What is the Texas Parent Taught Driver Education (PTDE) Program?

The Parent Taught Driver Education (PTDE) Program allows a parent, step-parent, grandparent, step-grandparent, foster parent, or legal guardian to teach their teen a driver education course. 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 Parent Taught Driver Education course allows teens to earn their learner license and qualify for a driver's license. PTDE requires both online classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel driver training.

What is the Parent Taught Driver Education Program Guide?

The Parent Taught Driver Education Program Guide contains instructions on how to teach the Texas Parent Taught Driver Education course as well as helpful information on how to get a Texas driver's license and important forms you will need when applying for your license.

Why do I need to have the PTDE Program Guide before starting the course?

Applying for the PTDE Program Guide ensures that the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) has your instructor's information on file and officially registers the instructor with the TDLR. The TDLR requires you to have the guide before starting so that you are fully prepared to take your PTDE course. It also includes necessary forms that can only be obtained by ordering the guide.

How does the Texas Parent Taught Driver Education course work?

The course procedure for parents and teens is outlined below.

For Parents:

1. Register your teen on our website.
2. Request and obtain the Texas Parent Taught Driver Education Guide by filling out the online form and making payment. Download the guide and read through it.
3. Have your teen start the course.
4. Have your teen complete the first six hours of online instruction.
5. Pay for the course.
6. Have your teen study the Texas Driver Handbook to prepare for the Knowledge Test.
7. Prepare and submit to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) your teen's application for a learner license, including Safe2Drive's Six-Hour Completion Certificate. Your teen will also be required to take a vision exam when applying for a learner license.
8. Have your teen complete the remaining 26 hours of online instruction.
9. Follow the instructions in the Parent Taught Driver Education Guide to conduct the behind-the wheel training after your teen has received a learner license.
10. Prepare and submit to the DPS your teen's application for a driver's license.
11. Have your teen take the driving exam at the Driver License Office.

For Teens:

1. Register for our course with your parent.
2. Ensure that your parent has requested and obtained the Parent Taught Driver Education Guide by filling out the online form and making payment. Make sure they download the guide and read through it.
3. Start the course.
4. Complete the first six hours of online instruction.
5. Have your parent pay for the course.
6. Take the Knowledge Test online with us, if you choose. You can also opt to take the test at the DPS.
7. Receive your Six-Hour Completion Certificate (you will receive this certificate after completing 6 hours if you are taking your Knowledge Test at the DPS, and after passing your Knowledge Test if you are taking the exam online).
8. Prepare and submit your application (including your Six-Hour Completion Certificate) for a learner license to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
9. Pass a written Knowledge Test at the DPS Driver License Office (unless you took it online with us) and a vision exam, and obtain your learner license.
10. Complete the remaining 26 hours of online instruction.
11. Follow the instructions in the Parent Taught Driver Education Program Guide with your parent for the behind-the wheel training.
12. Complete the course and get your Course Completion Certificate.
13. Prepare and submit your application for a driver's license to the DPS.
14. Take the driving exam at the Driver License Office.

What is included in the Parent Taught Driver Education Program Guide?

The Parent Taught Driver Education Program Guide must be requested by filling out this online form and making payment. It must be obtained before starting any online instruction. It includes most documents you will need to successfully complete the program:

1. 6 Core Requirements for the Parent Taught Course
2. TDLR Approved Parent Taught Course Providers
3. Instructions for Applying for a Student's License
4. Learner License Application Checklist
5. Behind-the-Wheel Practice Log--30 Hours (DL-91B)- This is a record of required driver training topics, hours, and date of instruction. This is required when applying for a driver license at the Driver License Office.
6. Provisional License Application Checklist
7. Parent Taught Designation Form--This form is required when applying for a learner license if the parent/legal guardian is not the teen's instructor.
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
9. TDLR Contact Information

The Parent Taught Driver Education Program Guide will be emailed to you by the TDLR once you request it and make payment.

Please remember you must not start instruction until the guide is in your possession.

Does the Parent Taught Driver Education Program Guide come from Safe2Drive or the TDLR?

The guide comes from the TDLR, not us. The Parent Taught Driver Education Program Guide must be requested by filling out this online form and making payment.

What is the DE-964 Certificate?

Form DE-964 is a numbered, two-part form that is used to certify completion of both the classroom and laboratory phases of the driver education course.

