Parent Instructor Requirements
The instructor must be the student's parent, step-parent, grandparent, step-grandparent, foster parent, or legal guardian. Answer each question below to check your eligibility.
Do you hold a valid Texas Class A, B, C, or CDL license?
An out-of-state license, permit, or Texas ID card does not qualify. If you recently moved to Texas, transfer your license first.
Have you held a valid driver's license for at least 3 continuous years?
The 3 years do not need to be a Texas license — time licensed in other states counts. However, your license must not have been suspended, revoked, or forfeited at any point during the past 3 years.
Have you been free of any DUI/DWI conviction for the past 7 years?
This includes any alcohol or drug-related driving offense. Deferred adjudication for DUI/DWI also counts as disqualifying — even if the case was ultimately dismissed.
Do you have fewer than 6 points on your license in the past 3 years?
6 or more points accumulated on your driving record in the past 3 years disqualifies you from serving as a PTDE instructor.
Have you had fewer than 3 moving violations in the past 3 years?
3 or more moving violations in the past 3 years disqualifies you. This includes speeding tickets, running red lights, and similar offenses.
Have you had fewer than 2 moving violations resulting in an accident in the past 3 years?
2 or more moving violations that resulted in an accident within the past 3 years will disqualify you.
Has your license been continuously valid (not suspended, revoked, or forfeited) for the past 3 years?
If your license was suspended, revoked, or forfeited at any point during the past 3 years — even if it has since been reinstated — you do not currently qualify.
Is your license free of a B restriction?
A B restriction on your Texas license indicates certain limitations that disqualify you from being a PTDE instructor. Check the back of your license for restriction codes.
Are you free of disqualifying criminal history?
Disqualifying offenses include criminally negligent homicide (lifetime disqualification), assault with a motor vehicle, and any felony involving a motor vehicle. Contact TDLR at 1-800-803-9202 if you are unsure about your eligibility.
Student Requirements
Is the student at least 14 years old?
PTDE is available for students aged 14-24. Students can start the classroom portion at 14 but must be at least 15 to get a learner permit. Adults 18+ may find Adult Driver Education faster, but PTDE is still an option.
Is the student a Texas resident?
Texas residency is required to obtain a Texas learner permit and driver's license through the PTDE program.
Who Can Be a Parent Instructor?
Texas law allows the following people to serve as the PTDE instructor, provided they meet all of the requirements listed above:
- Parent
- Step-parent
- Grandparent
- Step-grandparent
- Foster parent
- Legal guardian
Designated Instructor Option
If no family member qualifies as the parent instructor, Texas allows a designated instructor — a volunteer who is not a family member but agrees to take on the teaching role. To qualify, the designated instructor must:
- Be at least 25 years old
- Have at least 7 years of driving experience
- Not be paid for their services (strictly volunteer)
- Complete a notarized designation form (included in the TDLR packet)
- Meet the same driving record and criminal history requirements as a parent instructor
The designated instructor handles only the 14 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. The remaining 30 hours of practice driving can be supervised by any licensed adult 21 or older.
DPS Checks Your Record Twice
Many families don't realize that DPS reviews the instructor's driving record at both DPS visits — once when the student gets their learner permit, and again when they apply for their provisional license.
Because the PTDE process typically takes 6 months or longer from start to finish, the instructor must maintain a clean driving record throughout the entire period. A single serious violation during that time can undo months of progress.
This is one of the most important things to keep in mind after you confirm your eligibility. Being eligible today is not enough — you need to stay eligible until your student has their provisional license in hand.
Who Can Supervise Practice Driving?
The PTDE program has two separate behind-the-wheel components, and the rules for who can supervise each one are different.
14-hour instruction log (DL-91B): Only the one designated instructor named on the TDLR paperwork can conduct these sessions. If needed, this person can be changed through TDLR's online instructor change form. These are the formal instruction hours where the student learns specific driving skills.
30-hour practice driving log: The rules here are more flexible. Any adult who is at least 21 years old and has held a valid driver's license for at least 1 year can supervise practice driving sessions. This means the other parent, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or any other qualified adult can help your student get their practice hours in.
This distinction is helpful for families where the designated instructor has a busy schedule. While only one person can handle the formal instruction, the whole family can pitch in for practice driving — including at least 10 hours that must be completed at night.