Driver's Ed FAQs

Are Driver Education teaching materials marketed to home schoolers for teaching the course to their own children at home acceptable for use in obtaining a North Carolina drivers' permit/license?

Completion certificate expiration date:

The official North Carolina Driver Education course completion certificate which is awarded to students under age 18 by the state-approved Driver Education course instructor has no expiration date.

Successful completion of the official North Carolina Driver Education course is not required for age 18 and older adults in order to obtain a North Carolina drivers' license.

Is the North Carolina Driver Education course required for age 18 or older persons?

Length of class:

May a student enrolled in a distance learning program (such as a correspondence, web, or "umbrella" program) take the North Carolina Driver Education course free at a local public school?

No. However, if the student is enrolled in a North Carolina home school which is currently and properly registered with DNPE (and the home school is satisfying all North Carolina laws governing it), the service will be provided with a fee that has been approved by our Board of Education on a one-time basis by the local public school to which the student would otherwise be assigned to attend.

May it be taught before and after school and during the summer?

May it be taught during the school day?

Must LD students also successfully pass the classroom phase test?

What types of instructors can be utilized?

When going to the local DMV office to initially obtain a North Carolina driving permit, what items will be requested for individuals under age 18?

Four items:

A birth certificate;
A North Carolina driver education course completion certificate obtained from the driver education instructor (after the student has successfully passed the course);
A student driving eligibility certificate issued by the chief administrator (or his/her designee) of the non-public school in which the student is currently enrolled (or his/her high school diploma);
A social security card.

Where to enroll/obtain:

It is available only through two sources -- from the local public high school where your student would otherwise be attending; or, you may pay to enroll the student in a local professional state approved driver training program.

Driver education is provided to students attending school within the State of North Carolina. The local education authorities have the option of charging up to $65 in fees per student. Local boards of education determine the amount of instruction per day, and class size (with the exception of behind-the-wheel instruction limited to between two and four students per car). 16NCAC 06E.0301 (a) (1-10) GS§20-88.1

Parent (or other) taught Driver Education courses are unacceptable toward obtaining a North Carolina drivers' permit/license.

Also, see "Driving Eligibility Certificates, Student."

Which public school is responsible for teaching it to non-public school students?

Who is eligible to take it in the Public Schools of North Carolina?

According to G.S. 115C-215: In accordance with criteria and standards approved by the State Board of Education, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction shall organize and administer a standardized program of driver education to be offered at the public high schools of this State for all physically and mentally qualified persons who (i) are older than 14 years and six months, (ii) are approved by the principal of the school, pursuant to rules adopted by the State Board of Education, (iii) are enrolled in a public or private high school within the State or are receiving instruction through a home school as provided by Part 3 of Article 39 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes, and (iv) have not previously enrolled in the program. The State Board of Education shall use for this purpose all funds appropriate to it for this purpose and may use all other funds that become available for its use for this purpose.

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