The ADE-1317 certificate is the Texas Adult Driver Education Certificate you receive after passing a state-approved six-hour driver education course. If you are under 25 and applying for your first Texas driver license, state law requires you to hand this certificate to the Department of Public Safety before you can take the driving skills test.1State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 521.1601 – Driver Education Required; Exception The course and certificate come from providers licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).
Who Needs the ADE-1317
Texas Transportation Code Section 521.1601 bars DPS from issuing a driver license to anyone younger than 25 who has not completed and passed an approved driver education course.1State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 521.1601 – Driver Education Required; Exception For adults 18 and older, that course is the six-hour adult program, and the certificate it generates is the ADE-1317. Teens take a different, longer course on a different certificate.
If you are 25 or older, the course is recommended but not required.2Department of Public Safety. Apply for a Texas Driver License Some applicants in that group still take it because the final exam can satisfy the written knowledge test at DPS. The certificate works the same way either way.
If You Already Hold an Out-of-State License
The education requirement does not apply to anyone who already holds a valid driver license from another state.1State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 521.1601 – Driver Education Required; Exception New Texas residents transferring a valid out-of-state license (or one expired less than two years) are exempt from the adult driver education course, the knowledge exam, the driving skills test, and the Impact Texas Drivers program.3Department of Public Safety. Moving to Texas: A Guide to Driver Licenses and IDs You do not need an ADE-1317.
Taking the Six-Hour Course
The adult driver education course runs six hours and covers the essentials of Texas traffic law and safe driving: right-of-way rules, road signs and signals, and the effects of alcohol, drugs, and distracted driving behind the wheel. It ends with a final exam, and you need a score of at least 70 percent to pass.
You can take the course online or in a classroom through any provider licensed by TDLR.4Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. TDLR Driver Education and Safety Certificates Online is the common choice because you can work at your own pace and often download the certificate immediately after passing. Prices generally run from about $25 to $50, and some providers charge a small extra fee for instant digital delivery. In-person schools may hand you a printed certificate on the spot or send it by mail.
Only courses from TDLR-licensed providers produce a valid ADE-1317. Before you pay, confirm your provider is on TDLR’s list — a cheap course from an unlicensed site will not be accepted at DPS.
What the Certificate Looks Like
Your ADE-1317 shows your full legal name as it should appear on your license, the course provider’s name and license number, your completion date, and a unique certificate number. DPS and TDLR use that number to verify your record. You can confirm yours yourself through TDLR’s DESSearch tool by entering the digits after the dash in the certificate number field.5Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. TDLR DESSearch
Check the name on the certificate against your identity documents before you head to DPS. If they do not match, you may have to go back to the course provider for a correction, which costs you time at the counter.
How Long the Certificate Is Good For
The ADE-1317 does not expire. Once you have it, you can use it whenever you are ready to apply.
Do not confuse it with the Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) certificate, which is a separate one-hour video program required of all first-time adult applicants and is valid for only 90 days after completion.6Impact Texas Drivers. FAQs If more than 90 days pass between finishing ITAD and taking your road test, you have to redo ITAD. The ADE-1317 stays valid regardless.
Replacing a Lost Certificate
If you misplace your ADE-1317, contact the provider that issued it. TDLR-licensed providers are required to keep student records, though older records may be in archival storage, which can slow a replacement. Save a digital copy or photo of the certificate when you first receive it so you are not depending on the provider later.
Bringing the Certificate to DPS
The ADE-1317 is one piece of what DPS needs to issue your first license. You will also need to complete the ITAD program and bring that certificate, prove your identity, lawful presence, Texas residency, and (if you own a vehicle) insurance, and pass a vision screening and the driving skills test at your appointment.7Texas Department of Public Safety. What to Bring When Applying for a Texas Driver License or Identification CardImpact Texas Drivers (ITD) Program DPS offices operate by appointment, which you can schedule up to six months in advance through the online portal at txdpsscheduler.com.8Department of Public Safety. Driver License Services – Appointments
At the counter, the technician will verify your ADE-1317 against TDLR’s records along with the rest of your documents. Bring the certificate itself, either the printed copy from your provider or a clean printout of the digital version. If the name, number, and completion date all line up, this part of your application is done.