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Before an Alaska teen can get a provisional license, a parent, legal guardian or employer must certify at least 40 hours of driving experience, including at least 10 hours in progressively challenging conditions such as darkness or bad weather. This checklist is for Alaska parents and learners aged 14 to 17. It covers who can supervise, what counts toward the 10 hours, and how the certification is signed on form D1 or form 433.
Key facts (as of November 2026)
- Total: at least 40 hours of driving experience.
- Of those, at least 10 hours in progressively challenging circumstances, such as inclement weather and nighttime driving.
- Supervisor: a licensed driver at least 21 years old with at least 1 year of experience in the same type of vehicle, seated beside you.
- Certified by: a parent, legal guardian or employer (manual), signed on form D1 or a notarized form 433.
- When: at the provisional license stage, after at least 6 months on the permit.
Who can supervise practice driving in Alaska?
Whenever you drive on a permit, the person beside you must:
- hold a valid driver license
- be at least 21 years old
- have at least 1 year of driving experience in the same type or class of vehicle you are driving
- sit in the front passenger seat at all times
The supervisor does not have to be a parent. The certification, though, comes from the person giving consent (see below).
What counts toward the 10 challenging hours
The manual describes “progressively challenging circumstances, such as driving in inclement weather and nighttime driving”. Form 433 gives snow, ice, rain and darkness as examples. Build up to them step by step:
| Stage | Conditions | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dusk on quiet roads | Headlight use, dimming at 500 feet for oncoming traffic and 300 feet when following, watching the roadside for moose |
| 2 | Full darkness, town streets | Glare recovery, not overdriving your headlights (the four-second rule works at night too) |
| 3 | Rain or wet roads | Wipers, longer gaps (six seconds or more) |
| 4 | Packed snow, empty parking lot first | Gentle starts and stops, skid recovery at low speed on private property |
| 5 | Snow or ice in light traffic | Slowing well before stops; bridges and shaded spots freeze first |
| 6 | Highway at night or in poor visibility | Headlights on when visibility is 1,000 feet or less; low beams in fog and snow |
The skills behind each stage: driving in Alaska winter conditions and moose country.
The 30 everyday hours: a skills checklist
- Starting, stopping and smooth speed control
- Turn signals for the last 100 feet before every turn
- Left and right turns, including one-way streets
- Lane changes with mirror and over-the-shoulder checks
- Following at four seconds or more
- Backing in a straight line, looking out the rear window
- Parallel parking (the test space is 10 by 30 feet) and 3-point turns
- Quick stops
- Uncontrolled intersections, roundabouts and stop signs
- Entering and leaving a freeway
- Pulling over when five or more vehicles are lined up behind you on a two-lane rural road
These match the graded tasks in Alaska road test tasks and automatic fails.
How the certification is signed
The manual and form 433 ask for the hours to be certified by signature. A simple log (date, minutes, conditions, skills) still makes the signature honest and shows where the gaps are.
Option 1: form D1 in person
The parent or legal guardian signs the consent section on the back of form D1 (Rev. 10/13/2025) in front of a DMV representative. By signing, they certify that a provisional license applicant has had at least 40 hours of driving experience, including at least 10 hours in progressively challenging circumstances.
Option 2: form 433, notarized
If the parent cannot come to the DMV, they complete form 433, tick the provisional license box and sign in front of a notary. The form certifies at least 10 hours in inclement weather (snow, ice, rain, darkness and so on) out of 40 hours in total. It must be handed in when the provisional license is issued.
Before you sign: checklist for parents
- The teen has held the permit at least 6 months.
- There have been no traffic convictions in the last 6 months.
- Total hours are 40 or more.
- At least 10 of those hours were in darkness or bad weather.
- You understand that the person who signs consent is liable for damage the minor causes while driving, until 18, and can cancel the license in writing (form 424).
- You have proof of relationship, such as the birth certificate, plus name change documents if your name has changed.
Common questions
Do I need a driving log for the Alaska DMV?
The manual asks for a signed certification of the hours. Keep a log anyway, and ask your DMV office if you are unsure what to bring.
Can my employer certify the hours?
The manual lists a parent, legal guardian or employer. Form D1’s certification is signed by the parent or legal guardian who gives consent.
Does practice in the dark during an Alaska winter afternoon count?
Yes. The rule is about conditions such as darkness and bad weather, not the time on the clock.
Can my 19-year-old sibling supervise me?
No. The supervisor must be at least 21 with at least 1 year of driving experience.
Is 40 hours a lot compared with other states?
See supervised driving hours by state.
Back to the full guide: learning to drive in Alaska. Next: Alaska provisional license rules.
Sources
- Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles, “Form D1: Driver License, Permit or Identification Card Transaction Application” (Rev. 10/13/2025) (dmv.alaska.gov)
- Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles, “Form 433: Parent/Guardian Consent for a Minor” (Rev. 08/28/2018) (dmv.alaska.gov)
- Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles, “Alaska Driver Manual” (Rev. 10/2025) (dmv.alaska.gov)
- Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles, “Instruction Permit” (dmv.alaska.gov)
- Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles, “Provisional License” (dmv.alaska.gov)
- Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles, “Road Test Information” (dmv.alaska.gov)