The state requires, by law, any teenager between the ages of 15 and 17 to take a specific number of hours when taking a driver education course. The course is divided into two phases: phase one is the classroom, and phase two is the driving.

Phase one:

• 32 hours of classroom, 2 hours a day for 16 class meetings.

Phase two:

• 7 hours of behind-the-wheel training with one of our professionally trained and patient instructors.
• 7 hours of sitting in the back seat and observing another student receiving driving instructions.

The driving phase is done concurrent with the classroom phase but at different times.

The driving phase usually begins after the first week of class, during which the student has passed both the traffic laws and traffic signs test to obtain a learner's permit at the D.P.S. The permit allows a student to drive with any adult 21 years or older with a valid driver's license in the front seat.

The student usually completes the driving phase around a week to two weeks after completing the classroom phase.

During both phases of the course, the instructor will introduce the student driver to the basic fundamentals of driving a car safely.

This includes mostly the classroom phase first, then gradually the driving phase, where the instructors will also teach the fundamentals and advanced procedures and techniques of how to be a better driver and how to be a defensive driver.

During the course the students will participate in class discussions, daily work, projects, guest speakers, testing, watching videos, and hands on under the hood check and tire change procedure on a car.

Upon completing the entire course, the student will receive two certificates. One is for a 10 percent insurance discount that's valid till the age of 21, and another is for a certificate to upgrade their permit to a driver's license.

This happens if the student driver has completed the 6 month probation period on their permit and they are at least 16 years of age.

Documents required or what do I need to bring?

• Verification of enrollment form (VOE) from Marine Military Academy
• Birth Certificate (Original document or certified copy)
• Social Security (Card Original document or certified copy)
• DE-964 Certificate from Benavides Driving School
• $16.00 for D.P.S. for Learner Permit
• The D.P.S. application and supplement. Benavides Driving School will provide.
• School ID – Marine Military Academy will provide.
• Letter of Residency – Marine Military Academy will provide.