Who’s Required to Take Drivers Training

Pursuit of a drivers license sometimes requires completing a driver training course. Your state determines this, usually basing it on age.

To learn your state’s drivers training requirements, consult the following list:

• Alabama: Drivers younger than 18.
• Alaska: Not required.
• Arizona: Not required.
• Arkansas: Not required.
• California: Drivers between 15 1/2 and 17 1/2.
• Colorado: Drivers between 15 and 15 1/2.
• Connecticut: Drivers younger than 18.
• Delaware: Drivers younger than 18.
• Florida: Drivers younger than 17.
• Georgia: Drivers younger than 17.
• Hawaii: Drivers younger 18.
• Idaho: Drivers younger than 17.
• Illinois: Drivers younger than 17 years and three months.
• Indiana: Drivers younger than 16.
• Iowa: Drivers younger than 18.
• Kansas: Restricted driver license applicants younger than 16.
• Kentucky: Drivers younger than 18.
• Louisiana: Required for all new drivers.
• Maine: Drivers younger than 18.
• Maryland: Required for all new drivers.
• Massachusetts: Drivers younger than 18.
• Michigan: Drivers younger than 18.
• Minnesota: Drivers younger than 18.
• Mississippi: Drivers younger than 15.
• Missouri: Not required.
• Montana: Drivers younger than 18.
• Nebraska: Provisional operator permit applicants have a choice between drivers ed or 50 hours of supervised driving.
• Nevada: Drivers younger than 18.
• New Hampshire: Drivers younger than 18.
• New Jersey: Drivers younger than 17.
• New Mexico: Drivers younger than 18 (drivers 18 or older must attend a DWI Awareness course).
• New York: Drivers younger than 18.
• North Carolina: Drivers younger than 18.
• North Dakota: Drivers younger than 16.
• Ohio: Drivers younger than 18.
• Oklahoma: Drivers younger than 16.
• Oregon: Not required.
• Pennsylvania: Unrestricted driver license applicants younger than 18.
• Rhode Island: Drivers younger than 18.
• South Carolina: Drivers younger than 17.
• South Dakota: Not required.
• Tennessee: Not required.
• Texas: Drivers younger than 18.
• Utah: All teen drivers.
• Vermont: Drivers younger than 18.
• Virginia: Drivers younger than 19.
• Washington: Drivers younger than 18.
• Washington D.C.: Not required.
• West Virginia: Not required.
• Wisconsin: Drivers younger than 18.
• Wyoming: Not required.

Depending on your state, you may have the option to enroll in an online driver training program. These courses allow you to complete the class at your own pace, often in conjunction with several hours of supervised driving.

If required, you must, in order to receive credit, enroll in a state-approved driving school. Your Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will not accept a course completion certificate from a non-certified program.

Contact your DMV for help in finding a state-recognized driver training course. In most instances the program must offer a specified number of classroom hours (driver’s ed) and behind-the-wheel driving lessons (driver’s training).