Driver's Education Process

Obtaining a Drivers License is an important rite of passage for many of our students.  However, parents and students often find the process confusing.  Hopefully, this section will provide some insight.  Please be aware that a parent or guardian will be required to attend registrations and all Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) visits.

The first step is to decide which driver's education program your child will attend.  Jefferson Parish Schools offers a Driver's Education program four times a year.  More information on this program is available on the JP Schools website.  You may also choose from a variety of private companies that offer this service.  Prices and scheduling will vary between companies so you should shop around to find the best fit for your student and family.  

Once you know where you will be taking your course, you will need to follow their directions to register.  Some require the Temporary Instructional Permit (TIP) be obtained prior to registration.  Some require the TIP card before the driving portion begins.  TIPs are obtained from the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles.  For an overview of this process, please visit Obtaining a TIP Card.    

Students must complete a set amount of classroom instruction prior to beginning the driving instruction.  The student will be given a sealed envelope with proof the course was successfully completed.  DO NOT OPEN THE ENVELOPE.  The OMV will not accept the envelope if it is unsealed.  The TIP will be surrendered to OMV along with proof of completion of the driver’s education course and any other necessary documents. For more information on this process, please visit Learner's Permit.  There is no additional cost to convert from the TIP to a Learner’s Permit.

All applicants under the age of 17 must participate in the graduated licensing program and must start with a Learner’s Permit.  The student will need to bring their completion certificate, sealed envelope with passed test, school attendance letter and two forms of identification.  The student will hold the permit for at least 6 months and cannot move to the next stage, Intermediate License, until 16 years of age.  While driving with a Learner’s Permit, the student must be accompanied by a licensed parent, guardian, adult at the age of 21 or older, or licensed sibling at least age 18 or older.  The student must also complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving, 15 of those hours at night.

To obtain an Intermediate License, the student must be 16 years age and have held the learner’s permit for at least 6 months.  The student must take a road skill driving test at the driving school and obtain a sealed envelope containing their passed test. The student will then surrender the sealed envelope, a school attendance letter and two forms of identification to OMV to be issued an Intermediate License.  While driving with an Intermediate License, the student is prohibited from driving between 11:00 pm and 5:00 am, unless accompanied by a licensed parent, guardian, adult at least age 21 or older, or licensed sibling at least age 18 or older. The Intermediate License must be maintained until the student is 17 years of age.

If the student was under 17 at the time of the class, completed the requirements for the Learner's Permit, and received the Intermediate License, they may apply for Full License at the age of 17.  If the student is 17 years of age at the time of the class and behind the wheel completion, the student may obtain a full license.  The student must take and pass the road skills driving test at the school prior to proceeding to the OMV for their full license.

Please note that the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles may change the requirements at any time.  This information is used to give parents and students an idea of how the process flows.  You should refer to the OMV website and local driving schools for complete instructions.