The Georgia ADAP course (Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program) is a 4-hour course that Georgia teens under 18 must complete to get a Class D driver's license. Most teens take it at their high school, and those who cannot can take the online version, eADAP, according to the Georgia Department of Driver Services (dds.georgia.gov).
Georgia ADAP at a glance
| Detail | What DDS says |
|---|---|
| Who must take it | Teens under 18 applying for a Class D license |
| Length | 4 hours |
| Classroom ADAP | Taught at many high schools, often in freshman year |
| Online eADAP | For teens who could not take it at school, including those who missed it, recently moved to Georgia or are home-schooled |
| Cost | Not listed on the DDS ADAP pages we checked |
| Age 18 and older | Not required |
| Lost certificate | eADAP certificates can be retrieved online. Classroom certificates are replaced by your ADAP instructor |
Quick answer: who needs it and when
Georgia law says teens under 18 must show proof that they completed ADAP to get a Class D license, the provisional license that comes after the learner's permit. DDS ties the requirement to the Class D, so plan to have your certificate ready before that appointment. If you never complete it, DDS says you cannot get a Georgia license until you turn 18, and at 18 you no longer need ADAP or eADAP.
What the Georgia ADAP course covers
ADAP is not driver's education. It is a separate awareness course about alcohol, drugs and driving. DDS does not post a lesson outline or a Georgia ADAP manual on the pages we checked, so expect the course itself to cover:
- How alcohol and other drugs affect judgment, reaction time and vision.
- Georgia's impaired driving laws and penalties, which are stricter for drivers under 21.
- The real costs of an impaired driving crash: injuries, records, insurance and your license.
- Making safe choices as a passenger and a driver.
DDS also offers an optional Parent ADAP course online that gives parents and guardians drug prevention strategies to use while they teach their teen to drive.
How to complete it: classroom vs online, time and cost
Start with your high school. DDS says many teens meet the requirement there, usually in freshman year. DDS also notes that some driver's education programs include ADAP in their 30-hour course, so ask your driving school before you sign up for it separately.
If school is not an option, use eADAP, the online version on the DDS website. DDS says it can be completed online "24/7/365". DDS lists eADAP for teens who were absent when the classroom course was offered, recently moved to Georgia or are home-schooled. The ADAP pages we checked do not list a price. If you have a question, DDS has an Ask ADAP form and says to expect a reply within 2 business days.
- Ask your high school or driving school whether ADAP is included.
- If not, sign up for eADAP on dds.georgia.gov.
- Finish all 4 hours of the course.
- Save or print your certificate and keep it with your license documents.
- Bring proof of completion when you apply for your Class D license.
What you get after: the Georgia ADAP certificate
When you finish, you get a Georgia ADAP certificate as proof of completion. You use it when you apply for your Class D license. If you lose it, the fix depends on how you took the course: eADAP certificates can be retrieved online, while a classroom certificate must be replaced by the instructor who taught your class.
Common mistakes
- Waiting until the week of your Class D appointment to start.
- Assuming driver's education covered ADAP. Only some programs include it, so check.
- Losing a classroom certificate and not knowing who taught the class.
- Thinking ADAP replaces the knowledge exam. It does not: you still pass the knowledge exam for your learner's permit.
- Taking eADAP after you turn 18. At 18 it is no longer required.
FAQ
How many questions can you miss on the Georgia permit test?
The Georgia knowledge exam has two parts, road signs and road rules, with 20 questions each. You need 15 of 20 correct on each part, so you can miss up to 5 questions on each part.
Is there a Georgia ADAP test?
The DDS ADAP and eADAP pages we checked do not describe a final exam or a passing score. Follow your course's instructions, and use the Ask ADAP form on dds.georgia.gov if you are unsure.
Do I need ADAP for my learner's permit?
DDS ties the ADAP requirement to the Class D license, the step after the permit. Finishing it early still saves stress later.
Can I take ADAP online?
Yes, through eADAP on the DDS website, if you could not take it at your high school.
What if I lose my Georgia ADAP certificate?
If you took eADAP, retrieve it online. If you took the classroom course, ask the instructor who taught it for a replacement.
