Texas Drivers Education Requirements

The state of Texas has minimum drivers education requirements for completing Texas driving courses online.  At a minimum, approved driving courses should cover traffic. warning signs, and the importance of traffic safety.  All of these should be covered in compliance with the Texas rules of the road.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) requires anyone under the age of 24 to complete an approved drivers education course before receiving their license.  The requirements for teens and adults are considerably different. Listed below are the drivers education requirements for both teens and adults in the state of Texas.

Drivers Education Requirements for Teens

Students participating in the Texas drivers education online parent-taught course must meet the following requirements:

• Students must be at least 14 years of age prior to beginning the course. However, the student may not test for their learners permit until they are at least 15.
• Submit request for Parent Taught Driver Education Packet (Form DL-92) to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).
• Students cannot receive instruction until they receive their Parent-Taught Drivers Education course from TDLR.
• Have a qualified parent or legal guardian to instruct the course.
• Complete 32 hours of classroom (online) instruction.
• Complete 44 hours of in-car driving instruction with parent or legal guardian.
• Students are only allowed 2 hours of instruction per day.
• No behind-the-wheel instruction or practice is permitted until the student applies for and receives their learners permit.

Requirements for Parent or Legal Guardian

The Instructor:

• Must be the student’s parent, step-parent, grandparent, foster parent, or legal guardian appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction. Also, it is good to know that a power of attorney is not legally sufficient.
• Have a valid drivers license for the preceding three years. Or, if active military personnel or spouse, a valid drivers license from the state of permanent residency or last duty station for the preceding three years.
• Cannot have a conviction (including a probated sentence) of criminally negligent homicide or driving while intoxicated.
• Must not have had their driving privileges suspended, revoked or forfeited for traffic related violations in the past three years.
• Cannot have six or more points assigned to their driver license.
• Is responsible for checking both their criminal or driver records prior to requesting the program guide. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will verify the instructor’s record at the time of processing the student’s learner license and again at the time of processing the student’s provisional driver license. If at that time DPS determines that the instructor does not meet the requirements, DPS will deny the learner license or provisional driver license, along with any prior classroom instruction or behind the wheel/in the car instruction provided by the ineligible instructor.
• May go to any local driver license office to have the student apply for the license and take the required test. (Some stations require
  an appointment or may allow online scheduling for the skills test.)

Drivers Education Requirements for Adults

As required by the State of Texas, first time adult drivers between 18 – 24 years of age must complete a six hour drivers education course. Adult students must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Complete six hours of classroom or online driver education from an approved Texas adult driving course.
• Pass the DPS written test.
• Receive a learners permit, or, if the student is prepared, take the DPS road test.
• Pass and complete an in-car road test with a Department of Public Safety officer at their local DPS office.

Note: Adult students who are not ready to take the DPS road test can apply for a learners permit. This will allow them to drive a vehicle with a licensed Texas adult who is at least 21 years of age in the passenger seat, and until the student is ready to take the DPS road test. Adults who have completed the course, know how to drive, and prefer to take the DPS road test without a learners permit, can opt to do so.