Driving Tests

Delaware Driver's Ed Requirements: Grades and Certificate (2026)

informational·how to guide·Published September 18, 2026

Do you need driver's ed for a Delaware Level 1 Learner's Permit, and what grades do you need?

Yes, if you are under 18. Your teacher can certify you only after you finish the classroom and behind-the-wheel course, are in tenth grade or higher by September 30 of that school year, and have passing grades in at least 5 credits on your latest report card, 2 of them in English, math, science, world language or social studies. The current rule took effect August 1, 2026.

Where the Delaware driver's ed rules come from

The grades and certification rules are in 14 Del. C. § 4125. The act that changed them, Senate Bill 246 (85 Del. Laws c. 270), was approved May 21, 2026 and took effect August 1, 2026. The certificate name and the license steps also come from the Delaware Driver Manual (July 2026), from 21 Del. C. §§ 2701, 2707, 2710 and 2713, and from the DMV new residents guide (2026). This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Delaware DMV (dmv.de.gov) before you drive.

Who must take driver's ed in Delaware?

A person under 18 cannot get a Delaware license without a driver education course. For the Level 1 Learner's Permit, a course in Delaware must be in a public or private high school and approved by the Department of Education. For a high school course in another state, see the FAQ below. The permit is open from age 16 to under 18, or from 16 to under 22 with an active Individualized Education Program (IEP).

What your teacher checks before certifying you

What your teacher checks before certifying you
Requirement	What the law says
Course	Both parts of the state-approved course: classroom, and behind-the-wheel instruction and observation.
Traffic stops	You show knowledge of traffic stops by a law-enforcement officer.
Grade level	Enrolled in tenth grade or higher on or before September 30 of the school year of the course.
Passing grades	Passing grades in at least 5 credits on your most recent published report card.
Type of credits	All 5 in a regular course of study, or an equivalent that your school's local governing body approves. At least 2 in English, mathematics, science, world language or social studies.
Final grade	If your report card shows a marking period grade and a final grade, the final grade decides if you passed.

How your school counts the 5 credits

Since August 1, 2026, the Code text sets the grade level and report card rules in the table above. The Department of Education sets by regulation how the credits are counted, including how it works out equivalent credit, so ask your school counselor how your own courses count. A local school board may also set rules that are higher than the state minimum, so your school may ask for more than the law does.

What if your grades or situation do not fit the rule?

You finished the course but your grades miss the rule

You are eligible for certification if you meet the rules in the next marking period. If you fail at the end of that period, you are ineligible.

You have an active IEP

You have until your special education eligibility ends at age 22 to complete the certification. If your IEP changes your grading or course of study, your school principal and IEP team can find you eligible when you make satisfactory progress under the IEP.

You need special evaluation or equipment because of a disability

Your driver education teacher identifies you, and the DMV tests you.

The DMV issued your permit although you did not meet these rules

The permit is cancelled, all fees are forfeited and you must apply again as a new applicant.

What is the Blue/White Certificate?

The Delaware Driver Manual calls the proof of the course the Delaware Driver Education Certificate, which people call the Blue Certificate or White Certificate. It must meet all Department of Education criteria to be valid. The law calls the teacher's document the "High School Driver Education Certificate". After the course, the teacher issues the certificate, and the DMV accepts it in place of its own written and road skills tests for 6 months from the date of issue. After 6 months, you must take all the DMV tests, so do not wait to apply.

The traffic stop knowledge requirement

Your teacher can certify you only after you show knowledge of traffic stops by police, as 21 Del. C. § 2713(e) requires. The topics include your rights during a stop, the laws on questioning and proof of identity, the officer's role and procedures, how to interact with the officer, and how to file a complaint or a compliment. Practice two of them with the free questions on what to do when emergency lights appear behind you and the officer's normal role during a stop. The guide to the Delaware written test and traffic stop questions explains who gives the test.

From driver's ed to the Level 1 permit

1
Reach tenth grade
Be enrolled in tenth grade or higher on or before September 30 of the school year of your course.
2
Finish the course
Complete the classroom part and the behind-the-wheel instruction and observation, and show your knowledge of traffic stops.
3
Keep your grades up
Hold passing grades in at least 5 credits on your most recent published report card, 2 of them in English, math, science, world language or social studies.
4
Pass the tests and get certified
Pass the written test and the road skills test, given by your driver education teacher or by the DMV. The teacher then certifies you as qualified for licensing.
5
Apply in person with your sponsor
Your sponsor signs your application. Apply at a DMV office in Delaware City, Dover, Georgetown or Wilmington, and bring your certificate.

Can you drive before you have a permit?

Yes, inside the course. A student in an approved Department of Education driver education course can drive without a learner's permit while a certified driver education teacher supervises. For practice outside the lessons, the DMV can issue a Driver Education Learner's Permit after your 16th birthday, if you are enrolled in the course and finished its minimum hours of driving and in-the-car observation.

Driver Education Learner's Permit rules

Your sponsor signs the application, and you pay the full license fee when you apply.
The permit is valid for 4 months. If you do not pass the required examinations in that time, the permit is void and the fee is forfeited.
A licensed parent or guardian supervises you from the front seat. If no parent or guardian is licensed, the supervisor is a licensed driver 25 or older who has held a Class D license for at least 5 years.
You may not use a phone or similar device while you drive, unless you stop off the travel lanes.
Your driving time counts toward the Level 1 driving experience rules in the guide to Level 1 permit supervision, curfew and passengers.

Key takeaways

Under 18, you need an approved driver education course before a Delaware license or Level 1 Learner's Permit.
Since August 1, 2026, the teacher can certify you only if you are in tenth grade or higher by September 30 and have passing grades in 5 credits, 2 of them in core subjects.
If your grades miss the rule, you can qualify by meeting it in the next marking period.
The teacher's certificate replaces the DMV written and road skills tests for 6 months. After that, full DMV testing is required.
Next step: practice the rules of the road on the free Delaware Class D practice test.

Delaware driver's ed: common questions

Can I take driver's ed in ninth grade in Delaware?

The law requires you to be enrolled in tenth grade or higher on or before September 30 of the school year when you take the course. A student who is still in ninth grade on that date does not meet the rule for that school year, so your teacher cannot certify you.

How long is a Delaware driver's ed certificate good for?

Six months. The DMV accepts the High School Driver Education Certificate in place of its written and road skills tests for 6 months from the date your teacher issues it. After that, the certificate has expired and the DMV gives you the full tests, so apply for your permit soon after the course.

What happens if I fail a class after driver's ed?

You get one more chance. If you meet the grade rules during the next marking period, your teacher can certify you. If you still miss them at the end of that period, you are not eligible for certification. If the DMV issued a permit against the rule, it is cancelled and the fees are forfeited.

What if I took driver's ed in another state?

Bring a certified copy of your high school transcript that shows the course. The DMV new residents guide (2026) says the Department of Education must make sure that an out-of-state course is equal to the Delaware driver education requirements. The Manual adds that the Department of Education approves the out-of-state certificate, and you show that approval to the DMV.

Is the Blue/White Certificate the same as the Level 1 permit?

No. The certificate is proof that you passed an approved course, and it can stand in for the DMV tests for 6 months. The Level 1 Learner's Permit is the permit itself, and you also need your teacher's certification and your sponsor's signature to get it.