(a) An applicant who is at least 15 but younger than
18 years of age must enroll in an approved commercial, public, or
parent taught driver education program prior to applying for a driver
license. The applicant must be at least 14 years of age to begin driver
education. The department will not approve a driver license application
if any coursework is taught prior to the applicant's 14th birthday.
(b) Upon completion of the required hours of classroom
driver education, the applicant must visit a driver license office
and complete the requirements to obtain a learner license. To qualify
for a learner license, the applicant must be at least 15 years of
age and have completed the first six hours of classroom instruction
if enrolled in the concurrent method or 32 hours if enrolled in the
block method. A learner license is required before any behind the
wheel phase of instruction may begin.
(c) An applicant must hold a learner or hardship license
for a minimum of six months and be at least 16 but younger than 18
years of age to apply for a provisional driver license.
(d) The driver license application of a minor must
be signed by the person having custody of the minor. If the minor
is not in the custody of the minor's parent(s), the guardian or agent
under a power of attorney for the parent should sign. If not in the
custody of any of the foregoing, the minor's employer or the county
judge of the county in which the minor resides or the Department of
Family and Protective Services custodian may sign.
(e) Any examinations or issuance requirements not completed
by a driver education provider or authorized entity will be administered
at the driver license office.
(f) If the minor applies to operate a vehicle not authorized
under the original application, a separate, new notarized authorization
from the custodian is required.
(g) Adult authorization is not required for an applicant
younger than 18 years of age who is or has been married or whose disabilities
of minority have been removed generally, by law. Instead, they must:
(1) Present a marriage certificate or divorce decree
(not an annulment decree) or other satisfactory evidence of marriage
or having been married;
(2) Present a court order showing removal of disabilities
of minority; or
(3) Obtain a notarized parental authorization as though
the minor was not or had not been married.
(h) Marriage or removal of disabilities of minority
affect only requirements pertaining to parental authorization. All
other requirements, including minimum ages for licensing, must be
met.
(i) A request to withdraw or restore an authorization
for a minor driver license must be submitted to the department in
writing.
(j) The driver education certificate must contain applicable
items for certification of classroom and laboratory training.
(k) Driver education certificates issued by a jurisdiction
or agency other than one of the 50 United States must be approved
by a driver license office supervisor.
(l) A certificate from any state showing completion
of an approved driver education course will be accepted. Applications
with certificates showing completion of only classroom instruction
may be accepted for a learner license and applications with certificates
showing completion of both classroom and behind the wheel requirements
may be accepted for a provisional license.
(m) The department will check the driver record of
the parent taught course instructor at the time of application for
the learner and provisional license. If the instructor is ineligible
to teach the course, the learner or provisional license will be denied
and all instruction time will be forfeited. An instructor with an
out of state or country driver license must present a copy of his
or her driver record for the preceding three years. Out of country
driver records must be translated into English.
(n) Verification of enrollment and attendance in school,
a course to complete high school requirements, or proof of high school
completion is required.
(1) A minor applicant enrolled in high school shall
submit a Verification of Enrollment (VOE) form or the equivalent with
the original application.
(2) The VOE is valid for 30 days from the date of signature
when school is in session and 90 days from the date of signature during
the summer break.
(3) An applicant who is enrolled in home school may
submit the VOE or a letter from the instructor as a substitute for
the VOE form. The letter must contain the same information as the
VOE with the exception of the school name and district.
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