Driving Tests

Louisiana Driver's License at 18: The 14-Hour Pre-Licensing Course

informational·how to guide·Published September 20, 2026

What do I need to get my first Louisiana license at 18 or older?

At 18 or older, you take a pre-licensing course before your first Louisiana Class E license: 6 hours of classroom and 8 hours of driving, called the 14-hour course. You get a Temporary Instructional Permit (TIP) first, pass the knowledge test with 80%, pass the road skills test at the school, and sign a statement of 50 supervised practice hours, 15 of them at night.

Where these rules come from

Louisiana sets the course rules in R.S. 32:402.1 and the 50-hour statement in R.S. 32:405.1. The Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) explains the course on its Student/Parent information page. The fee, test and exemption details come from the OMV New Licenses and Permits pages, OMV policies 1.00, 6.01 and 18.01 and the Class D & E Driver's Guide. This guide is current as of 2026. When a page words a rule differently from the law, this guide follows the law. Confirm the rules with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (expresslane.org) before you drive.

Steps to your first Louisiana license at 18 or older

1
Pick a licensed driving school
Driving schools licensed by the OMV give the 14-hour course. Each school sets its own price and schedule, so ask more than one school. The OMV takes no first-time application without written proof of a course.
2
Get a TIP
Apply at the OMV for a Class E Temporary Instructional Permit before the knowledge test. You also need it for the driving lessons and for the road skills test.
3
Finish the 6 classroom hours and pass the knowledge test
The school gives the OMV knowledge test at the end of the classroom part. You need 80% to pass.
4
Finish the 8 driving hours and the road skills test
You drive on public roads with an instructor. The school gives the road skills test as part of the driving hours. You need a score of 80 or better.
5
Sign the 50-hour statement
You give the OMV a signed statement that you did at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice, 15 of them at night.
6
Take the sealed envelope to the OMV
Bring the sealed envelope from the school, your TIP and your original documents. You give up the TIP and get your license or learner's permit with no extra fee. The OMV does not accept photocopies.

14-hour course or 38-hour course for an adult?

14-hour course or 38-hour course for an adult?
Part	14-hour course	38-hour course
Classroom	6 hours	30 hours
Driving	8 hours	8 hours
Time to finish the driving hours	90 days after the last classroom day	120 days after the last classroom day
Open to you at 18 or older	Yes: this is the adult pre-licensing course	Yes: you may take the 38-hour course instead
Course certificate valid for	5 years after you finish the course	5 years after you finish the course

Can I take the classroom part online?

Yes, if the Department of Public Safety (DPS) approved the school's method. The law lets a licensed provider give all or part of the 6 classroom hours outside a classroom. DPS can approve the method only when its testing and security are at least as secure as in a classroom. Ask the school if DPS approved its online class before you pay. The 8 driving hours always take place in a car with an instructor.

How the TIP works

The TIP is the Class E permit that you hold during the course. It covers the knowledge test, the driving lessons and the road skills test. With a TIP, you may drive on public roads only with a driver education instructor, during a lesson or the test. The TIP fee is the same as the fee for a Class E license. The practice question on what a TIP allows tests this rule.

The knowledge test and the road skills test

The OMV knowledge test has 40 questions, and you need 80%: at least 32 correct answers. The school gives it at the end of the classroom part. Study the Class D & E Driver's Guide first. If you do not understand written English well, you may bring a translator. For the road skills test, you need 80 or better. The school puts your knowledge test and course certificate in a sealed envelope. Only OMV or Public Tag Agent staff may open it. If you fail the road skills test, the certificate shows that you finished the course but failed the test. The road skills test guide explains the test.

Which license do you get, and who is exempt?

You are 18 or older and finished the course

You may apply for a full Class E license or for a learner's permit. The 180-day learner's permit hold does not apply to you. Each needs a vision test: at least 20/40 in one eye.

You chose a learner's permit

You may drive with a licensed adult who is 21 or older, or a licensed sibling who is 18 or older. The OMV may remove the restriction when you show that you passed the road skills test.

Your school is slow to schedule the 8 driving hours

For the 14-hour course, the school has 90 days from the last classroom day. If the school does not answer after several tries, contact the OMV Training and Certification Unit.

You are an H-2A foreign national with a valid foreign license

You do not need the pre-licensing or driver education course. You still take the knowledge test and the road skills test.

You have a license from Germany, Switzerland, Taiwan, South Korea or the Republic of Ireland

These countries have a reciprocity agreement with Louisiana. A first-time applicant with legal presence does not need the course, the knowledge test or the road skills test.

The 50-hour practice statement

A first-time Class E applicant who is 18 or older must give the OMV a signed statement. It says that you did at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice with a licensed parent, guardian or adult who is at least 21. At least 15 of the 50 hours must be at night. The TIP lets you drive only with your instructor, so ask the OMV which drives count before you sign.

Key Takeaways

At 18 or older you need a pre-licensing course: 6 classroom hours and 8 driving hours (the 14-hour course), or the 38-hour course instead.
Get a TIP before the knowledge test. With a TIP, you may drive only with an instructor.
Pass the knowledge test with 80% (32 of 40 questions) and the road skills test with 80 or better.
Sign a statement of 50 supervised practice hours, 15 of them at night, before your first Class E license.
Next step: practice the road rules on the free Louisiana Class E practice test.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the Louisiana pre-licensing course for adults?

It is 14 hours: 6 hours of classroom and 8 hours of driving. You may drive no more than 4 hours with the school on one day, so the driving part takes at least 2 days. The school has 90 days from the last classroom day to finish the driving hours. A practice question on the adult course hours tests this rule.

Can I skip driver's ed in Louisiana if I am over 18?

Usually not. A first-time applicant who is 18 or older must show proof of a course. The exceptions are an H-2A foreign national with a valid foreign license, who still takes both tests, and a first-time applicant with a license from a reciprocity country. Active-duty military may show a military driver training certificate and must still pass both tests.

How much does it cost to get a license at 18 in Louisiana?

Each driving school sets its own course price, so compare a few schools. The TIP costs the same as a Class E license: $32.25 for applicants up to age 69, and some OMV offices add a service fee of up to $8.00. The OMV charges nothing to change the TIP to your license or learner's permit.

Can an adult get a learner's permit instead of a full license?

Yes. After the course, an adult may apply for a full Class E license or a learner's permit. The 180-day hold does not apply at 17 or older. With a learner's permit, you may drive with a licensed adult who is 21 or older. Bring original documents, because the OMV does not accept photocopies.

Can I practice driving with a friend while I have a TIP?

No. With a TIP, you may drive on public roads only with a driver education instructor, during a lesson or the road skills test. A friend or family member cannot supervise you on a TIP. After the course, a learner's permit lets you drive with a licensed adult who is 21 or older.