Learner's permit (drivers ed)

[Anonymous]

DS is about to finish summer PE with fcps. Whats the next step to obtain the learners permit?

Schedule appointment with DMV and bring the so called pink slip? When do we get the pink slip and how?

[Anonymous]

You can get the learners permit at any time, once they are old enough. You do not need the PE drivers ed to get a Learners Permit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can get the learners permit at any time, once they are old enough. You do not need the PE drivers ed to get a Learners Permit.

That does not answer OPs question. His kid is about to finish pe drivers ed. I think this is their last week of class. The learners permit exam was completed last week. What is their next step?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can get the learners permit at any time, once they are old enough. You do not need the PE drivers ed to get a Learners Permit.

That does not answer OPs question. His kid is about to finish pe drivers ed. I think this is their last week of class. The learners permit exam was completed last week. What is their next step?

I’m confused then. My kids did not take a learners permit exam as part of their PE drivers Ed. They took it at the DMV. When was this changed?

[Anonymous]

The next step is to fill out the permit application online, print it, then head to the DMV to take the test. You do not need an appointment — you can just walk in, but you will wait a bit. Bring all the required documents with you (check the DMV website). There is a practice test on the website that would be useful for your child to try before taking the actual test at the DMV.

They do not need the pink slip until they test for their actual driver’s license. That form will be sent to your school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can get the learners permit at any time, once they are old enough. You do not need the PE drivers ed to get a Learners Permit.

That does not answer OPs question. His kid is about to finish pe drivers ed. I think this is their last week of class. The learners permit exam was completed last week. What is their next step?

I’m confused then. My kids did not take a learners permit exam as part of their PE drivers Ed. They took it at the DMV. When was this changed?

Last week was not the learners permit exam - it was the final exam for the driver’s ed section of online PE. OP’s child still needs to take the learner’s permit exam at the DMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can get the learners permit at any time, once they are old enough. You do not need the PE drivers ed to get a Learners Permit.

That does not answer OPs question. His kid is about to finish pe drivers ed. I think this is their last week of class. The learners permit exam was completed last week. What is their next step?

I’m confused then. My kids did not take a learners permit exam as part of their PE drivers Ed. They took it at the DMV. When was this changed?

Last week was not the learners permit exam - it was the final exam for the driver’s ed section of online PE. OP’s child still needs to take the learner’s permit exam at the DMV.

Then why did the pp say. “The learners permit exam was completed last week.”

[Anonymous]

Some FCPS schools offer permit testing AT school now instead of the DMV. Pretty sure Oakton and Westfield did last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can get the learners permit at any time, once they are old enough. You do not need the PE drivers ed to get a Learners Permit.

That does not answer OPs question. His kid is about to finish pe drivers ed. I think this is their last week of class. The learners permit exam was completed last week. What is their next step?

I’m confused then. My kids did not take a learners permit exam as part of their PE drivers Ed. They took it at the DMV. When was this changed?

Last week was not the learners permit exam - it was the final exam for the driver’s ed section of online PE. OP’s child still needs to take the learner’s permit exam at the DMV.

Then why did the pp say. “The learners permit exam was completed last week.”

Sorry I don't know what my ds took. I thought it was the learners permit exam but apparently there is another one at the DMV. I'm all confused with steps and names of steps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some FCPS schools offer permit testing AT school now instead of the DMV. Pretty sure Oakton and Westfield did last year.

I'm confused I thought that was the whole purpose of the drives ed with fcps to bypass the DMV exam but apparently my kid has to do another exam at the DMV. Can someone clarify?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can get the learners permit at any time, once they are old enough. You do not need the PE drivers ed to get a Learners Permit.

That does not answer OPs question. His kid is about to finish pe drivers ed. I think this is their last week of class. The learners permit exam was completed last week. What is their next step?

I’m confused then. My kids did not take a learners permit exam as part of their PE drivers Ed. They took it at the DMV. When was this changed?

Last week was not the learners permit exam - it was the final exam for the driver’s ed section of online PE. OP’s child still needs to take the learner’s permit exam at the DMV.

Then why did the pp say. “The learners permit exam was completed last week.”

