Behind-the-Wheel Training in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Driver's Training

If you're a new teenage driver, you'll need to complete both supervised behind-the-wheel driving practice and driver's training before advancing to your full driver's license with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).

Both aspects of your Pennsylvania behind-the-wheel training requirements will help you gain real driving experience and prepare you for your DMV driving test and your responsibilities as a new driver.

On this page you'll find information about the PennDOT behind-the-wheel requirements and the next steps you need to take to obtain your first driver's license.

Pennsylvania Behind-the-Wheel Requirements

If you are younger than 18 years old, you'll need to satisfy the following behind-the-wheel driver's training requirements to earn your unrestricted driver's license:

  • 65 hours of supervised behind-the-wheel practice.
  • 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction as part of a driver's education/driver's training course.

You can begin your supervised behind-the-wheel driving practice when you are 16 years old by applying for your learner's permit.

For more information about obtaining your learner's permit and beginning your licensing requirements, please see our Driver’s Permits in Pennsylvania page.

PA Behind-the-Wheel Supervised Driving

With your learner's permit, you'll be able to drive only when accompanied by a licensed adult who is at least 21 years old.

Before advancing from your Pennsylvania learner's permit to a junior driver's license, you'll need to complete a total of 65 hours of behind-the-wheel driving practice, which must include at least:

  • 10 hours at night.
  • 5 hours in bad weather.

Once you complete your supervised driving practice, your parent, legal guardian, OR spouse if they're over 18 years old will need to complete and sign a Parent or Guardian Certification Form (Form DL-180C). They MUST have the form notarized OR sign it in front of an examiner at the driver license center.

You'll be eligible to obtain your junior PA driver's license after you:

  • Complete your supervised driving and gain a sufficient amount of driving experience.
  • Have held your learner's permit for at least 6 months.
  • Pass the DMV driving test.

For more information, please visit our Applying for a New License (Teen Drivers) in Pennsylvania page.

Pennsylvania Driver's Training Course

After you've obtained your junior driver's license, you'll need to complete a driver's training course before applying for a full driver's license. This only applies if you are younger than 18 years old.

Pennsylvania behind-the-wheel driver's training is usually a component of Driver's Ed/driver's training programs and is offered by:

  • School districts.
  • Charter schools.
  • Private schools.
  • Colleges and vocational schools.
  • Professional driver training schools.

Full driver's education programs include 30 hours of classroom training and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction.

Generally, you'll begin the driver's training component of your course after you complete your classroom instruction.

For more information about driver's training courses available to you, please visit our Driver's Ed in Pennsylvania page.

In addition to your PA driver's education/driver's training, before receiving your unrestricted driver's license, you'll need to have held your junior driver's license for at least 1 year. During this time you must not have had any:

  • Traffic convictions.
  • At-fault accidents.

For more information, please visit our Applying for a New License (Teen Drivers) in Pennsylvania page.

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Forms

DL-180C
Parent or Guardian Certification Form
Form used to verify a minor in your care has completed the required number of hours of driving practice while holding a Pennsylvania learner's permit.
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