Pennsylvania Driver Education FAQs

You can apply for a Pennsylvania learner's permit when you are 16. You must complete the required application, physical examination, vision screening, and knowledge test.

The knowledge test has 18 multiple-choice questions. You need at least 15 correct answers to pass.

No. Driver education is not required simply to obtain the junior license, but an approved driver education course is required if you want to qualify for the regular license before age 18.

If you are under 18, you need at least 65 hours of supervised skill-building. The total must include at least 10 hours at night and 5 hours in bad weather.

You must hold your learner's permit for at least six months before taking the road test for a junior driver's license.

Pennsylvania's standardized driver education program includes at least 6 hours of professional behind-the-wheel instruction. This is separate from the 65 hours of supervised practice required for drivers under 18.

Online driver education is available, including Pennsylvania courses listed by Teendrivingcourse.com. If you need the course for an early unrestricted license, verify that the specific course is approved for that purpose before enrolling.

Yes. Teendrivingcourse's Pennsylvania pages state that a certificate of completion is sent after you complete the online course.

No. The online classroom portion does not replace the learner's permit process, supervised driving, road test, or other Pennsylvania licensing requirements. If you are pursuing the early unrestricted-license option, the driver education course must meet Pennsylvania's approval requirements.

A supervising driver generally must be at least 21 and licensed, or may be a licensed parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, or spouse who is at least 18. The supervising driver must sit in the front seat.

If you are under 18, you must first complete the six-month permit period and the required 65 hours of supervised driving, including the required nighttime and bad-weather hours. You must also bring the required documentation to the test.

If you are under 18, Pennsylvania requires you to wait seven days before taking the road test again. You have three attempts with each learner's permit before additional permit action is required.

You may qualify before 18 after holding your junior license for at least one year, completing an approved driver education course, maintaining the required crash- and violation-free record, and obtaining the required consent. The earliest qualifying age is 17½.

Young drivers generally cannot drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., except for specified purposes, and passenger restrictions apply during the first six months. The passenger limit can increase after six months if the driver continues to meet the applicable requirements.

Pennsylvania's Paul Miller's Law prohibits drivers from using hand-held interactive mobile devices while driving, including when temporarily stopped in traffic. Hands-free use is permitted for certain functions, such as calls and GPS, subject to the law's requirements.