Quick Answer: TESDA Driving NC II is a 118-hour light-vehicle course under the official Training Regulations (18 basic, 20 common, 80 core hours), about 15 training days. Since TESDA Board Resolution 2020-46, you need an LTO driver's license to enroll or be assessed, plus a health certificate from a Public Health Officer. It is free at some TESDA-run centers and through TWSP slots, which pay ₱160 per training day. Indeed Philippines reports an average driver salary of about ₱17,975 a month.
Driving NC II is TESDA's entry credential for people who drive for a living: company drivers, delivery drivers, and drivers of light passenger vehicles. It does not replace your LTO license. It sits on top of it, as proof that an accredited assessor watched you inspect, drive, and handle emergencies to an industry standard. This guide uses TESDA's official Training Regulations (TR) and Board Resolution 2020-46 for the hours and requirements, and labels third-party pay figures as estimates. For a primer on what the NC levels mean, see our TESDA NC levels explainer.
How Long Is TESDA Driving NC II?
The official nominal duration is 118 hours. The Driving NC II TR, promulgated December 2004 under the Automotive and Land Transport sector, names the course "Light Vehicle Driving" and splits it into:
| Competency block | Nominal hours | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 18 | Workplace communication, teamwork, career professionalism, occupational health and safety |
| Common | 20 | Sealants and adhesives, moving and positioning a vehicle, measurement and calculation, reading specs and manuals, lubricants and coolant, shop maintenance |
| Core | 80 | Minor vehicle maintenance, driving a light vehicle, traffic rules, accident and emergency procedures |
| Total | 118 | About 14.75 eight-hour days, per TESDA's list of promulgated TRs |
Actual programs can be longer. The TESDA Women's Center (TWC) in Taguig lists its Driving NC II program at 142 hours over 18 days.
Disclaimer: TESDA can amend Training Regulations and entry requirements. Confirm the current version on tesda.gov.ph and with your training center before enrolling.
What Does the Course Cover?
The TR describes the qualification as the competencies needed to operate light motor vehicles, "transport passengers and loads over specified routes," comply with traffic rules, and do minor repairs and servicing. The four core units are:
- Carry out minor vehicle maintenance and servicing
- Drive light vehicle
- Obey and observe traffic rules and regulations
- Implement and coordinate accident-emergency procedures
The TR lists two occupational titles for NC II holders: Professional Driver and Light Vehicle Driver.
On vehicle scope, the 2004 TR ties the qualification to LTO Restriction Codes 1 and 2. Under that old system, Code 1 covered motorcycles and tricycles and Code 2 covered motor vehicles up to 4,500 kg gross vehicle weight. LTO has since moved to DL codes such as A (motorcycles), A1 (tricycles), B (up to 5,000 kg GVW, 8 seats), B1 (up to 5,000 kg GVW, 9 or more seats), and B2 (goods vehicles up to 3,500 kg GVW). Ask your training center which vehicle it uses for practical training and assessment.
Who Can Enroll? The 2020 License Rule
You need an LTO driver's license first. On October 13, 2020, the TESDA Board adopted Resolution No. 2020-46, amending the Driving NC II trainee entry requirements to:
- Must be a holder of any type of driver's license issued by the LTO
- With good moral character
- Able to communicate both orally and in writing
- Physically fit and mentally healthy, as certified by a Public Health Officer
The resolution records that, after consulting LTO, "all trainees and candidates for assessment of Driving NC II must be holders of any driver's license before they could operate any motor vehicle," citing Section 19 of RA 4136, the Land Transportation and Traffic Code. It also notes LTO's separate rule that a student-driver's permit is issued only after a 15-hour Theoretical Driving Course.
In practice, that means the order is: LTO student permit, LTO license, then TESDA Driving NC II. The resolution's wording is "driver's license," so ask your center before enrolling on a student permit alone. For the usual TESDA enrollment documents, see our TESDA requirements guide.
Can You Take Driving NC II for Free?
Yes, in two common ways. The TESDA Women's Center lists Driving NC II among its free training programs. Accredited public and private centers can also run driving batches under TESDA scholarships such as TWSP; TESDA's 2018 TWSP omnibus guidelines list automotive and logistics among the priority sectors for scholarship slots.
Scholars receive the Training Support Fund (TSF): TESDA's scholarship FAQ sets it at ₱160 per day, paid 50% after two weeks of training and 50% once you reach 80% of the training duration. On a 118-hour schedule (about 15 training days), that is roughly ₱2,400 if you attend every day, depending on your center's approved schedule.
