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If you are under 18 in Washington, you need two things before an intermediate license: a state-approved driver training course and 50 hours of supervised practice, 10 of them at night. This checklist sets out exactly what the course must include under Washington rules, who can supervise your practice and what to bring when you apply.
Key facts (Washington, as of November 2026)
- Course: at least 30 hours classroom, 6 hours behind the wheel and 1 hour in-car observation (WAC 308-108).
- Practice: 50 hours, 10 at night, supervised by a licensed driver 21+ who has held a license for at least 3 years (RCW 46.20.075).
- A parent, guardian, employer or approved responsible adult certifies the hours.
Where to take driver training in Washington
Two kinds of provider can run the required course:
- A school district or approved private school with a traffic safety education program authorized by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. These are open to students enrolled in a public or approved private school, or receiving home-based instruction.
- A driver training school licensed and approved each year by DOL.
Enrolling lets you apply for your instruction permit at 15 instead of 15 and a half, and DOL may waive the permit knowledge test while you are enrolled.
What a Washington teen driver training course must include
For students under 18 at a licensed driver training school, WAC 308-108-150 and 308-108-160 require:
| Part | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Classroom | 30 hours, instructor-led (lecture, group work, discussion) |
| Behind the wheel | 6 hours with a licensed instructor, or 5 hours plus 4 hours of driving simulation |
| In-car observation | 1 hour or more |
| Course length | Not completed in fewer than 30 calendar days |
| Daily limits | 1 to 2 hours classroom and no more than 1 hour behind the wheel per day (make-up classes up to 4 hours) |
| Parent night | At least 1 hour (can count as one of the 30 classroom hours) |
| Exams | Final written and behind-the-wheel exams |
State law allows up to four hours of behind-the-wheel instruction in a single day in hardship cases, such as long travel distances. It also encourages schools to use DOL-certified self-paced online components for classroom content. Ask your school how it delivers the classroom part.
The course must cover Washington’s intermediate license rules and organ and tissue donation awareness. The parent night covers parent responsibilities, intermediate license laws and a parent guide to teen driving.
The 50-hour supervised practice rule
Under RCW 46.20.075 you must present a certification that:
- you have had at least 50 hours of driving experience;
- at least 10 of those hours were at night;
- each session was supervised by someone at least 21 who has held a valid license for at least 3 years;
- you have no pending ticket or traffic citation.
The certification is signed by your parent, guardian, employer or a responsible adult. A responsible adult is someone over 21 approved by DOL who has a family, kinship or caretaker link to you, or supports you in a professional role (for example a social worker).
Watch the supervisor ages. On a permit, the person beside you can be a driver training instructor or any licensed driver with five years of driving experience. For hours to count toward the 50, the supervisor must be 21+ with at least three years licensed.
Practice log checklist
- Record date, start and end time, day or night, and the supervisor’s name for every drive.
- Get the night hours done in different seasons, not all in summer.
- Cover freeways, rain, city traffic, rural roads, hill parking and parallel parking.
- Total the log before you book the drive test. Short logs mean a wasted appointment.
National ideas for what to practice: supervised driving hours by state, freeway driving, snow, fog and rain.
Also required: work zone and first responder safety course
From May 1, 2026 until January 1, 2031, first-time applicants under 25 must pass a DOL-approved online course on driver work zone and first responder safety. State law requires it to be free for these applicants.
Common questions
How many hours of driver’s ed do you need in Washington?
At a licensed school, at least 30 hours classroom, 6 hours behind the wheel (or 5 plus 4 simulator hours) and 1 hour of observation.
Do driver training hours count toward the 50?
The law asks for 50 hours of driving experience supervised by a person 21+ licensed for 3 years. Check with DOL or your school whether instructor hours can be included on your certification.
Can a grandparent supervise my practice?
Yes, if they are at least 21 and have held a valid license for at least 3 years. A parent or guardian still needs to sign the certification, unless an employer or approved responsible adult signs instead.
Can I skip driver training?
Only in narrow cases. DOL may waive it if you could not take a course, need to drive and can drive safely. It may also waive it if you were licensed in, or completed equivalent training in, a reciprocal jurisdiction.
Can I finish the course in two weeks?
No. The rules say a course cannot be completed in fewer than 30 calendar days.
Back to the Washington learning to drive guide. Next: the drive test and intermediate rules. Over 18? See driver training rules for new drivers 18 to 24.
Sources
- Washington State Legislature, “WAC 308-108-150 Course requirements” (app.leg.wa.gov)
- Washington State Legislature, “WAC 308-108-160 Behind the wheel instruction and observation” (app.leg.wa.gov)
- Washington State Legislature, “RCW 46.20.075 Intermediate license” (app.leg.wa.gov)
- Washington State Legislature, “RCW 46.20.100 Persons under 18” (app.leg.wa.gov)
- Washington State Legislature, “RCW 46.20.055 Instruction permit” (app.leg.wa.gov)
- Washington State Legislature, “RCW 46.20.1191 Driver training education course, driver work zone and first responder safety” (app.leg.wa.gov)
- Washington State Legislature, “RCW 28A.220.020 Definitions” (app.leg.wa.gov)