The 'Teen Program' + other steps to get licensed (In-Depth)

I know, it's a lot! Getting your kid licensed can be daunting, but we're here to help you through every single step along the way!

The Teen Program consists of 32 hours of classroom instruction + 14 hours of in-car instruction.

PHASE ONE (Classroom Portion): 

The first step is the 32 hour classroom portion. We have many class schedules for you and your child to choose from! We offer 4 week classes, 3 week classes, 2 week classes, and even 5 day classes! (schedules vary among each location)

The teen class is for students who are 14-17 years old. 

Important ages to know:

• Minimum age to do classroom portion: 14 years old
• Minimum age to get learner's permit and start driving: 15 years old
• Minimum age to get license: 16 years old
• Maximum age to enter class: 17, unless you are 18 and are still enrolled in high school

During the 32 hour classroom portion, your teen will take their permit test with us during the first week (if it's a 5 day class, then on 1st or 2nd day of class)! After passing their permit test, we will give them a certificate that they can take to the DPS to get their permit ASAP!

The 32 hours of classroom instruction includes many topics discussed such as road rules, road signs, drug/alcohol awareness, distracted driving, driving in different weather conditions, parallel parking, car maintenance, and many more topics! 

PHASE TWO (Driving Portion): 

After your teen completes the 32 hours of classroom instruction and receives their permit, it is time for them to start their state-required in-car portion! With the teen program, you knock that out with the 14 hours of in-car instruction broken down into 7 driving lessons! (2 hours each)

Of the 14 hours of in-car instruction, the state requires that students must drive 7 of those hours, and observe the other student for the other 7 hours. So in each lesson, each student will drive one hour and observe the other hour!

To ensure availability to each and every student, drive times are released twice a month (on the 1st and 15th of every month, at 3pm), showing two weeks of availability at a time!

At this time, students will schedule their lessons (7 day minimum requirement in between each lesson, to ensure there is enough practice done at home per instructor suggestion in between each lesson).

The driving portion can take anywhere from 2-6 months (do not forget that teens must hold their permit for 6 months before they can even get their license)!

PHASE THREE:

(FEW STATE-REQUIREMENTS AFTER THE CLASSROOM AND DRIVING PORTION WITH SDS):

After completing the classroom and in-car driver education, that concludes the state-required driver education requirements! However, teens must hold their learner's permit for a minimum of 6 months (and be at least 16 years old) before doing their road test and applying for their license (the date which they must hold their permit will always be located on the back of the physical copy of the permit). ***The only exception to bypass the 6 month permit holding period is turning 18 before the 6 month hold date***

Students are informed in the classroom portion about the '30 hour parent driving log'! This is a log that you can find in our 'Forms and Links' tab, but it is another state-requirement that is encouraged to be started from the time the student gets their permit. It is usually done by parents, however anyone who is licensed for at least a year and is above the age of 21! SDS offers help to complete the 30 hour log (please check the "in-car training" tab for more information)!

When it comes closer to the time of the road test, students are required by the state to do the Impact video, a free 2 hour video which you will receive a certificate from that is one of the required documents for your road test! (Don't watch it too early because it's only good for 90 days!)

IT'S TIME FOR THE BIG LICENSE:

When the student has completed all of their driver education requirements, are at least 16 years old, have held their permit for at least 6 months (or turned 18), have completed their '30 hour log', have the Impact video certificate, they are ready to road test! 

Spring Driving School offers the 'DPS-Authorized Road Test', so you can test with us in our vehicle! We charge $90 to any walk-ins take the road test, but all of OUR students are honored a discounted $80 to test with us (road testing possible 7 days a week, depending on location).

So if you and your child would prefer to road test with us in the area that was practiced in, with an instructor they are familiar with, please do not hesitate to call us to schedule for your big day!

And the student drove safely ever after. The end.