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Parent Taught Driver Education Program Steps For Parents at-a-glance

  1. Determine eligibility - Parent instructors with criminal and driver records need to contact DPS prior to requesting the PTDE Program Guide to determine eligibility

  2. Read program requirements and purchase the PTDE Program Guide

  3. Choose and purchase a TDLR-approved course and start teaching

  4. Assist your student in obtaining a learner license at a DPS facility

  5. Complete classroom and behind-the-wheel course with your student

  6. Assist your student in obtaining a provisional license at a DPS facility

Parent Taught Driver Education (PTDE) Program Requirements

Student Age

Students must be 14 years old before beginning the classroom hours; however, they may not test for a learner license until their 15th birthday.

Instruction Time

A PTDE course consists, at minimum, of 76 hours of instruction time:

  • 32 hours of classroom instruction (must not be completed in fewer than 16 calendar days)

  • 44 hours of in-car instruction made up of

    • seven hours of in-car observation,

    • seven hours of behind-the-wheel instruction, and

    • 30 hours of additional driving practice, 10 hours of which must be at done at night.

  • In-car instruction hours must not be completed in less than 44 calendar days. A student may not be instructed more than two hours in one day. These two hours can be made up of:

    • Two hours of classroom instruction; or

    • One hour of classroom instruction and one hour of in-car instruction or practice;

  • After classroom hours are complete, in-car instruction and practice hours are limited to one hour of driving per day.

Learner License

No in-car instruction or practice is allowed until the student has been issued a learner license. It is unlawful to drive without a valid license on a public street or highway.

Instructor Requirements

  • The instructor must be the student’s parent, step-parent, grandparent, step-grandparent, foster parent or legal guardian appointed by a court. A power of attorney is not considered a legal guardian. Additionally, a parent, legal guardian, or a judge of a court with jurisdiction over the student can designate a person to instruct the course who:

    • is at least 25 years old;

    • does not charge a fee for conducting the course; and

    • has at least seven years of driving experience.

  • The instructor must have a valid driver license for the prior three years. If you held an out-of-state license during the past three years, you will be required to provide a copy of your driving record showing your three years of licensed driving history.

  • Instructors cannot have:

    • a conviction (including a probated sentence) of criminally negligent homicide

    • a conviction (including a probated sentence) of driving while intoxicated in the last seven years

    • had their driver license suspended, revoked or forfeited for traffic related violations in the past three years; or

    • six or more points assigned to their driver license.

Instructor Criminal and Driver Records

Instructors are responsible for checking their criminal and driver records prior to requesting the PTDE Program Guide. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will verify the instructor’s record when it processes the student’s learner license and again when it processes the student’s provisional driver license.

If DPS determines 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-car instruction provided by the ineligible instructor.

To verify your eligibility to be an instructor before ordering the PTDE Program Guide, please use the DPS Online Driver Record Request System.

Ready to order your PTDE Program Guide? Visit the PTDE Program page.

This section will provide you, as a teen, with information on:

  • Applying for your first driver license

  • Transferring your out-of-state driver license to Texas

  • Applying for your motorcycle license

One of the more important decisions you and your parents or legal guardian can make is deciding when you should apply for your first driver license.  There are many laws specific to teen drivers that you are required to follow when applying for and holding a driver license.  These laws are designed to educate you about the rules of the road and ensure you practice safe driving habits before being allowed to graduate to the next step.  These graduated steps provide you the chance to improve your driving skills over time in lower-risk environments. 

If you are under 18 years of age, one of the first requirements is completion of a driver education course.  You can begin the classroom phase of a driver education course at 14 years of age, but you cannot apply for a learner license until you are at least 15 years of age.  There are four types of driver education to select from when taking this course:

  1. A traditional driver education course offered by a certified driver training school

  2. An online driver education course offered by a certified driver training school

  3. Parent-taught driver education (PTDE)

  4. Driver education offered in public school

To select one of the options and get started on your driver education course, visit Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) Driver Education and Safety for more information. 

