For some adults and most teens living in Texas, completing a drivers ed course may be a requirement for getting behind the wheel. There are some exceptions to this rule, so it’s important to know whether the requirement applies to you before you apply for a license.
Drivers Ed Requirements to Get a Texas Drivers License
All Texans between the ages of 15 and 24 are required by law to complete a drivers ed course as part of the process of obtaining a first-time license. For those aged 15 to 17, enrollment in a Texas teen drivers ed course is required before a learner permit can be issued. A permit is necessary for performing practice driving hours, another licensing requirement.
Texans aged 18 to 24 are required to complete an adult drivers ed course. Adult drivers ed is a six-hour course that can be completed in a classroom or online. Adult drivers license candidates do not have to fulfill the practice driving requirement and can schedule a driving test after completing their coursework.
Is Anyone Exempt?
In Texas, adults over the age of 24 can schedule a driving test without the need to fulfill the requirements that younger drivers face. People who move to Texas that are licensed in other states are also exempt from drivers ed, but will need to apply for a Texas drivers license.
What Will I Learn From the Course?
In Texas, both adult and teen drivers ed include instruction on driving law, rules of the road and theoretical topics on driving technique. These courses can be taken online or in a traditional classroom in your area. For teens, the practice driving requirement can be accomplished concurrently with or after completion of the course. On the other hand, after completing an adult course, the candidate is free to schedule a driving test.
Save Time by Going Online
While some people still travel to a driving school to complete the classroom portion of drivers ed, most opt for the convenience of completing this requirement online. It’s convenient to go through the lessons in the comfort of your own home and when you don’t have to wait for the next scheduled session or spend the time getting to and from the school, you can complete the requirement in far less time.
There is the potential of another time (and stress) reducing benefit of completing drivers ed online. There is usually an exam at the end of an online course that must be passed to receive a certificate of completion. In many cases, passing this example earn you an exemption from having to take the written exam at the DMV.
Online courses also tend to be forgiving. Most providers give students the opportunity to repeat chapters until they are successfully mastered and this generosity is usually extended to the final exam as well.