Driving Tests

Massachusetts Driver's Ed Requirements: Hours and Parent Class

informational·how to guide·Published July 4, 2026

Is driver's ed required in Massachusetts, and how many hours is it?

Yes, if you are under 18 and want a Class D or M license. Driver's ed has 30 classroom hours and 18 on-road hours: at least 12 behind the wheel and 6 watching another student drive. You must finish within 2 years of your first session. If you are over 18, you do not need driver's ed for the Class D road test.

Where these Massachusetts driver's ed rules come from

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) sets the course rules on its Driver's Education Programs page. The junior operator license (JOL) requirements page lists the parent class and the supervised driving hours. The law is Massachusetts General Laws (M.G.L.) chapter 90, section 8. The Class D road test page, the Driver's Manual, the RMV fees page, the out-of-state license transfer page and the RMV regulations (540 CMR 2.00) add details. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Massachusetts RMV (mass.gov/rmv) before you drive.

Massachusetts driver's ed hours at a glance

Massachusetts driver's ed hours at a glance
Part	Minimum hours	What it means
Classroom instruction	30	Massachusetts motor vehicle law and safe vehicle operation
On-road: behind the wheel	12	You drive a training vehicle with an instructor
On-road: observation	6	You watch another student drive
On-road total	18	12 behind the wheel plus 6 observing

Who must take driver's ed in Massachusetts?

Every Class D or M license applicant under 18 must finish a licensed driver's education program. Under 18, you must also meet all the other junior operator license requirements. Your certificate must come from a licensed driver school or an RMV-approved high school program. If you are over 18, you do not need driver's ed to take the Class D road test.

What does driver's ed cover?

Classroom topics: the Massachusetts driver's license, the driver's license privilege, motor vehicle safety, rules of the road, defensive driving and special situations, and vehicle ownership.
A course module required by state law: the science of addiction and addictive substances, including how psychoactive substances affect a person who drives.
On-road training: the controls and devices in the driver's compartment, and how to use what you learned on the road.
On-road skills that instructors must teach at a minimum: starting the engine, engaging the gears, left and right turns, turning around, stopping and starting on hills, backing up, parking, and driving in traffic and on the open highway.

When can on-road lessons start, and how long do you have?

You must hold a valid learner's permit and be 16 before you take part in on-road instruction. The law limits each student to 1 on-road session per day, and no session can be longer than 2 hours. So the 18 on-road hours take at least 9 separate days. You must finish both the classroom part and the on-road part within 2 years from your first session.

The path from driver's ed to a junior operator license

1
Get your learner's permit
You can get it at 16. On-road lessons cannot start without it.
2
Finish both parts of driver's ed
Complete the classroom and on-road hours in the table above.
3
Pass the final exam
Then your driver's ed certificate is filed with the RMV electronically. Your RMV record shows it at the road test.
4
Log the supervised driving
Drive 40 more hours with supervision, or 30 after a driver skills development program.
5
Complete the parent or guardian class
A parent or guardian takes the 2-hour class described below.
6
Book the road test
At 16 1/2, after 6 consecutive months with a valid permit and a clean driving record, you can take the Class D road test.

What is the parent or guardian class?

A parent or guardian must take 2 hours of instruction on the driver's ed course. A parent or guardian who completed it within the past 5 years does not need to repeat it. Under state law, the 2 hours cover the course content, including the module on addiction and addictive substances. For the practice drives at home, the RMV's Parent's Supervised Driving Program gives parents and guardians a common-sense approach to teaching driving skills.

How many hours of supervised driving do you need?

A junior operator license applicant needs at least 40 more hours of supervised, behind-the-wheel driving, on top of driver's ed. The RMV accepts 30 hours if the applicant finishes a driver skills development program. You can test yourself on the 40-hour rule with a free practice question.
A driver skills development program is advanced training in accident avoidance. You can join with a valid license, or with a valid learner's permit and at least 10 hours of supervised behind-the-wheel training. It runs on a closed, off-road course licensed by the registrar, at actual roadway speeds.

Public school or professional driving school?

Public school or professional driving school?
Option	How it works
Public school program	Offered at public high schools, or through a continuing education program run by the local school district.
Professional driving school	A private driving school licensed by the RMV, usually at a private facility. School employees licensed by the RMV teach the course.
What is the same	Each school is licensed separately, but all must meet the same criteria. Public and private schools must be licensed and monitored by the RMV.

How much is the driver's ed certificate?

The RMV lists the Driver's ED Certificate at $15 (U.S. dollars) in its fees for professional driving schools. A duplicate certificate is $10. The fee list was last updated in May 2025.

Moving to Massachusetts under 18

You finished driver's ed in another state

You must convert your driver's education certificate. Complete the Application to Convert Out-of-State Driver Education Certificate. The RMV checks with the state that issued it. If that program met or exceeded Massachusetts minimums for classroom and in-car hours, the RMV files a new certificate electronically. Then you can book your road test.

You did not finish driver's ed in another state

You must complete driver's education in Massachusetts. If you convert an out-of-state learner's permit, the RMV may accept the part of a program you finished in the other state when it is substantially similar to the Massachusetts program.

You hold an out-of-state junior license and want to convert it

You need a Massachusetts driver's ed certificate on file with the RMV and a log of 40 hours of supervised driving (30 with a driver skills development program). The guide on moving to Massachusetts and transferring your license has the full steps.

Key Takeaways

Under 18, driver's ed is required for a Class D or M license. Over 18, it is not required for the Class D road test.
The course is 30 classroom hours plus 18 on-road hours (12 behind the wheel, 6 observing), finished within 2 years.
On-road lessons need a valid permit and age 16.
A parent or guardian takes a 2-hour class, unless they did one in the past 5 years.
Plan 40 supervised hours, or 30 with a driver skills development program. The full path is in the junior operator license guide.
Next step: practice on the free Massachusetts Class D learner's permit practice test.

Massachusetts driver's ed FAQ

Should I take driver's ed if I am over 18 in Massachusetts?

It is not required: applicants over 18 can take the Class D road test without a driver's education program. The Driver's Manual notes that lessons with a professional can make you a more skillful, knowledgeable driver and can raise your chances to pass the road test on your first try.

How do I choose a driving school in Massachusetts?

Look for the RMV-issued school license posted in a visible place, and ask to see it if you doubt the school's credentials. Ask for a statement of school policies: classroom hours and curriculum, in-car skills, how to book in-car hours, and payment, refund and cancellation policies. Check the training cars too: they should have ABS brakes and be no older than 5 to 10 years, or have low mileage.

Can I use the driving school's car for my Massachusetts road test?

Yes, if you learned through a licensed driving school. You can use a school vehicle for the road test and a school instructor as your test sponsor. If your road test is not scheduled through a driving school, you must supply your own vehicle.

Who signs off on my supervised driving hours?

A parent or guardian gives the RMV a certified statement of your supervised hours: 40 hours, or 30 after a driver skills development program. If you are an emancipated minor, a designee 21 or older can give the statement. The RMV posts a Supervised Driving Log on its junior operator license requirements page.