Online Driver Education Course
STOP: Important Information Regarding Eligibility
ANYONE WHO HAS FAILED THE ROAD TEST AT THE DMV 3 TIMES IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE DRIVER EDUCATION PROGRAM.
ANYONE WHO HAS HELD A DRIVER'S LICENSE ISSUED BY ANY STATE, U.S. TERRITORY, OR A FOREIGN COUNTRY IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE DRIVER EDUCATION PROGRAM.
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.
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 fifty-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 can visit a DMV location with a signed CSMA-19 form and take the road test with a DMV representative. Visit DMV Online Services to make an appointment. Alternatively, 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.
Students must be at least 15 years and 6 months old to take the online driver education course. You should have access to a computer with an internet connection. You must print the class logs after completion of each level and any additional assignments completed for coursework. If you do not have access to a printer, then please contact us.
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. Visit Driver Education Information for Home Schoolers for more details.
STOP: Williamsburg-James City County Students
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 before 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 BEFORE REGISTRATION SO THAT A CLASS DATE CAN BE SCHEDULED FOR THE 90-MINUTE PARENT/TEEN COMPONENT.
About the Online Course
The online driver education course is a 30-hour course (equivalent to 36 fifty-minute periods of classroom 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. The course must be completed in its entirety before the issuance of a certificate of completion. The online driver education course and the final test must be completed through a DMV-licensed online driver education school. No paper test permitted.
Registration & Payment
The course fee is $150. After registering for the course, you will need to pay the course fee to receive your login information for the course.
Test Site & Contact Information
An appointment must be scheduled to complete the final exam.
The Test Site is 878 J Clyde Morris Boulevard, Newport News, VA 23601. Hours for conducting testing are:
- Monday through Friday - 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Saturday & Sunday - if we are available
- Contact us for appointments before or after the hours 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 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.
Course Completion Instructions
Beginning the Course
Step 1: Call 757-926-5956 to confirm the course meets the requirements for your locality or school division. We need to determine:
- if you need the 90-minute parent/teen component scheduled
- if you can travel to our location for the final exam
Step 2: Complete the registration form. Review your information to be sure everything is correct and submit.
Step 3: Pay the course fee of $150.
Step 4: You will receive your course log in details to the email provided on the registration email. Please note that this process is completed by hand. If you submit registration or payment before or after office hours then processing will not be completed until we return to the office.
Step 5: Log in the course by using your login id and password on the course website. Read the "Course Information & Downloads" on the student home page. Click the "Continue with Online Course" button to begin.
Step 6: Complete the course at your own pace. You must complete all 7 chapters (46 pages) and pass each chapter test to move on to the final exam. You can save your progress, exit, and return to the course at any point. We will keep user profiles active for 12 months before they are deactivated.
Step 7: If you are a Williamsburg-James City County student, then call 757-926-5956 to schedule your 90-Minute Parent/Teen Component class date. This component must be completed before the final exam.
Step 8: Call 757-926-5956 to schedule a final exam appointment.
Final Exam Procedures
Step 1: Review your course "total recorded time" on the student home page to make sure you have met the 30:00 requirement and that you have a score of at least 80% on all exams. If you completed additional assignments then make sure they are ready for submission and the completion time is recorded on your class log sheets.
Step 2: Make sure you have scheduled a final exam appointment and you know where the test site is located.
Step 3: When you arrive, present your photo identification to verify your identity. Acceptable forms of photo ID are a DMV-issued ID, school-issued ID, valid passport, or military ID.
Step 3.1: Submit the signed and dated class log sheets for each chapter and any worksheets, activities, or projects completed to meet the 30 hours of coursework requirement.
Step 3.2: Submit the 90-Minute Parent/Teen Component completion certificate. (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)
Step 3.3: If you are under age 18, a parent must sign the "Parental Consent for Online Driver Education Examination" form.
Step 4: The online driver education school will provide a computer for testing. The student takes the final exam online in the presence of a licensed instructor. The student will enter their login details for the course, then the final exam code will be entered by the instructor to begin the exam.
Step 5: Complete the final exam with a score of 80% or better. The final exam is 50 multiple-choice questions. Open book testing is not allowed. If you fail the final exam, you may review the course curriculum and retake the exam at no additional cost. However, per DMV regulations, you may only take the final exam once per day.
Step 6: Upon successful completion of the final exam, the student will receive the course completion certificate. The student and the instructor must sign the "Online Driver Education Examination Monitor Record" form, indicating the time-in and time-out of the test site.