Sorry I don't know what my ds took. I thought it was the learners permit exam but apparently there is another one at the DMV. I'm all confused with steps and names of steps.

OP, my kid is also finishing summer PE as are several of his friends who already have their permit. My understanding is that the exam from last week is needed for the actual driver's license. Your kid is permit eligible at 15.5 (mine is not old enough yet) regardless of whether they have taken DE yet. Many will take it during the school year and already have permits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some FCPS schools offer permit testing AT school now instead of the DMV. Pretty sure Oakton and Westfield did last year.

I'm confused I thought that was the whole purpose of the drives ed with fcps to bypass the DMV exam but apparently my kid has to do another exam at the DMV. Can someone clarify?

When my kids got their license, they needed:
The PE Driver ‘s Ed class
For DH or I to go with them to watch PSAs about driving. Under the influence - they show this in the venting at their HS several times a year
To take at test at DMV to get their Learner’s Permit- a picture is taken for the permit and will also be used for their drivers license
45 hours of driving with 15 at night
The last thing is “Behind the Wheel” - which is 7 or 8 days in a row of about two hours of driving with an instructor and other student. At the end of this, the instructor passes them (or not) and gives them a temporary paper Driver’s License.

The step below stopped during Covid and I don’t know if they have started it up again.

90 days or so after that they got a postcard telling them the day and time they needed to show up at the courthouse with a parent to get their driver’s license- after about a 45 minute talk about not driving under the influence or after curfew. They gave the license to the parent and said it was up to them to give it to the child.


The DMV has a great pdf of 30 minute driving lessons for the whole 45 hours - it was a great starting place - we ended up doing things at a slightly different pace, but it was a good list of the skill needed as they progressed. We also had our kids do way more than the minimum 45 hours and made sure they had some winter driving experience too.

[Anonymous]

Your kid probably took the class final which every kid takes no matter when they take drivers ed.

For the permit test, go to the DMV at 15.5 years old.

Permit testing can be done at school but since your child isn’t taking drivers at ed during the school year it might not be an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some FCPS schools offer permit testing AT school now instead of the DMV. Pretty sure Oakton and Westfield did last year.

I'm confused I thought that was the whole purpose of the drives ed with fcps to bypass the DMV exam but apparently my kid has to do another exam at the DMV. Can someone clarify?

When my kids got their license, they needed:
The PE Driver ‘s Ed class
For DH or I to go with them to watch PSAs about driving. Under the influence - they show this in the venting at their HS several times a year
To take at test at DMV to get their Learner’s Permit- a picture is taken for the permit and will also be used for their drivers license
45 hours of driving with 15 at night
The last thing is “Behind the Wheel” - which is 7 or 8 days in a row of about two hours of driving with an instructor and other student. At the end of this, the instructor passes them (or not) and gives them a temporary paper Driver’s License.

The step below stopped during Covid and I don’t know if they have started it up again.

90 days or so after that they got a postcard telling them the day and time they needed to show up at the courthouse with a parent to get their driver’s license- after about a 45 minute talk about not driving under the influence or after curfew. They gave the license to the parent and said it was up to them to give it to the child.


The DMV has a great pdf of 30 minute driving lessons for the whole 45 hours - it was a great starting place - we ended up doing things at a slightly different pace, but it was a good list of the skill needed as they progressed. We also had our kids do way more than the minimum 45 hours and made sure they had some winter driving experience too.

My DC got their license last year, and Fairfax still had not reinstated the courthouse license pickup - it came in the mail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can get the learners permit at any time, once they are old enough. You do not need the PE drivers ed to get a Learners Permit.

That does not answer OPs question. His kid is about to finish pe drivers ed. I think this is their last week of class. The learners permit exam was completed last week. What is their next step?

I’m confused then. My kids did not take a learners permit exam as part of their PE drivers Ed. They took it at the DMV. When was this changed?

Last week was not the learners permit exam - it was the final exam for the driver’s ed section of online PE. OP’s child still needs to take the learner’s permit exam at the DMV.

Then why did the pp say. “The learners permit exam was completed last week.”

The OP misunderstood what test was last week — it was the final exam for the driver’s ed portion of the class, not the permit test — although, it was god practice for the permit test.