The Texas 6 hour adult driver education course is required for anyone aged 18 through 24 who is applying for a first Texas driver license, and it is optional at 25 and older. You take it from a state-approved driver education school, in a classroom or online, and finish it before you test for your license, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (dps.texas.gov).
We run a driving school, and the adults who move fastest are the ones who know the order of the steps before they start. This guide walks through that order.
Texas 6-hour adult driver ed at a glance
| Detail | What DPS says |
|---|---|
| Who must take it | Everyone aged 18 through 24 applying for a first Texas driver license |
| Age 25 and older | Not required. Driver education is recommended but optional |
| New residents 18 or older | The requirement is waived for new residents 18 or older |
| Length | 6 hours |
| Where | Certified driving schools, in a classroom or online. Schools are licensed by TDLR (tdlr.texas.gov) |
| Course price | Set by each school. The state does not publish a set price |
| Certificate | ADE-1317, which you bring to DPS |
| Next step | Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD), a free 1-hour DPS video taken after the course |
| License fee | $33 for a new license at age 18 to 84 (DPS fee page) |
Quick answer: who needs it and when
If you are 18 through 24 and have never held a Texas license, you need the course before you take your license tests. DPS lists "a six-hour adult Driver Education course, if you are 18 through 24 years of age" on its Apply for a Texas Driver License page. If you are 25 or older, you can skip it, though a course is still a good refresher if you have never driven. If you are 18 or older and moving to Texas, DPS says the requirement is waived.
Take the course first, before you book anything else. Your certificate from the course is part of what you bring to the driver license office.
What the Texas 6 hour adult driver education course covers
DPS does not post a detailed syllabus on the pages we checked, so look at the outline your school gives you. Because the course prepares you for the same written knowledge test every new driver takes, expect these topics:
- Texas traffic laws, right of way and speed rules.
- Road signs, signals and pavement markings.
- Safe driving habits: following distance, sharing the road and driving in bad weather.
- Alcohol, drugs and distracted driving, and the penalties that come with them.
- What happens next: the knowledge test, the Impact Texas Adult Drivers video and the driving test.
How to complete it: online vs in person, time and cost
DPS lists two ways to take driver education from a certified school: a traditional classroom course or an online course. The six hours are the same either way. Online is popular with working adults because you can fit it around your schedule, but there is no truly fast 6 hour course: six hours is the minimum, so plan for the full time.
Prices are set by each school, so compare a few. Before you pay, check that the school holds a license with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation using the provider search on tdlr.texas.gov.
Many online schools say their adult course includes the written knowledge test, so you may not have to take it at a DPS office. DPS itself says you may complete the testing requirements at a DPS office or with a third-party provider. Ask the school exactly which tests it gives before you enroll.
- Confirm you need it: you are 18 through 24 and this is your first Texas license.
- Choose a school licensed by TDLR and finish the six hours.
- Keep your ADE-1317 certificate of completion.
- Watch the free Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) video after the course, then print its certificate.
- Book a driver license office appointment, bring your documents and pay the fee.
- Pass the vision test, the knowledge test (unless your school gave it) and the driving skills test.
What you get after: the certificate and how DPS uses it
When you finish, the school issues your adult driver education certificate. The DPS ITAD page calls it the ADE-1317 certificate. You bring it with your application, along with proof of identity, Texas residency, U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, and your Social Security number.
Your Impact Texas Adult Drivers certificate is separate. DPS says it is valid for 90 days and must be dated within 90 days of your driving skills test. You must print it: the DPS FAQ says an electronic copy is not accepted at the office or at a third-party testing school.
Common mistakes
- Watching the ITAD video too early. If you do not pass the driving test within 90 days of the certificate date, you start the video over.
- Paying a school that is not licensed by TDLR. Check the provider search first.
- Showing a certificate on your phone. Print a paper copy of the ITAD certificate.
- Skipping study because the course felt easy. The knowledge test still needs real preparation, especially road signs and numbers.
- Taking the course when you do not need it: at 25 or older, or as a new resident 18 or older, DPS does not require it.
FAQ
How many hours of drivers ed is required in Texas?
Adults 18 through 24 need a 6-hour adult course. Teens take a longer course: DPS describes 24 hours of classroom instruction, and its Impact Texas Teen Drivers FAQ describes the teen course as 24 hours classroom and 44 hours behind the wheel. Adults 25 and older are not required to take driver education.
How long is drivers ed in Texas?
The adult course is six hours of instruction. How you split those hours depends on your school. The teen course takes longer because of the 24 classroom hours plus behind-the-wheel time.
Can I take the Texas adult driver education course online?
Yes. DPS lists online courses from certified driving schools as an option. Check the school's license on tdlr.texas.gov before you pay.
Do I still need the course if I am 25 or older?
No. DPS says driver education is recommended but not required at 25 and older. You still need the Impact Texas Drivers certificate before the driving skills test.
Is the Impact Texas Adult Drivers video part of the 6-hour course?
No. It is a separate, free DPS program of about one hour, taken after the six-hour course and before the driving test.