Once you have completed the first 6 hours of instruction, Safe2Drive will issue a Six-Hour Completion Certificate (Part 1). Once you have completed the remaining 26 hours of online instruction, followed the instructions in the Driver Education Program Guide for the behind-the wheel training, and completed the course, Safe2Drive will issue you a Course Completion Certificate (Part 2).

What is the difference between the Concurrent Method and Block Method?

Concurrent Method:*

1. Complete the first six hours of online instruction.
2. Obtain learner license.
3. Finish the remaining 26 hours of online instruction along with the in-car observation/behind-the-wheel training.

Block Method:

1. Complete ALL 32 hours of online instruction.
2. Obtain learner license.
3. Take the in-car observation/behind-the-wheel training.

What are the eligibility requirements?

For Instructors:

There are a few requirements a person must meet in order to be eligible to instruct a Parent-Taught Driver Education course:

• 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 possess a valid license for the preceding three years that has not been suspended, revoked, or forfeited in the past three years for an offense that involves the operation of a motor vehicle.
• Instructors cannot have:
• a conviction (including a probated sentence) of criminally negligent homicide; or
• a conviction (including a probated sentence) of driving while intoxicated in the last seven years; and
• a conviction in the preceding three years of:
1. three or more moving violations described by Section 542.304, Transportation Code, including violations that resulted in an accident; or
2. two or more moving violations described by Section 542.304, Transportation Code, that resulted in an accident.

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 the DPS determines that the instructor does not meet the requirements, the 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.

For Teens:

1. Must be at least 14 years old before starting the online course
2. Must be at least 15 years old in order to take the learner license exam
3. Must complete the entire course before 18th birthday

What are the learner license requirements?

The student must:

1. Be at least 15 years old
2. Reside in Texas for at least 30 days prior to application
3. Have completed the first six hours of online classroom instruction

At the Driver License Office, you must:

1. Pay the required learner license fee.
2. Present original acceptable proof of Social Security Number:
   1. Social Security Card, or
   2. Social Security Affidavit DL-13 (available at the Driver License Office)
3. Present proof of residency. To meet the residency requirements, you must:
   1. Reside in Texas for at least 30 days prior to application
   2. Present two acceptable documents establishing proof of residency, one of which must demonstrate the applicant has lived in Texas at least 30 days (See examples). If you cannot provide two acceptable residency documents, you must submit the Texas Residency Affidavit.
   3. The 30 day requirement will be waived for applicants who surrender a valid, unexpired out-of-state driver license, but two documents establishing proof of residency are still required.
4. Present original acceptable proof of identity such as your Birth Certificate and School ID Card. If neither of these are available, you can see other examples here.
5. Present the PTDE Program Guide Receipt. This is proof that you have purchased the Parent Taught Driver Education Program Guide. The DPS will ask for it and will not allow you to continue the application process until they receive proof of purchase.
6. Present your Verification of School Enrollment and Attendance (VOE). This comes from your school and must be signed by the school administrator or his/her designee. A VOE is not required if the student has their high school diploma or GED certificate and has graduated.
7. Present your Texas Parent Taught Driver Education Six-Hour Completion Certificate (DE-964). This comes from us, after you have completed the first six hours of the course.
8. Present your Parent Designation Form - You are required to present this form if your parent, legal guardian, or a judge of a court with jurisdiction over you designated another adult to instruct you in the Parent Taught Driver Education course. You can find this form in the Parent Taught Driver Education Program Guide.
9. Present your Texas Driver License Application. Visit the DPS website to print the most current version or pick one up at your local driver license office.
10. Present proof of liability insurance and valid Texas registration (if the student owns a vehicle).
11. Pass a written Knowledge Test, if you did not take it online with us.
12. Pass a vision exam.

The following applicants must present additional documentation as follows:

1. If the applicant is a U.S. citizen, he or she must present a document indicating citizenship such as a BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
2. If the applicant is a Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States, he or she must present documentation indicating this status such as a Permanent Resident Card (I-551).
3. If the applicant is refugee or asylee, he or she must present documentation indicating this status.
4. If the applicant is not a citizen and is not a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. he or she must present valid documentation issued by the U.S. Dept. of Justice, U.S. Dept. of State, U.S. Homeland Security or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that shows Lawful Temporary Admission to the U.S.
   1. Please note that a learner license or driver license will not be issued if the lawful admission period stated on the document expires in fewer than six months.

After receiving your learner license, you may begin your behind-the-wheel driver's training.