 

Driver Licensing

There are two phases of licensing for all teens before graduating to a full driver license. This is called the Graduated Driver License Program. 

Phase I - Learner License

  • This entry-level restricted driver license allows you to practice driving with a licensed adult before you graduate to the next level.

  • You must be between 15 and 17 years of age.

  • You must have completed the first six hours of the driver education classroom instruction if you are using the concurrent method or all 32 hours of classroom instruction if you are using the block method.

  • You must provide evidence that you:

    • Obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent; or

    • Are a student enrolled in a public, private, or home school and attended school for at least 90% of the time in the fall or spring semester preceding the date of application; or

    • Are currently enrolled in a program to prepare you to pass the high school equivalency exam. You must have been enrolled for the previous 45 days from the date of applying for your learner license; or

    • If you are applying during the summer and are still enrolled in school, your last report card for the most recent school year is acceptable provided it has your name, a list of absences, and a complete listing of grades.

  • You must have a licensed adult 21 years or older in the front passenger seat when driving.

  • You must hold this license for at least six months, unless you turn 18.

  • You are restricted from using a wireless communications device, including a hands-free device, except in the case of an emergency.

  • If your license is suspended at any time while you hold a learner license, the initial six-month period increases by the number of days of the suspension.  This is to make sure you hold a valid learner license for a full six-months.

  • Your learner license will expire on your 18th birthday.

Applying for your Learner License
You must visit a driver license office and provide proof of the following to obtain a learner license. 

  1. U.S. Citizenship or, if you are not a U.S. Citizen, evidence of lawful presence

  2. Texas Residency

  3. Proof of Identity, and

  4. Social Security Number

  5. Evidence of Texas Vehicle Registration for each vehicle you own. (New Residents who are surrendering an out-of-state driver license only)

  6. Proof of Insurance* for each vehicle you own

  7. Texas Driver Education Certificate showing classroom completion.

    1. Certified Driver Training Schools – (DE-964)

    2. Parent Taught Driver Education – (DE-964)

    3. Public School Driver Education - (DE-964E)

    4. Does not apply to new residents who are 18 years of age or older and surrendering an out-of-state driver license.

  8. Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE form) issued by a school, or a high school diploma or equivalent (GED).

    1. VOE requires a signature (a stamped or computer generated signature of a school official is acceptable), and

    2. Is valid for 30 days from issuance, or

    3. Is valid for 90 days from issuance between the months of June through August, or

    4. A current report card for the most recent school year (see Phase I information above)

*If you do not own a vehicle, you will sign a statement affirming this.

 

Once you have gathered the necessary documents and completed the required courses, you will need to do the following:

  1. Complete the driver license application before arriving at your local office. (This form is also available at all driver license offices)

  2. Make an appointment at a driver license office. Bring a parent or legal guardian (If you are bringing a Legal Guardian, you must also bring a certified court order demonstrating guardianship).

  3. Provide the following documentation to the license and permit specialist:

    1. Application for the issuance of a driver license.

    2. U.S. Citizenship or, if you are not a U.S. Citizen, evidence of lawful presence

    3. Texas Residency

    4. Proof of Identity

    5. Social Security Number

    6. Proof of Texas Vehicle Registration

    7. Proof of Vehicle Insurance* (see above)

    8. Texas Driver Education Certificate (DE-964 or DE-964E)

    9. Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE form) issued by a school, or a high school diploma or equivalent (GED).

      • VOE requires a signature (a stamped or computer generated signature of a school official is acceptable, and

      • Is valid for 30 days from issuance, or

      • Is valid for 90 days from issuance between the months of June through August, or

      • A current report card for the most recent school year (see Phase I information above)

    10. Evidence of successfully passing the driver knowledge exam. (If you have not taken this test during the classroom portion of driver education, you will take it at the driver license office).

  4. Provide your signature.

  5. Provide your thumbprints.

  6. Have your picture taken.

  7. Pay the application fee.

  8. Pass Vision Exam.

 

You may complete the testing requirements at the DL office or through a Third Party provider. Read about testing in other languages and driving test requirements.

