Georgia’s Joshua’s Law driver education course is built around 10 units delivered across 30 hours of classroom or online instruction. The units move from a new driver’s basic responsibilities through vehicle operation, highway driving, hazard perception, and vehicle maintenance. The course is one part of a larger requirement: to get a Class D license, a teen also has to complete behind-the-wheel training and 40 hours of supervised driving.
The 10 Units in the Course
Whether the course is taken in a classroom or through an approved online provider, the 10 units follow the same structure:
- Unit 1: Your responsibility as a licensed driver
- Unit 2: Motor vehicle operation fundamentals
- Unit 3: Motor vehicle operation fundamentals, continued
- Unit 4: Basic maneuvering in moderate-risk environments
- Unit 5: Driving on limited-access roads like highways
- Unit 6: Processing risk information in real time
- Unit 7: How personal factors affect driver performance
- Unit 8: Driving in adverse conditions such as rain or fog
- Unit 9: Vehicle systems and performance
- Unit 10: Georgia driver responsibilities after you receive your license
The early units build foundational knowledge, covering traffic laws and how a car actually works. The middle units get into real-world driving: merging on highways, spotting hazards before they become emergencies, and understanding how fatigue or emotions change your reaction time. The last two units shift toward keeping the vehicle in good shape and knowing what Georgia expects of you once you’re licensed.
How the Units Fit Into the Full Requirement
The 30-hour, 10-unit course is a significant piece of Joshua’s Law but not the entire thing. Georgia law requires three separate training components before the Department of Driver Services will issue a Class D license: the driver education course, behind-the-wheel training, and supervised driving experience.1Georgia Department of Driver Services. Joshua’s Law Requirementsp>
Behind-the-wheel training is either 6 hours with a certified instructor or 40 hours of parent-taught driving. On top of that, every applicant has to log at least 40 hours of supervised driving with a parent or guardian, with a minimum of 6 hours at night.1Georgia Department of Driver Services. Joshua’s Law Requirements A parent or guardian must verify those hours in a sworn statement when the teen applies.2Justia. Georgia Code 40-5-22 – Issuance of Instruction Permit or Driver’s License
One other requirement gets overlooked because it sits outside the 10 units: a separate alcohol and drug awareness course. Georgia will not issue a Class D license without it.2Justia. Georgia Code 40-5-22 – Issuance of Instruction Permit or Driver’s License
The teen also has to have held a learner’s permit for at least one year and one day before applying for the Class D license.1Georgia Department of Driver Services. Joshua’s Law Requirements
Four Ways to Complete Joshua’s Law
The Department of Driver Services recognizes four methods for satisfying the law. Each one includes the same 30-hour course and 40 hours of supervised driving. The difference is how the classroom portion and behind-the-wheel training get done.1Georgia Department of Driver Services. Joshua’s Law Requirements
- Method 1: 30 hours of classroom instruction at a certified school, 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training at that school, and 40 hours of supervised driving with a parent or guardian.
- Method 2: 30 hours of classroom instruction at a certified school, plus 40 hours of parent-taught behind-the-wheel driving, which counts toward the supervised driving requirement.
- Method 3: 30 hours of online instruction through a certified virtual program, 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training at a certified school, and 40 hours of supervised driving with a parent or guardian.
- Method 4: 30 hours of online instruction through a certified virtual program, plus 40 hours of parent-taught behind-the-wheel driving.
The online option gives families flexibility on the classroom side, but the behind-the-wheel hours still have to happen either at a certified school or under parent supervision. There is no path that lets a teen finish the entire requirement online.
Who the Course Applies To
Joshua’s Law applies to every 16- and 17-year-old seeking a Class D license in Georgia. Since July 1, 2021, 17-year-olds have had to meet the same requirements as 16-year-olds; a prior loophole that let older teens skip the training is closed. A narrow exception exists for a 17-year-old who has enlisted in the U.S. military, who can apply for a full Class C license with proof of enlistment.3Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. Joshua’s Law