Do You Need Driver's Ed in Vermont?
Last updated 2026-08-07
Yes -- driver education is mandatory for every minor applicant
Unlike some states where formal driver education is optional and simply shortens a waiting period, Vermont makes it a flat requirement: before getting a license, all 16- and 17-year-olds must have passed a state-approved driver education and training course.
That course has a specific structure: 30 hours of classroom study, 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training, and 6 hours of observation time. There's no path around this requirement for a minor applicant working toward a Junior Driver's License.
Two ways to complete the requirement: high school or a commercial school
The Vermont Agency of Education's Driver Education Division oversees driver education courses taught at high schools, but Vermont also has commercial driver training schools that offer the same kind of training outside a school setting.
Whichever path a family chooses, the instructor must log the student's completion in the Driver Education Certification Service before a driving test can even be administered -- this isn't just paperwork the student holds onto, it has to be formally recorded by the certified instructor.
The 40-hour practice requirement is separate from, and additional to, driver ed
Completing the 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction inside a driver education course doesn't satisfy Vermont's separate 40-hour practice-driving requirement -- the law explicitly requires those 40 hours (with at least 10 at night) on top of the driver-education hours, not overlapping with them.
A parent or guardian must certify that these 40 hours were completed, and Vermont provides tools to help track it: the Driving Practice Log Sheet (form VN-219) or the RoadReady App.
Out-of-state driver education can count, with conditions
If a family completed driver education outside Vermont, it's only acceptable if the course was taught by a certified or licensed driver education instructor and included both classroom and behind-the-wheel training.
If the completion certificate wasn't issued by a state agency, the applicant needs additional documentation on state letterhead confirming the program was legitimate and listing its minimum completion requirements -- worth sorting out well before a Vermont road test appointment, since gathering this kind of documentation can take time.
High schools can administer the road test directly
Some DMV-licensed high school driver education instructors, at schools enrolled in the testing program and certified as examiners, can conduct the actual Driver's License road test themselves -- but only for students who attend that participating school.
A student who passes this school-administered road test receives a Driver Education Examination Certificate, which combines with a valid Learner's Permit and a completed license application to finish the licensing process without a separate DMV road test appointment.
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More Vermont Guides
- How Long Does a Vermont Permit Last?
- Understanding Vermont's Graduated Driver's License Program
- What to Bring to Your Vermont Permit Test
- What Happens If You Fail Your Vermont Test?
Rules and requirements change — always confirm current details with Vermont DMV before your exam. Check the full guides index or the Vermont cheat sheet and FAQ, or take a free Vermont practice test.