Online Driver Education Course

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This course is approved by the Virginia Department of Education and has the same course content as classroom-based driver education courses. The course consists of at least 30 hours of instruction and includes components about alcohol safety, drug abuse awareness, aggressive driving, distracted driving, pedestrian and bicycle safety, handicapped parking, fuel efficient driving practices, motorcycle awareness and organ and tissue donation awareness as required by law.​

Top Notch Driving Schools Inc. has been licensed by the DMV and partnered with National Driver Training to provide our students with the Virginia Online Driver Education Course curriculum.

Students must be at least 15 years and 6 months old to take the Online Driver Education Course.

In order to benefit from the course, you must be able to work independently and be comfortable with using a computer (mobile devices may be used but are not recommended).

Students must be able to print class logs for each level and any additional assignments completed to meet the 30 hours of coursework requirement.

All individuals who elect to take the classroom component of the Driver Education Course online must take the online course through a DMV licensed driver training school. Home-schooled students are exempt from this requirement.

This course can be taken for any reason by the student. However, this course meets the requirement for students, juveniles and adults, who will be completing the Virginia Driver Education Program.

For individuals under age 18, a driver education course, along with the behind-the-wheel course, must be completed before a Virginia driver's license can be issued. While the course is required, the online curriculum is optional. Students can take this course in a classroom for 36 50-minute periods at any school that is providing classroom instruction. 

For individuals age 18 or older, a driver education course is not a Virginia requirement for a driver's license. Adults have the option to complete this course, along with the behind-the-wheel course, to receive their road test from a driving school and earn an adult waiver. Alternatively, adults can visit a DMV location with a signed CSMA-19 form and take the road test with a DMV representative.

 Virginia code requires students who live in planning district 8 to complete an additional 90-minute parent/student driver education component with a parent. Planning District 8 consists of the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church Manassas, and Manassas Park.

School divisions (outside of Planning District 8) that require the completion of this component consist of Albermarle County, Cumberland County, Fluvanna County, Highland County, Northumberland County, Stafford, and Williamsburg-James City County.

The 90-Minute Parent/Teen Component cannot be taught as a stand-alone course. 

Students who move into Planning District 8 from another area in Virginia, students who move into Planning District 8 from another state, or homeschooled students will not be required to take the 90-Minute Parent/Teen Component if they have already completed an acceptable course of classroom completion prior to moving into Planning District 8.

While students who live outside of Planning District 8 have the option to take the component online or in-person, we do not have an online option. Our school only offers the 90-minute component in-person. Students should notify the driving school of their requirements so that a class date can be scheduled for the 90-Minute Parent/Teen Component.

Students must schedule a time to take the test prior to arrival. Students will not be able to take the test if they arrive without notice. Must have 30 hours of the course completed and logged to schedule the final exam. 

The test site is located and at our one and only location, 878 J Clyde Morris Boulevard, Newport News, VA 23601

Test hours are Monday through Friday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Call us if you want to inquire about testing on Saturday, Sunday or during a time not listed.

For questions or comments, call us Monday through Friday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm at (757) 926-5956 or email us at info@topnotchdriving.net.

For technical support, call the National Driver Training Institute help desk Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm (central time) at 1-800-942-2050. You can also send them an email to info@nationaldrivertraining.com.

For comments or concerns about the course curriculum, call the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles toll-free number 1-877-885-5790. The DMV is committed to promoting transportation safety through the certification of quality driver training programs.

We need to know:

• if you need the 90-minute parent/teen component (if applicable) scheduled 
• if you are able to travel to our location for the 90-minute parent/teen component (if applicable)
• if you are able to travel to our location for the final exam

Step 1: Complete the registration form using the link below. 

Step 2: Pay the course fee using the link below. 

• You can wait to make the payment until you have received an email stating that the registration form has been accepted.

Once we have both the registration form and the course fee, we will submit them to the National Driver Training Institute to get your course login information. You will receive your login information by email from both the National Driver Training Institute and from our school.

• Please note that this process is completed by hand, if you submit registration or payment when the office is closed then processing will not be completed until we return to the office.

Step 1: Login to the course website by using the link below.

Step 2: Read the Course Information & Downloads on the student home page.

Step 3: On the student home page, click the Continue with Online Course button to begin Level 1.

Step 4: Continue to complete the course curriculum until you have completed page 46 and reached the end of Level 7.

30 Hours of Instruction is Required

Students can check their progress on the student home page under Student Progress. If the Total Recorded time does not read at least 30:00 then the student must complete and log additional activities to meet the 30 hours requirement.

Additional activities include optional videos, worksheets, activity sheet, study guides, and projects.

All Level Tests Require a Minimum score of 80%

If passing scores are not achieved on the first try, the test must be taken again. Students may take one online test within a 24 hour period. It is important that the student knows and understands this important material.

Step 1: Review your course to make sure you have met the 30 hours requirement and that you have a minimum score of 80% on all level tests.

Step 2: Schedule a final exam appointment by contacting our school (contact info above).

On the day of testing, you must bring the following to the test site:

• Photo identification (DMV issued identification card, school issued identification card, valid passport or military identification)

• Proof of completion of the online driver education course (print and sign class log sheets; add parent signature if under age 18)

• Any worksheets, activities or projects completed for the course to meet the 30 hours requirement

• If you are under age 18, a completed "Parental Consent for Online Driver Education Examination" (DTS 62) (if parent is not present at testing and the student does not have this form signed then the student will NOT be allowed to test)

• If you are under age 18 and live in Planning District 8 (counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William and cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Manassas and Manassas Park) or attend a school division outside of Planning District 8 (Albemarle County, Cumberland County, Fluvanna County, Highland County, Northumberland County, Stafford and Williamsburg-James City County), you must complete the additional 90-minute parent/teen component with our school. 

• The online driver training school will provide a computer for testing. 

The student takes the final examination online in the presence of the licensed instructor. The test may be taken only once per business day. Upon successful completion of the final exam the student will receive the course completion certificate.

If you have failed the final examination, you must retake the examination another day. The student will be allowed to review any section of the completed course to prepare to take the examination again. 

After you have completed the final exam, you and the instructor must sign the "Online Driver Education Examination Monitor Record" (DTS 63), indicating the time-in and time-out of the test site.