If your teen is getting ready to drive in Virginia, the process starts with Driver Education. Virginia requires all first-time drivers under 18 to complete an approved driver education course before they can move on to behind the wheel training and, ultimately, earn their driver’s license. Understanding what this course involves, how long it takes, and what certificates your teen will receive helps you plan ahead and avoid delays.
This guide breaks down every Virginia driver education requirement in detail. Whether your teen is months away from being eligible or is about to enroll, you’ll find everything you need to know about classroom hours, behind the wheel sessions, certificates, the parent/teen component, and more.
What Is Driver Education in Virginia?
Driver Education in Virginia is a structured program that combines classroom instruction with in-car driving experience. The course is designed to teach new drivers the rules of the road, safe driving habits, hazard recognition, and the legal responsibilities that come with a driver’s license. Virginia requires this program for all first-time license applicants under the age of 18.
The program has three main components:
- Classroom instruction covering traffic laws, signs, defensive driving, and driver responsibilities
- In-car driving and observation sessions where students get hands-on experience behind the wheel and learn by watching other students drive
- A final road skills exam administered by the driving school to evaluate readiness
Driver Education can be completed through a public school program or through a licensed private driving school like Abba Driving School in Haymarket, VA. Both options follow the same Virginia DMV-approved curriculum and produce the same certificates upon completion.
Classroom Requirements: 36 Sessions
The classroom portion of Virginia Driver Education consists of 36 sessions, each lasting a minimum of 50 minutes. That adds up to 30 hours of classroom instruction spread across the full course.
These sessions cover a wide range of topics that every new driver needs to understand before getting behind the wheel:
- Virginia traffic laws and the Code of Virginia as it applies to drivers
- Road signs, signals, and pavement markings
- Right-of-way rules at intersections, roundabouts, and highway on-ramps
- Speed management and following distance
- Hazard perception and defensive driving techniques
- The effects of alcohol, drugs, and distracted driving
- Sharing the road with pedestrians, cyclists, and emergency vehicles
- Vehicle maintenance basics, including tire checks and fluid levels
- Insurance requirements and financial responsibility laws in Virginia
The classroom sessions are not something your teen can rush through. Each session must be attended in full, and attendance is tracked. Missing sessions means making them up before the course can be completed. At Abba Driving School, we structure our classroom schedule so students can progress steadily without long gaps between sessions.
In-Car Driving and Observation Sessions
Beyond the classroom, Virginia Driver Education requires 7 in-car driving sessions and 7 in-car observation sessions. Each session is a minimum of 50 minutes.
Driving Sessions
During the 7 driving sessions, your teen takes the wheel with a DMV-certified instructor in the passenger seat. These sessions introduce essential skills in a structured, progressive order:
- Early sessions focus on vehicle controls, basic steering, braking, and driving in low-traffic residential areas
- Middle sessions build up to turns at intersections, lane changes, parking maneuvers, and navigating busier roads
- Later sessions introduce highway driving, complex traffic situations, and test preparation
Each session gives the instructor an opportunity to evaluate your teen’s progress and provide real-time coaching. Students develop muscle memory for safe driving habits that will serve them well beyond the test.
Observation Sessions
The 7 observation sessions are just as important as the driving sessions. During observation, your teen sits in the back seat while another student drives. This might sound passive, but it is an incredibly effective learning tool. Observers see how other students handle situations, notice mistakes they might also make, and watch the instructor’s corrections in real time. Virginia requires these observation hours because research shows that watching others drive builds awareness and judgment that carries over to your teen’s own driving.
The Final Road Skills Exam
The 7th and final in-car session serves as the road skills exam. During this appointment, the instructor evaluates whether your teen can safely operate a vehicle in real traffic conditions. The exam tests skills such as:
- Smooth and controlled starts and stops
- Proper lane positioning and lane changes
- Turning at intersections, including left turns across traffic
- Three-point turns and backing maneuvers
- Parallel parking
- Highway merging (where applicable)
- Proper use of mirrors and signals
- Obeying traffic signs, signals, and speed limits
If your teen passes, the instructor issues a completion certificate on the spot. If your teen does not pass, additional instruction and a re-test will be required. This is not unusual, and it does not mean your teen is a bad driver. It means they need a bit more practice in specific areas.
Driver Education Certificates
Upon completing various stages of Driver Education, your teen will receive official certificates from the driving school. These documents are required by the DMV and must be kept safe throughout the licensing process.
DTS 36: Classroom Completion Certificate
The DTS 36 is issued after your teen completes all 36 classroom sessions. This certificate confirms that the classroom portion of Driver Education is finished. Your teen will need this document to begin the behind the wheel training phase. It is sometimes referred to as the “pink sheet,” and it is an official Virginia DMV form.
DTS B: Under 18 Completion Certificate
The DTS B certificate is issued to students under the age of 18 who have completed the entire Driver Education program, including classroom, in-car driving, observation, and the road skills exam. This certificate, combined with your teen’s learner’s permit, serves as a temporary driver’s license for up to 180 days. It is the document that proves your teen has met all Virginia behind the wheel requirements and is ready for the licensing ceremony.
DTS D: Adult Completion Certificate (18+)
The DTS D certificate is issued to students who are 18 years or older and have completed the required training. While adults are not required to complete Driver Education in Virginia, those who choose to take the course receive this certificate upon completion. It can be presented to the DMV as proof of training when applying for a license.
The Parent/Teen Component: Planning District 8
Virginia requires a parent/teen component as part of the Driver Education process, but the format varies by region. If you live in Planning District 8, which includes Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park, there is an in-person parent/teen meeting that must be attended.
