California Driver Education

There are four steps to becoming a licensed driver in California.

They are:

1. Complete a california driver education class.

2. Apply for a learner's permit and hold it for six months.

3. Learn driving skills in a formal driver's training program (in-car instruction) and practice with your parents.

4. Apply for a California provisional driver license.

California Driver education must be taught by a public or private high school or by a state-licensed driver's education school. Parents are not permitted to teach the basic driver's education course to their homeschooled teens.

Here are the basic requirements for california driver education:

30 hours of classroom instruction, not including breaks

If you take an Internet-based course, it must be the equivalent of the requirements for classroom instruction. You can take the course online.

You must receive a passing grade in california driver education in order to apply for your learner's permit.

A learner's permit allows you to drive as long as you are supervised by an adult driver―namely mom or dad. This is how you get practice before becoming licensed.

The first step toward getting your learner permit is to make an appointment at your local DMV office.

You will need an original driver's license application form (Form DL 44) signed by your parent or guardian. If they won't be accompanying you to your appointment, then you can call (800) 777-0133 to ask the DMV to send you a form you parents can sign in advance. You can also pick one up at your local DMV office.

Here's what you'll need to do on the day of your DMV appointment:

Provide your Social Secutity number.

Have your thumbprint taken.

Have your picture taken.

Show your original birth certificate or a certified copy of the birth certificate. If you are not a U.S.-born citizen, bring proof that you are a legal U.S. resident.

Provide your full legal name.

Have the proper proof-of-completion forms for driver education and/or driver training classes.

Pay the $26 application fee, which is good for one year (even if you have to retake the written test).

Pass a vision exam.

Pass the traffic laws and signs test (the written test).

The written test is multiple choice, and you'll be required to get at least 39 questions right out of 46. You can take the test three times if you don't pass the first time, but you must wait seven days between tests.

If you fail the test three times, you'll need to start the application process over with a new Form DL 44. One more thing: All written tests must be started before 4:30 p.m. so that you have time to finish before closing.

A note on the proof of completion you'll need from your california driver education class: You can get the DMV Form 387 from your school or from the training facility you go to. If you are enrolled in an approved integrated california driver education and driver training program, you will need to obtain a Form DL 400. Your instructor should provide you with these at the end of the course.

California driver education requires drivers younger than 17 1/2 to complete a DMV-approved driver' training course with a licensed instructor before you can take your driving test. This course must offer at least six hours of behind-the wheel instruction (no more than two hours at a time).

In addition, during the six months that you must hold a learner's permit, you are required to practice driving for an additional 50 hours with a parent or guardian supervising you from the passenger seat. To learn confidence driving in the dark, you must drive 10 of these hours at night. The parent or guardian will then sign the back of your learner's permit testifying that these hours were driven.

After you have completed all four steps above, you will be ready to apply for your provisional driver's license. You must have held your learner's permit for at least six months before you will be allowed to take the driving skills test for your provisional license.