California Homeschoolers Guide Driver's Education

As your child approaches the magical age of being able to drive, we know you will both be wondering how best to get a driver's license.

It is possible under the Education Code for homeschoolers who operate private schools to teach their children themselves. You can use one of the commercial options that the DMV recognizes or use the process below. There are a number of commercial driving schools certified by the DMV that provide both the textbook and "behind-the-wheel" portions of the instruction required. You can also see if classes are offered through a local community college, public or private high school, or use a distance learning driver's education class. Please refer to the DMV website for more information.

If you are inclined to teach your children yourself, we’ve included instructions that are current as of 2017 below from a homeschooler who was successful in accomplishing this task. 

registering a private homeschool to offer Driver's Ed and/or Driver's Training in CA

(Accurate as of 2017):

Filing with the CA DMV is very simple. 

1. Write a short cover letter indicating your homeschool is offering drivers’s ed and/or the behind the wheel drivers’ training classes and that you have attached the needed DMV forms and a copy of your PSA.   
2. Attach any needed signed DMV forms DL396 and DL396A
3. Attach a copy of your PSA.
4. Send to the Occupational Licensing address on Form DL396.
5. You will receive a confirmation letter from the DMV in a couple of weeks with your school number.
6. Your official numbered course completion forms will arrive via private courier a few weeks later. An adult will need to be at the address you give to sign for them, so be aware of this when you give an address and available times for delivery. 

Try not to get caught in the DMV's circuitous logic. It really should be a 10 minute process to fill out and sign the forms. 

Tips and comments: 

• If you do request driver's training, you are offering "classroom based" rather than online "non-classroom based."
• As a new school the DMV will assign you a school identifier number, so you don't have that to put on the forms the first time you apply.
• I have never requested Student Licenses. There are parent permission forms for driver’s ed courses that have the students driving as part of the class before they get their driving permits.
• Under the CA DMV homeschool program, parents can only teach their own children. This allows you to file and name your school instructor parent(s) without background checks and licensing. 
• Schools usually register each year after they file their PSA in October and order the forms they need for that school year, but you can any time depending on the needs of your family.  I reregistered with my school number every three years when I had a new child in drivers’ training and sent the completion log for the forms I used with my previous student when I reregistered for the next student.