This is directly relevant to families in Abba Driving School’s service area, since we are located in Haymarket, VA, right in the heart of Prince William County. The in-person parent/teen component is a session where both the parent (or legal guardian) and the teen attend together. The meeting covers:
- The responsibilities of the supervising driver during the learner’s permit phase
- How to effectively supervise your teen’s practice driving sessions
- Virginia’s graduated licensing restrictions, including passenger limits and curfew rules
- Communication strategies for staying calm and constructive during practice sessions
- The importance of the 45-hour driving log and how to complete it properly
This in-person requirement is not optional for families in Planning District 8. Other parts of Virginia may allow an online version, but Prince William County families must attend in person. Abba Driving School coordinates this component as part of our Driver Education program, so you don’t need to arrange it separately.
Age and Permit Requirements
Before your teen can begin Driver Education or obtain a learner’s permit, certain age requirements must be met.
Minimum Age for a Learner’s Permit
Virginia law requires your teen to be at least 15 years and 6 months old to apply for a learner’s permit. The permit is obtained by visiting a Virginia DMV office and passing a two-part knowledge exam: 10 road sign questions (all 10 must be correct) and 30 general knowledge questions (24 out of 30 to pass). Study materials are available on the Virginia DMV website, and many driver education courses also prepare students for this exam.
Documentation Needed for the Learner’s Permit
When applying for a learner’s permit, your teen will need the following documents at the DMV:
- Proof of identity: A certified birth certificate, valid passport, or other acceptable ID document
- Social Security number: A Social Security card or other document showing the number
- Proof of Virginia residency: Two documents showing your Virginia address, such as a utility bill and a bank statement (these are typically in the parent’s name)
- Parental consent: A parent or legal guardian must sign the application. If only one parent has custody, a court order may be required
- Payment for the permit fee: The DMV charges a fee for the learner’s permit application
Once your teen has the learner’s permit, they can begin the behind the wheel portion of Driver Education and start logging their 45 hours of supervised practice driving. For a step-by-step walkthrough of the permit process, see our guide on how to get a learner’s permit in Virginia.
The Full Timeline: From Driver Education to License
Understanding the full timeline helps you set realistic expectations. Here is a typical progression for a teen going through the Virginia Driver Education process:
- Age 15 years and 6 months: Your teen applies for and receives a learner’s permit at the DMV.
- Enroll in Driver Education: Your teen begins the 36 classroom sessions and starts the in-car driving and observation sessions.
- Begin logging 45 hours of practice driving: Once the permit is in hand, your teen should start accumulating supervised practice hours with a parent or guardian. At least 15 of those hours must be completed after sunset.
- Complete the parent/teen component: Attend the in-person parent/teen session (required in Planning District 8).
- Complete all 7 driving and 7 observation sessions: These are completed as part of the Driver Education course through your driving school.
- Pass the road skills exam: The final in-car session is the road skills test. Your teen must also be at least 16 years and 3 months old and have held the learner’s permit for at least 9 months before taking this test.
- Receive the DTS B certificate: This document, combined with the learner’s permit, serves as a temporary license for 180 days.
- Attend the licensing ceremony: Within approximately 3 months, your local Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court will send a postcard inviting your teen to a licensing ceremony, where they officially receive their Virginia driver’s license.
For a detailed breakdown of each milestone and how to keep things moving on schedule, visit our Virginia teen license timeline guide.
What to Look for in a Driver Education School
Not all driving schools are the same. When choosing where your teen will complete Virginia driver education requirements, consider the following:
- DMV approval: The school must be licensed and approved by the Virginia DMV. Only approved schools can issue DTS certificates.
- Experienced instructors: Look for instructors with years of experience teaching teens. Experienced instructors know how to build confidence gradually and prepare students for exactly what the road skills test requires.
- Structured curriculum: A well-organized course with consistent scheduling keeps your teen engaged and progressing steadily.
- Flexible scheduling: Between school, sports, and family life, flexible class times make it easier to complete the program without falling behind.
- In-person parent/teen component (for Planning District 8): Make sure the school includes this requirement so you don’t have to track it down separately.
- Background-checked instructors: Your teen will be in a car with their instructor for hours. Annual background checks provide peace of mind.
Why Families Choose Abba Driving School
Abba Driving School has been helping teens and adults in Virginia learn to drive since 2011. Located in Haymarket, VA, we serve families throughout Gainesville, Bristow, Warrenton, and the surrounding areas of western Prince William County and Fauquier County.
A few things about our program:
- DMV-approved Driver Education program: Our curriculum meets every Virginia requirement, so your teen receives all necessary certificates upon completion.
- Experienced, certified instructors: Our instructors have been teaching for over a decade and know exactly how to prepare students for the road skills exam.
- Classroom and in-car training in one program: No need to piece together separate courses. We handle the classroom sessions, driving sessions, observation sessions, and the road skills test.
- In-person parent/teen component included: We coordinate the required parent/teen meeting for Planning District 8 families as part of the course.
- Pickup may be available for in-car sessions: Contact us for details on pickup availability in your area.
- Annual FBI background checks on all instructors: Safety is not something we take lightly.
- Flexible scheduling including weekends: We work around your family’s schedule so your teen can complete the program without unnecessary delays.
Get Started with Virginia Driver Education
Every Virginia teen driver’s journey starts with Driver Education. The sooner your teen enrolls, the sooner they can begin working toward their learner’s permit and eventually their driver’s license. At Abba Driving School, we keep you informed at every step.
If you have questions about Virginia driver education requirements, our team is happy to help. We have been guiding families through this process since 2011 and understand the questions and concerns parents have. From the first classroom session to the day your teen passes the road skills exam, we are with you the entire way.
Register for Driver Education today to get your teen started on the path to their Virginia driver’s license.