“Approved” Behind-the-Wheel Driver Education Courses
Q. In order to teach the behind-the-wheel portion of driver education, I must show completion of an “approved correspondence course.” Which courses are “approved,” and where can I find them?
A. Getting a driver’s license for a teen can seem daunting, especially when looking at the forms, finding an approved course, and trying to follow the proper steps.
There are three basic steps for a teen to obtain a driver’s license:
1) Obtain a learner’s permit by passing a DMV vision-screening test and a two-part knowledge test,
2) Complete an approved classroom course and a behind-the-wheel driving course, and
3) Obtain a permanent driver’s license.
In order for a parent to teach their homeschooled teen the classroom and behind-the-wheel portions, the homeschooled student must currently be enrolled in a homeschool program acknowledged by the division superintendent.
All teens may take the classroom and behind-the-wheel portions of driver education at a public school, a private school, or a commercial driver-training school on a space-available basis. However, if a student is homeschooled, the homeschool parent may teach the classroom and behind-the wheel portions. In this situation, the parent may choose one of four approved classroom courses. There is only one approved parent-taught behind-the-wheel course.
The following four classroom driver-education courses have been approved by the DOE for homeschooled students:
- DriversEd.com
Attn: Virginia Home Study Course
436 14th Street, Suite 420
Oakland, CA 94612
1-888-651-2886
www.DriversEd.com
- I Drive Safely
294 LaMoree Road
San Marcos, CA 92078
1-800-723-1955
www.idrivesafely.com
- National Driver Training Institute
4432 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918-2934
1-800-942-2050
www.usdrivertraining.com
- VADETS OnLine Driver Education Course
Virginia Association of Driver Education and Traffic Safety
A non-profit Virginia association for driver education teachers
(804) 512-0101
https://vadriveredu.org
After completion of the classroom portion, homeschool parents who want to teach behind-the-wheel must use the only approved course: Module 11 – Behind-the-Wheeland In-Car Observation.
Links to the appropriate DMV forms, the cost, and more details can be found at the HEAV website here. Please call our office at 804-278-9200 if I can further help you.
Regards,
