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Do You Need Driver's Education in Idaho?

Last updated 2026-08-04

Required under 17, not just recommended

Idaho's Driver Training (DT) program is required for anyone under 17 years of age who is applying for an Idaho driver's license. This isn't framed as an optional accelerant to the licensing process -- it's a stated prerequisite tied directly to age, alongside the GDL program's other requirements.

For an applicant 17 or older, driver's training is available but not mandatory in the same way -- they may take training with either a Driver Training/Supervised Instruction Permit or a Class D Instruction Permit, giving more flexibility than a younger applicant has.

What the program actually requires

An approved Idaho DT program consists of 30 hours of classroom instruction, 6 hours in-car experience observing other student drivers, and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel practice with an approved DT instructor. All three components are specified separately, not just a total hour count.

You must purchase a Driver Training Instruction Permit before attending any DT class -- meaning there's a real procedural and financial step before instruction even begins, not something you can start without first obtaining the permit.

Where to find an approved course

The Idaho Department of Education provides approved DT courses through public schools in most Idaho school districts, and these courses are open to all Idaho residents between 14 1/2 and 21, even if they aren't public school students themselves. Private DT schools are also available.

Because eligibility extends beyond public-school enrollment specifically, homeschooled students and those attending private schools aren't excluded from finding an approved public-school-run course if that's the most convenient option.

What happens if you completed training in another state

If you're under 17 and completed DT in another state while a resident there, but weren't licensed in that state, Idaho requires acceptable proof of completion of an approved DT course from that state. If you're not surrendering an out-of-state license, you'll also need to complete a supervised driving period before licensing.

This means moving to Idaho mid-training doesn't necessarily mean starting over from zero, but it does require documentation and, in some cases, an additional supervised-driving step -- worth confirming directly with ITD if this situation applies to your family.

Driver Training sets up, but doesn't replace, the GDL supervised period

Completing Driver Training and receiving your training permit from the instructor is what makes you eligible to begin the GDL program's supervised instruction period -- the two are sequential, not interchangeable. Driver Training doesn't count toward the separate 50-hour, 6-month supervised-driving requirement.

In other words, expect Driver Training to be the first real step in a longer process, not a shortcut that replaces the supervised driving and testing requirements that follow it.

Source

More Idaho Guides

Rules and requirements change — always confirm current details with Idaho ITD before your exam. Check the full guides index or the Idaho cheat sheet and FAQ, or take a free Idaho practice test.