Course Eligibility Requirements

This guide covers who is eligible to take Texas Parent-Taught Driver Education, including requirements for both students and parent instructors.

Quick Summary

Most students and parents are eligible if the parent has not had a DWI conviction in the past seven years.

Student Requirements

Students must be at least 14 years old. However, they must be 15 before they can earn their Learner License Certificate in the course.
Students must be enrolled in school (homeschooling is valid).
A student must have a valid instructor for the behind-the-wheel part of the course.

Instructor Requirements

Your parent instructor can be your parent, step-parent, grandparent, step-grandparent, foster parent, legal guardian, or an individual designated by a parent, legal guardian, or judge.

If your instructor is a designated individual, they must also meet these additional qualifications:

Be at least 25 years old
May not charge a fee for conducting the course
Have at least seven years of driving experience

The instructor must have a valid Texas driver license (Class A, B, C, or CDL) for the prior three years. If they held an out-of-state license during the past three years, they will be required to provide a copy of their driving record showing their three years of licensed driving history.

Instructors cannot have:

A conviction (including a probated sentence) of criminally negligent homicide (lifetime disqualification)
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
Six or more points assigned to their driver license in the past three years
Three or more moving violations in the past three years
Two or more moving violations resulting in an accident in the past three years
A B restriction on their driver license

Verify Instructor Eligibility

Unsure whether or not your instructor is eligible? Take the TDLR eligibility quiz.

Turning 18 Soon?

If you're almost 18 and want to get your license, or you're going to turn 18 while taking the course, here are your options:

Option 1: Purchase Parent-Taught Driver Education

If you're under 18 before starting Parent-Taught Driver Education, you're good to go, even if you will turn 18 during the course.

Option 2: Wait Until You Turn 18

The process of getting your license is faster once you turn 18. Make sure to wait until you are 18 before purchasing an Adult Driver Education course.

Out-of-State Learner's Permit

If you just moved to Texas from another state and have an out-of-state learner license or permit, you'll need to exchange it for a Texas learner license at DPS. What happens next depends on what driver education your teen has already completed.

Detailed Guide Available

We have a dedicated article covering all out-of-state permit scenarios, document checklists, and step-by-step instructions: I have a learner permit from another state. For the full SEO guide with DPS appointment tips, see Transfer a Learner Permit to Texas.