Virginia Driver Education Program: Teen Driver's License

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Teens, age 15.5 to age 17, get a Virginia Driver Training Certificate when they complete a Virginia approved driver education program consisting of driver education and behind-the-wheel. 

The certificate is a valid 180-day temporary driver's license when accompanied by a valid Virginia learner's permit. A student must have possessed the learner's permit for at least 9 months and be at least 16 years and 3 months old to use the 180-day temporary driver's license. Parent or guardian must sign and give permission for the issuance of the teen's 180-day temporary driver's license.

The behind-the-wheel course consists of 7 classes (1 class per day) of in-car instruction. The class must have at least 2 students and no more than 3 students per student driver vehicle. Each class is approximately 2 hours in the vehicle, 50 minutes of driving and 50 minutes of observation. 

The road skills test is given during the seventh instruction period. Upon successful completion of the course and the road test, students will have their driver's license issued. If the student's eligibility date for use of the license is more than a month away, then parents' can ask that the driving school hold the license until the eligibility date is closer.

A valid Virginia learner's permit.

If you are from out-of-state, to obtain a Virginia learner's permit, you will be required to surrender your out of state learner's permit, complete a knowledge exam, meet the identity, legal presence, residency, and social security requirements. The time in which you held your out-of-state learner's permit will be counted toward the Virginia minimum holding period for a learner's permit.

A Virginia-approved driver education course certificate of completion.

Certificate must have school name, school code, hours completed, date of completion and school official's signature. If the student has completed driver education at a public school or at a driving school, then they must submit the original certificate of completion. A copy or a transcript will not be accepted.

Students who transfer to Virginia from another state or U.S. territory must have documentation of at least 30 hours of classroom instruction from a state-approved program to be eligible for in-car instruction. Contact DMV or DOE to determine if the out-of-state classroom driver education course meets Virginia’s requirements.

Students who have never taken driver education must enroll in the course before they can enroll in the in-car course to earn a driver's license. If the student takes both driver education and behind-the-wheel at the same school, then the courses can be taken simultaneously. Click the button below for our online course information and fee.

A driving log with at least 30 hours of on the road guided practice completed and logged.

However, as part of Virginia’s graduated licensing programs, teen drivers must have 45 hours of on the road driving practice, 15 of which must be after sunset, before they can be issued their driver's license. 

Teens should be able to demonstrate an understanding of traffic laws and driving skills when they enter the student driver vehicle on the first day of class. This course is not to teach teens how to drive but to observe skills, correct bad habits, give help with skills/maneuvers as needed, and grade skills.

Proof of completion of the 90-minute parent/teen component of driver education.

Some school divisions outside of Planning District 8 require the completion of this component as part of the classroom portion of driver education for individuals under age 18. Students, along with their parent, guardian, or foster parent, can complete the component in person at their high school or online at http://www.90minparentteen.org/

This additional minimum 90-minute parent/student driver education component is part of the in-classroom portion of the driver education curriculum and emphasizes parental responsibilities regarding juvenile driver behavior, juvenile driving restrictions and the dangers of driving while intoxicated and underage consumption of alcohol.