Once your learner license has been issued, you will receive a temporary driver license. Before leaving the driver license office, review the printed information on your temporary driver license for accuracy.  If any of the information is incorrect, notify the License and Permit Specialist. Your new card will arrive in the mail in approximately 2 – 3 weeks. To check the mailing status of your card, visit our mailing status web page.

Note: If you hold an identification card, you are not eligible to apply for a learner license unless you surrender your identification card at the time of application.

Phase II – Provisional Driver License

  • You must have held your valid learner license for at least six-months, unless you have reached 18 years of age

  • You must be between 16 and 17 years of age

  • You must have completed behind-the-wheel portion of driver education, which includes:

    • 7 hours of in car observation sitting beside the instructor, watching the instructor demonstrate certain points of instruction

    • 7 hours of in car observation driving and demonstrating to the instructor that you have learned the points of instruction

    • 30 hours of behind the wheel driving practice, of which at least 10 hours must be at night with a licensed driver 21 years of age or older in the vehicle at all times

  • You must have completed the Impact Texas Teen Driver Program within the previous 90 days of taking your skills test

  • You must successfully pass your driving test

  • Expires on your 18th birthday

  • You may not drive a motor vehicle with more than one passenger in the vehicle under 21 who is not a family member

  • You may not drive a motor vehicle between midnight and 5:00 a.m., unless the operation of the vehicle is necessary for the driver to work, to attend or participate in a school-related activity, or due to a medical emergency

  • You are restricted from using a wireless communications device, including a hands-free device, except in the case of an emergency

  • This driver license will expire when you turn 18.  You will need to visit your local driver license office within 30 days of it expiring to renew it.  You will then be issued a driver license for individuals under 21 years of age. 

Applying for your Provisional Driver License
When you are ready to apply for a provisional driver license and have completed all the learner license requirements, you will need to visit a driver license office and provide additional documentation. 

  1. Complete the driver license application before arriving for your appointment. (This form is also available at all driver license offices)

  2. Bring a parent or legal guardian or bring the notarized application signed by the parent or guardian and visit your local driver license
    office. Visit Driver License Services – Appointments to make an appointment at a driver license office. 

  3. Provide the following documentation to the License and Permit Specialist:

    1. Application for the issuance of a driver license.

    2. Evidence of lawful presence, if you are not a U.S. Citizen

    3. Proof of Identity

    4. Texas Driver Education Certificate of Completion (DE-964 or DE-964E)

    5. Evidence of successfully passing the driving test (if you took the driving test at a driver training school, the results must be provided by the school in a sealed envelope and provided to DPS at the time you are applying for your license)

    6. Impact Texas Driver Program Certificate of Completion

  4. Provide your signature.

  5. Provide your thumbprints.

  6. Have your picture taken.

  7. Pay the application fee.

  8. Pass Vision Exam.

  9. Provide proof of Vehicle Insurance (if you will be taking the driving skills test)

You may complete the driving test requirements at the DL office or through a Third Party provider. Read about testing in other languages and driving test requirements.  If you will be taking your driving test at a local driver license office, you will be required to:

  • Schedule an appointment online, and

  • Present proof of current registration and insurance for the vehicle you will be testing in at the time of the driving test. 

Once your driver license has been issued, you will receive a temporary driver license. Before leaving the driver license office, review the printed information on your temporary driver license for accuracy. If any of the information is incorrect, notify the License and Permit Specialist. Your new card will arrive in the mail in approximately 2 – 3 weeks. To check the mailing status of your card, visit our mailing status web page.

You are eligible to renew your driver license up to 30 days prior to the expiration date, which will occur on your 18th birthday. You are eligible to renew online by using our online renewal process. The cost is the same as renewing at a driver license office. If you choose to renew in person before you turn 18, you will need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. If you renew in person after your 18th birthday, you will no longer need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian; however, you must make alternate transportation arrangements to visit your local driver license office, as it is a violation of state law to operate a motor vehicle with an expired driver license.

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