Drivers Ed in North Dakota

Driver's Education in North Dakota

Driver's Ed provides a combination of classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel instruction to give you a strong start as a safe and knowledgeable driver.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) requires all teen drivers who apply for a restricted driver's license to first complete a driver's education course as well as supervised driving practice.

North Dakota Driver's Ed Eligibility

Driver's Ed is made up of a classroom section and a behind-the-wheel section. If you are under 16 years old you are required to take driver's education.

To begin a North Dakota Driver's Ed course, you must:

Be in 9th grade or above for the classroom section.
Be at least 14 years old for the behind-the-wheel section.
Have your parent's permission.

You are NOT required to have your learner's permit as long as your school district's insurance covers you during the behind-the-wheel instruction. Check with your school for more information.

If you do want to get your ND learner's permit, you must:

Be at least 14 years old.
Have your parent or guardian with you to certify their approval.
Pass the NDDOT's written test.

For more information about getting a ND learner's permit, including required documents and fees, see our Driving Permits in North Dakota page.

About Your ND Driver's Ed Course

North Dakota driver's education courses are provided at:

Public high schools.
Approved driver training schools.

Courses offered at high schools take place during the school year at various days and times. Some schools may also offer summer programs.

Driver's Ed Classroom and Behind-the-Wheel Hours

NDDOT requires your driver's education course to consist of at least:

30 hours of classroom instruction.
6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction.

Most Driver's Ed courses will consist of these two stages, but some courses may include additional instruction and may last longer.

After Driver's Ed – Your Next Steps

When you complete your ND driver's education course, you will receive a certificate of completion, and you'll be ready to take the next steps in the licensing process.

Drivers Under 16 Years Old

Drivers who are 15 years old will need to apply for a restricted ND driver's license, also called a minor's license. Make sure to keep your Driver's Ed certificate of completion – you'll need to submit it in order to obtain your license.

Before you can apply for a restricted driver's license, you must:

Have your learner's permit for at least 1 year.
Complete 50 hours of supervised driving.

When you have met these requirements, you can take the road test and apply for your North Dakota restricted driver's license. At 16 years old, it will automatically transition to an unrestricted license. For further details, see our Applying for a New License (Teen Drivers) in North Dakota page.

Drivers 16 Years Old and Older

If you are 16 years old or older, you must hold your learner's permit for least 6 months before you can take your road test and apply for your ND driver's license.

For more information about your driver's license application, see our page Applying for a New License (Teen Drivers) in North Dakota.