Driver License Process at FCPS

[Anonymous]

My child got the pink card after both of us attended the 90 minute session at their HS. Can anyone please confirm if the following is the sequence of steps to getting the license?

The Knowledge Exam at DMV -> Get Learner Permit -> 40/10 Hours of driving with parent -> Take Behind the Wheel -> Get Driver License

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

you forgot the actual drivers ed class. has to be somewhere in there, doesn't matter where.

[Anonymous]

Is the driver's ed class actually required?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:you forgot the actual drivers ed class. has to be somewhere in there, doesn't matter where.

I thought that is what the child did during PE class. Then we had the child/parent 90 minute session and then they gave us the pink card. Told us we can now apply for the learner permit.

Can someone please confirm? I was going through the school presentation and it is not at all clear.

[Anonymous]

Yeah you got the pink card because your kid completed driver’s Ed. We did the supervised driving hours concurrently with behind the wheel because we used I Drive Smart where you can schedule the classes at your leisure.

[Anonymous]

Virginia has a very confusing process. You don't have to do all the steps in a specified order. My DS has a very late summer birthday and took the classroom portion of Driver's Ed BEFORE he was old enough to take the permit test.

To get a license you need to complete:
Permit Test
Hours driving with a parent
Classroom driver's ed (taken during PE if you're in FCPS)
Partners for Teen Safe Driving presentation - offered during the evenings at various FCPS high schools
Behind the Wheel - can take it through ACE (FCPS Adult Community Education) or a private company like I Drive Smart

The earliest you can take your permit test is at 15 years and 6 months. The earliest you can get your license is 16 years and 3 months. You need to have your permit for a minimum of 9 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Virginia has a very confusing process. You don't have to do all the steps in a specified order. My DS has a very late summer birthday and took the classroom portion of Driver's Ed BEFORE he was old enough to take the permit test.

To get a license you need to complete:
Permit Test
Hours driving with a parent
Classroom driver's ed (taken during PE if you're in FCPS)
Partners for Teen Safe Driving presentation - offered during the evenings at various FCPS high schools
Behind the Wheel - can take it through ACE (FCPS Adult Community Education) or a private company like I Drive Smart

The earliest you can take your permit test is at 15 years and 6 months. The earliest you can get your license is 16 years and 3 months. You need to have your permit for a minimum of 9 months.

Thank you so much!

Why cant FCPS put this in such a simple direct way? I was going through the pages of stuff and pdf's and it is like filling a jigsaw puzzle.

I wish they just listed this out in logical order like you did.

Thank you!!

[Anonymous]

Do you still need the Parents for Safe Driving? Kid in private school so have no idea when a class will occur. Did not see that requirement on the DMV website. Attended with older kid pre-COVID.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Virginia has a very confusing process. You don't have to do all the steps in a specified order. My DS has a very late summer birthday and took the classroom portion of Driver's Ed BEFORE he was old enough to take the permit test.

To get a license you need to complete:
Permit Test
Hours driving with a parent
Classroom driver's ed (taken during PE if you're in FCPS)
Partners for Teen Safe Driving presentation - offered during the evenings at various FCPS high schools
Behind the Wheel - can take it through ACE (FCPS Adult Community Education) or a private company like I Drive Smart

The earliest you can take your permit test is at 15 years and 6 months. The earliest you can get your license is 16 years and 3 months. You need to have your permit for a minimum of 9 months.

Thank you so much!

Why cant FCPS put this in such a simple direct way? I was going through the pages of stuff and pdf's and it is like filling a jigsaw puzzle.

I wish they just listed this out in logical order like you did.

Thank you!!

+100

I need a flow chart.
And DD (nor I) aren't in any rush to get a license so now I'm wondering how long that pink card is good for, if she fails the paper test how long can she procrastinate before taking it again, etc.

[Anonymous]

The driving practice that is required is 45 hours, minimum, with 15 being at night.

OP -- your original post seemed to suggest you thought it was 40 hours of practice with 10 being at night. That is wrong.

45 hours required (and you should do more)... and 15 at night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you still need the Parents for Safe Driving? Kid in private school so have no idea when a class will occur. Did not see that requirement on the DMV website. Attended with older kid pre-COVID.

Yes. All schools are required to have it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Virginia has a very confusing process. You don't have to do all the steps in a specified order. My DS has a very late summer birthday and took the classroom portion of Driver's Ed BEFORE he was old enough to take the permit test.

To get a license you need to complete:
Permit Test
Hours driving with a parent
Classroom driver's ed (taken during PE if you're in FCPS)
Partners for Teen Safe Driving presentation - offered during the evenings at various FCPS high schools
Behind the Wheel - can take it through ACE (FCPS Adult Community Education) or a private company like I Drive Smart

The earliest you can take your permit test is at 15 years and 6 months. The earliest you can get your license is 16 years and 3 months. You need to have your permit for a minimum of 9 months.

Thank you so much!

Why cant FCPS put this in such a simple direct way? I was going through the pages of stuff and pdf's and it is like filling a jigsaw puzzle.

I wish they just listed this out in logical order like you did.

Thank you!!

+100

I need a flow chart.
And DD (nor I) aren't in any rush to get a license so now I'm wondering how long that pink card is good for, if she fails the paper test how long can she procrastinate before taking it again, etc.

The permit? You can take it often but it does get harder after 18. Best thing is to get permit now while in high school even if you don’t plan on driving soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you still need the Parents for Safe Driving? Kid in private school so have no idea when a class will occur. Did not see that requirement on the DMV website. Attended with older kid pre-COVID.

Yes. All schools are required to have it.

You can take the parent teen driving session through a private driving school if you need it for private school students. Ours was virtual during covid through AA, I’m not sure about what they do now but it was part of the teen driving package when we signed up for the classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The driving practice that is required is 45 hours, minimum, with 15 being at night.

OP -- your original post seemed to suggest you thought it was 40 hours of practice with 10 being at night. That is wrong.

45 hours required (and you should do more)... and 15 at night.

It’s possible (often preferable) to schedule Behind the Wheel sessions before kid has completed the “required” 45/15.

[Anonymous]

I think what was confusing about the OP post was the fact that their child does not have their learners permit yet but already took drivers Ed in HS and completed the Partners in Safe teen driving with parent and received pink slip. I’m not sure how every FCPS HS incorporates Drivers Ed but ours typically does not schedule you in the class until you are close to 16 th birthday. A good majority Of the kids(not all) already have their permit while taking drivers Ed and complete their 45/15 driving practice as well as taking the 90 min PSTD with parent class get pink slip. All by the time Drivers Ed finished. They then do their Behind the Wheel and get the license after passing the BHTW test. One important rule many do not realize is that you have to hold your driving permit for at least 9 months before being able to get you license.