Funded slots vary by region and quarter. Ask your TESDA provincial office which centers have open driving batches, and read our TESDA scholarship guide for TWSP, PESFA, and STEP eligibility.
How Much Does It Cost Without a Scholarship?
We could not verify current tuition for Driving NC II from a provider that publishes it, so we are not quoting a range. Driving courses carry real fuel and vehicle costs, so fees can differ a lot between centers. Get an itemized quote that shows whether fuel, vehicle use, and the assessment fee are included.
The assessment fee follows TESDA's Board-promulgated fee list, per TESDA's assessment FAQ, and private accredited assessment centers may collect it at that rate. TESDA's most recent fee list we could find, Promulgated Assessment Fees as of September 2020, prices the Driving assessments by who supplies the vehicle:
| Qualification | Assessment center provides vehicle | Candidate provides vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| Driving NC II | ₱750 | ₱535 |
| Driving (Passenger Bus/Straight Truck) NC III | ₱1,800 | ₱810 |
| Driving (Articulated Vehicle) NC III | ₱2,445 | ₱830 |
Fees can be revised by later TESDA Board resolutions, so confirm the current amount with your assessment center before paying.
How Does the Driving NC II Assessment Work?
Driving NC II is assessed through "a single comprehensive project-type assessment" covering all units of competency, per Section 4 of the TR. The basic and common units are assessed together with the core units. Training graduates and experienced workers can both apply, so a working driver with an LTO license can go straight to assessment without taking the course.
Passing earns you a National Certificate signed by the TESDA Director General. TESDA's FAQ says an NC is valid for five years. Our guide on how to get a TESDA certificate explains claiming it, and employers can confirm it through TESDA certificate verification.
What Jobs and Pay Can You Expect?
Driver pay depends heavily on city, employer, and vehicle type. Indeed Philippines data for "Driver" (about 2,800 salary reports, updated October 30, 2026):
| Location | Average monthly driver pay (Indeed) |
|---|---|
| Philippines (national average) | ₱17,975 |
| Valenzuela | ₱21,656 |
| Manila | ₱20,018 |
| Taguig | ₱19,516 |
| Pasay | ₱19,393 |
| Makati | ₱19,093 |
Disclaimer: these are third-party estimates from self-reported and employer-posted data, not TESDA or government statistics.
If you are planning to drive abroad, we could not verify a current DMW rule that requires Driving NC II for overseas driver jobs. Requirements come from the job order, so check them with a DMW-licensed agency.
What Comes After NC II?
For heavier vehicles, TESDA has two Driving NC III qualifications, both promulgated in 2011 per TESDA's list of TRs:
| Qualification | Nominal hours |
|---|---|
| Driving NC II (light vehicles) | 118 |
| Driving (Passenger Bus/Straight Truck) NC III | 122 |
| Driving (Articulated Vehicle) NC III | 108 |
You also need the matching LTO DL code to drive those vehicles legally. For other qualifications you can stack with driving, browse our TESDA courses guide.
Before You Enroll: A Quick Checklist
- Get your LTO license first. Without it, you cannot enroll or be assessed under the 2020 rule.
- Get the Public Health Officer certificate. It is one of the four listed entry requirements.
- Confirm the center is registered for Driving NC II. See our guide to TESDA-accredited training centers.
- Ask how many hours you will actually spend behind the wheel. The 80 core hours include maintenance and emergency procedures, not just driving.
- Ask about scholarship batches first. A TWSP slot covers training and adds the daily allowance.
Ready to find a training center? Search schools and training providers on SchoolFinderPH to compare options near you.
Sources
- TESDA - Training Regulations, Driving NC II (official PDF)
- TESDA Board Resolution No. 2020-46, Amendment of Trainee Entry Requirements for Driving NC II (official PDF)
- TESDA - List of Promulgated Training Regulations as of May 2022 (official PDF)
- TESDA Women's Center - Free competency-based training programs (official)
- TESDA - Frequently Asked Questions on Scholarship Implementation (official)
- TESDA - FAQs on Assessment and Certification (official)
- TESDA - Promulgated Assessment Fees as of September 2020 (official PDF)
- TESDA Circular No. 3, s. 2018 - Omnibus Guidelines for 2018 TWSP and STEP (official PDF)
- Philkotse - LTO new driver's license restriction codes
- Indeed Philippines - Driver salaries
- SchoolFinderPH: TESDA NC Levels Explained, TESDA Requirements, TESDA Scholarship Guide, TESDA Offices by Region, TESDA Assessment Centers, How to Get a TESDA Certificate, TESDA Certificate Verification, TESDA-Accredited Training Centers, TESDA Courses Guide
