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Frequently Asked Question Topics:
Driver Education Course

Are Driver Education teaching materials marketed to home schoolers for teaching the course to their own children at home acceptable for use in obtaining a NC drivers' permit/license? No. See "Where to enroll/obtain" below for additional information. Also, see G.S. 20-11(b)(1) and 20-88.1.

Completion certificate expiration date: The official NC Driver Education course completion certificate which is awarded to students under age 18 by the state-approved Driver Education course instructor has no expiration date. Successful completion of the official NC Driver Education course is not required for age 18 and older adults in order to obtain a NC drivers' license.

Considered part of the Public Schools of North Carolina curriculum? No. Driver Education is listed in the group of activities which are a "part of school," but not a part of the official instructional day or the minimum 20 units required statewide by the State Board of Education for graduation from public high schools in the state.

Failure to pass the course: The Public Schools of NC will provide the course only once at no charge to any non-public high school student. If a non-public school student fails to pass the course, he/she must then either wait until at least age 18 to obtain a NC drivers' license; or, repeat the course at his/her own expense at a professional driver training school (one approved by the State of North Carolina).

Is the NC Driver Education course required of age 18 or older persons? No.

Length of it: It must consist of 30 hours of classroom plus 6 hours of behind the wheel instruction.

May a student enrolled in a distance learning program (such as a correspondence, web, or "umbrella" program) take the NC Driver Education course free at a local public school? No; however, if the student is enrolled in a NC home school which is currently and properly registered with DNPE (and the home school is satisfying all NC laws governing it), the service will be provided free of charge on a one-time basis by the local public school to which the student would otherwise be assigned to attend.

May it be taught before and after school and during the summer? Yes. In fact, the State Board of Education encourages NC public schools to teach Driver Education in the afternoons, on Saturdays, and especially in the summer.

May it be taught during the school day? Yes.

Must LD students also successfully pass the classroom phase test? Yes; however, certain test modifications may be utilized for such students. These students must also successfully pass the driving phase.

What types of instructors can be utilized? Only certified public school teachers; commercial driving school instructors; or, individuals who are either DPI Driver Education or DMV licensed instructors can be used.

When going to the local DMV office to initially obtain a NC driving permit, what items will be requested for individuals under age 18? Four items: A birth certificate; a NC driver education course completion certificate obtained from the driver education instructor (after the student has successfully passed the course); a student driving eligibility certificate issued by the chief administrator (or his/her designee) of the non-public school in which the student is currently enrolled (or his/her high school diploma); and, a social security card.

Where to enroll/obtain: It is available only through two sources -- from the local public high school at no charge (one time only) where your student would otherwise be attending; or, you may pay to enroll the student in a local professional state approved driver training program. Parent (or other) taught Driver Education courses are unacceptable toward obtaining a North Carolina drivers' permit/license. Also, see "Driving Eligibility Certificates, Student."

Which public school is responsible for teaching it to non-public school students? The local NC public school that serves the district that surrounds the non-public school must provide it at no cost to the non-public school student.

Who is eligible to take it in the Public Schools of NC? Anyone living in the area of the local public school who is at least 14 ½ years old and enrolled in a public, charter, conventional non-public, or home school may take it.

Who may be the supervising driver of a student holding a level 1 permit and a level 2 license? A supervising driver shall be a parent or guardian of the permit holder or license holder; or, a responsible person approved by the parent or guardian or the NC DMV. A supervising driver shall be a licensed driver who has been licensed to drive for at least five years.

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