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Connecticut’s 8-hour Safe Driving Practices course is a classroom course that every new driver must finish before the road test, whatever their age. It is taught at Connecticut-licensed commercial driving schools and high school driver education programs. The school reports your completion to the DMV electronically. This guide explains who must take it, what it covers, and how it fits into the teen and adult routes.
Key facts (Connecticut DMV, checked November 2026)
- Required for anyone who has not held a Connecticut license before and does not hold a valid license from another state.
- Must be finished before the road test. You can take it at any time before that.
- Taught only by Connecticut-licensed commercial driving schools or secondary (high) school programs.
- At least 4 of the 8 hours cover alcohol, drugs and driving.
- For 16 and 17 year olds, the 2-hour parent training is part of the program.
- Proof: the driver education certificate (EDEC, shown as CS-1 in the 2023 manual), sent electronically to the DMV.
Who must take the 8-hour course in Connecticut?
| Applicant | 8-hour course required? |
|---|---|
| Teen 16 or 17, any training route | Yes. It is part of the 30-hour school program, or taken at a school alongside home training |
| Adult 18 or older, never licensed | Yes, before the road test |
| 16 or 17 year old moving to Connecticut with an out-of-state license | Yes, including the 2-hour parent training, before converting the license |
| Holder of a valid license from another US state | No. You transfer the license instead |
| Former Connecticut license holder whose license expired 2 or more years ago | No, says the DMV adult permit page, though you must retest |
What the Safe Driving Practices course covers
The Connecticut manual says the approved 8-hour course includes at least 4 hours on:
- the nature, and the medical, biological and physiological effects, of alcohol and drugs on a driver
- the dangers of driving after drinking or drug use
- alcohol and drug abuse problems, and the penalties for alcohol and drug-related driving offenses
For teens, it also includes the mandatory 2-hour parent training class. A parent or guardian attends that class with the teen. It covers the laws for drivers under 18 and the dangers of teen driving.
Background on the alcohol rules taught: zero tolerance for drivers under 21 and drugged driving and cannabis.
How the 8-hour course fits each Connecticut route
Commercial driving school or high school (120-day route)
The 8-hour course is already inside the 30 hours of classroom training. You also need at least 8 hours behind the wheel with the school and 40 hours of practice driving in total. You can test after 120 days on the permit.
Home training (180-day route)
You do 22 hours of classroom-type study at home with a qualified trainer. Then you attend a commercial or high school for the 8-hour course and the 2-hour parent class. You also need 40 hours of practice driving, and you test after 180 days. See Connecticut home training and the parent class.
Adults 18 and older (90-day route)
The 8-hour course is the only classroom requirement. Take it any time before the road test. You must also hold your adult learner’s permit for 90 days, unless you are exempt.
How to sign up and get your certificate
- Choose a Connecticut-licensed commercial driving school (the DMV lists driving school locations), or ask whether your high school runs driver education.
- Book the 8-hour course. Teens should book the 2-hour parent class at the same time.
- Complete the course. The school issues the driver education certificate and sends it to the DMV electronically.
- Book your road test once your permit time is up. See the Connecticut road test checklist.
How much does the 8-hour course cost in Connecticut?
The DMV does not set or publish a price. Each licensed driving school sets its own fee, so compare schools and ask what is included. The DMV’s own fees are separate. As of November 2026 they are a $40 testing fee, $19 for the permit and $84 for the license.
Common questions
Can I take the Connecticut 8-hour course online?
The DMV pages say the course is taken through a Connecticut-licensed driving school or secondary school. They do not say whether online delivery is allowed. Ask the school how it runs the course, and make sure the school is DMV-licensed.
Do I need the 8-hour course if I am 18?
Yes, if you have never been licensed. You must finish it before the road test.
Can I take the course before I get my permit?
The adult permit page says you can take it at any time, as long as it is done before the road test. Teens should check with their school, because the course is part of the teen training program.
Is the 8-hour course the same as the Work Zone Safety Course?
No. The Work Zone Safety Course is a separate, free online course that is required before the permit test (since January 1, 2026). The 8-hour course is required before the road test.
I have a license from another country. Do I need it?
A license from Canada, Germany or France can be transferred like an out-of-state license. Holders of other foreign licenses must get an adult learner’s permit. The DMV’s manual says anyone without a Connecticut or other-state license takes the 8-hour course, so ask the DMV how it applies to you.
What is the D.A.S.P.?
The DMV’s “Get a driver’s license” page mentions an eight-hour Drug and Alcohol Safety Program. It does not explain how this relates to the Safe Driving Practices course. Ask your driving school which course it offers. See the full Connecticut licensing guide for every step.
Sources
- Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, “Driving school requirements for teenagers in CT” (portal.ct.gov)
- Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, “Get an adult learner’s permit” (portal.ct.gov)
- Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, “Teen driver’s license information” (portal.ct.gov)
- Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, “Get a driver’s license” (portal.ct.gov)
- Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, “Take the knowledge and vision tests” (portal.ct.gov)
- Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, “Fees” (portal.ct.gov)
- Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, “State of Connecticut Driver’s Manual” (revised March 2023) (portal.ct.gov)