It depends somewhat upon whether you are planning on doing an Integrated or a Modular course. If you are doing an Integrated CPL(A) course, you have to complete a minimum of 150 hours of flying training and 300 hours (reduced to 200 hours for PPL(A) holders) of theoretical knowledge instruction. A Modular course is designed to train PPL(A) holders who wish to stagger their training to the level necessary for the issue of a CPL(A), but they must have at least 150 hours of flight time as pilot before starting an Approved Modular course. The course consists of 25 hours of flying training (including 5 hours in a complex aeroplane and the CPL Skill Test) and 200 hours of theoretical knowledge instruction; you may attempt the examinations before achieving the 150 hours of flight time but you will subsequently need to have achieved a total of 200 hours of flight time (including various specific requirements) before a CPL(A) may be issued. However, if you took ‘more hours than most’ to get your PPL(A) fear not - all P1C and P U/T time may be counted in full towards the 200 hours of flight experience. You may also be credited with 30 hours of P1C time in touring motor gliders or gliders.
There is an excellent new CAA publication called LASORS 2002. This consists of 644 A5 pages and answers all the questions you could possibly have about Licensing, Administration and Standards, Operating Requirements and Safety. And it only costs a fiver from the CAA’s Personnel Licensing Department. It’s worth every penny!