Catawba County Schools

The cost for the driver education course, which includes both the classroom portion and driving portion, costs $65. Checks may be made payable to the school where the student chooses to take the course and is non-refundable.

There are separate fees paid to the NC DMV when you apply for your driver's license. Please see the section called "What does NC require to get my driver's license?"

• Students who are at least 14½ years old and are pursuing a high school diploma or GED can enroll in an approved driver education course provided through North Carolina high schools. A birth certificate or passport is required to enroll. 
   
• Driver education courses consist of two phases :
  • A classroom portion, which involves 30 hours of instruction and an eye exam. 
  • A driving phase, which involves six hours behind the wheel
     
• Upon successful completion of both phases, students receive a Driver's Education Certificate, which allows them to apply for a Level One Limited Learner Permit, the first level of North Carolina's graduated licensing process for drivers under age 18 (Details below).
   
• NC's graduated licensing process is a phased approach to receiving your unrestricted driver's license. Details here. 
   
  • Level 1: Limited Learner Permit ($21.50 paid to DMV) - Between ages 15 and 17, you may go to the DMV (?) and apply for your "Limited Learner Permit" if you have completed the classroom and driving courses and received your eligibility certificate, passed the written, sign, and vision tests (where do you take these? the DMV?). Supervised driving is restricted to 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. for the first six months; thereafter, a supervising driver is still required. 
     
  • Level 2: "Limited Provisional License" ($21.50 paid to DMV) - At age 16, you may apply for your "limited provisional license" if you have had your "Limited Learner Permit" for at least 6 months and logged at least 60 hours of driving which you must turn in at the time of application.
     
  • Level 3: "Full Provisional License" ($5.50 per year paid to DMV) - After 6 months of having your "limited provisional license" and having logged at least 12 hours of driving, you may apply for your "Full Provisional License" which allows for driving unsupervised at any time.

Students that:

• Are at least 14 years and six months old at the start of the class
• Attends a school in the Catawba County Schools District
• Or attends a private school that is located in the Catawba County Schools District
• Or be homeschooled in a residence in the Catawba County Schools District

No.

In order to receive a  Driver Education Certificate required to apply for a NC Driver Permit, a student must successfully complete:

• 30 classroom hours - either online or in-person
• 6 behind-the-wheel hours

Yes – a Catawba County Schools student can attend a class at any of the five high schools and/or Challenger.  The student must sign up at the school they wish to attend the Driver Education class.  See "Where and when can I take classes?" for a complete list of currently available courses.

• One document verifying age and identity
• A Social Security card or one document proving they have a Social Security number
• For U.S. citizens, one document proving residency
• For non-U.S. citizens, one document issued by the U.S. government indicating legal presence
• One document proving liability insurance coverage from a provider licensed to do business in North Carolina (not required for a learner's permit)

NC DMV Website "Getting a License or Learner Permit"

To get a North Carolina learner permit, an individual must be at least 18 years old and apply in person at an N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles driver license office. (Individuals at least 18 years old may also apply for a driver license.)

Note: Teens 15 to 17 years old must apply for a limited learner permit as part of a graduated licensing process.

Qualified applicants must successfully complete: required knowledge, road sign recognition, vision and driving tests and take the following required documents to an NCDMV driver license office.