The CAA can provide JAA CPL exams for anyone who has completed the relevant training course. So far there only appears to be one company advertising CPL distance learning. There are no learning objectives for the CPL yet.
There is one big disadvantage going straight to the ATPLs, once passed, you only have 36 months to complete both CPL and IR or they expire.
The big difference between the UK and JAA exams is that the UK Techs were common to all levels of Professional licence. Under the JAA system exams are not divided into Navs and Techs so there is more to retake if you upgrade.
[ 08 July 2001: Message edited by: Noggin ]