. 聽
The Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA), who administer the exam, will send you the full address of the venue once they confirm your booking.
Exam locations in England
You can do your exam at venues in:
- Birmingham
- Bristol
- Greater Manchester
- Middlesbrough
- Northampton
- Surrey
- Yorkshire
Exam locations in Scotland
You can do your exam at venues in:
- Aberdeen
- Stirling
Exam locations in Northern Ireland
You can do your exam at a venue in Belfast.
How much it costs
You have to pay for every subject you want to take an exam on. The cost for each exam is 拢135.
Example costs
You book 3 exams to qualify as a dangerous goods safety adviser:
- the core module
- all classes
- road
You have to pay 拢135 for each exam. The total cost is 拢405.
Apply online to book your exam
Apply to book a dangerous goods safety adviser exam for:
- all dangerous goods classes
- the core module
- road
- rail
- inland waterways
The road, rail and inland waterways exams all take place at the same time, so you can only do one of these exams on a single exam day.
You cannot currently apply to book an exam. Applications to book an exam will open on 13 June 2025.
What happens next
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will email details on how to pay within 3 working days.
Once you have paid for your exam, the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) will email your booking confirmation.
Your booking confirmation will include:
- full address for the venue
- the time and date of your exam
- what to take to your exam
Change or cancel your booking聽
Email SQA if you want to change or cancel your booking.聽
Scottish Qualification Authority
dgsa@sqa.org.uk
You will not get a refund if you give less than 14 days notice to change or cancel your booking.
Getting your exam results
After sitting your exams, you will get sent:
- a letter with your result
- a certificate - if you passed all 3 exams to qualify as a dangerous goods safety adviser聽
It can take up to 8 weeks to聽arrive.聽You must sign and date your certificate when you get it.
Appeal your exam result
You can appeal your DGSA exam result if you think your performance was affected by:
- frequent interruptions
- noise outside the exam room
- problems with the exam papers
- poor lighting
You can also appeal if your performance was affected because:
- other candidates were cheating, colluding or copying work
- you were treated unfairly or discriminated against
Email your appeal and any supporting evidence to DVSA within 28 days of getting your result.
DVSA appeals
adr@dvsa.gov.uk
DVSA will try to let you know the result of your appeal within 30 working days.
DVSA cannot change your test result. If your appeal is successful, they could decide you can resit your exam for free.
Updates to this page
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Added information about appealing exam results.
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Removed the link to apply to book an exam as you cannot apply to book an exam until 13 June 2025.
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Added how long it will take DVSA to email you details on how to pay for your exam after you have applied.
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Updated what happens after you have applied to book an exam. Added information about how to change or cancel your booking and getting your exam results.
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Hampshire has been removed from the list of exam locations because exams cannot be taken there.
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First published.