Kansas Behind-the-Wheel Training: When It's Required and DE-99 Rules (2026)

At 15, Kansas requires a state-approved Driver's Education course with 8 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours of professional behind-the-wheel.

Is Behind-the-Wheel Training Required for a Kansas Permit or License?

At 15, Kansas requires a state-approved Driver's Education course with 8 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours of professional behind-the-wheel training to apply for a Restricted License. For teens 16 and older, professional training is optional. Adults 18+ have no training requirements.

Kansas Driver's Training Rules by Age

The need for professional driving instruction depends on your age and licensing goal.

• Learner's Permit (Age 14+): No professional behind the wheel training required. Pass the written test to get your permit.
• Restricted License (Age 15): MANDATORY. You must complete an approved Driver's Ed course with 6 hours of professional driving instruction.
• Less Restricted License (Age 16): OPTIONAL. Professional instruction is not required by law, but completing it waives the DMV road test.
• Adults (18+): NONE. No mandatory driving practice requirements for professional driving instruction.

Approved Driver Education vs. Supervised Practice

Kansas treats approved driver education, supervised practice and optional private lessons as different things.

Use the Required Practice Hours page for the full 25/50-hour progression.

Is behind-the-wheel training actually worth it if not required?

Yes, professional training is often worth the investment even when not legally required.

• Skip the DMV Test: For teens 16+, a DE-99 certificate waives the official road test, avoiding the stress of a DMV examiner.
• Learn Complex Skills: Instructors teach tricky Kansas test maneuvers like parallel parking and highway merging on I-35.
• Safety: Training cars have dual brakes for learning in high-risk situations safely.
• Insurance Discounts: Many providers offer a discount for completing a certified course.

Approved Instructor and Certificate Requirements

You cannot use any instructor. Training must come from a KDOR-approved provider to receive the DE-99 Completion Certificate.

• Approved Schools: Includes public high school programs and private schools like Premier Driving School in Overland Park or Yost Driving School in Wichita.
• The DE-99 Certificate: This is the 'gold ticket.' It allows 15-year-olds to get a license, waives the road test for 16-year-olds, and is needed for insurance discounts.

Submit your DE-99 certificate with your license application at the DMV to avoid a rejection for missing documentation. A Topeka teen was turned away at the 17th & Kansas Ave office for only bringing the 50-hour affidavit, delaying their license by two weeks.

All Kansas permit requirements are covered in the Kansas permit guide.

Check the Kansas learner's permit guide for current rules and fees.

Do the Six Driver's-Ed Driving Hours Count Toward the 25 or 50 Supervised Hours?

Actual behind-the-wheel time can count when the instructor is at least 21. Observation time does not count, and range time counts only when the student is actually accompanied by a qualifying adult.

Can a 16-Year-Old Get a Kansas License Without Professional Driving Lessons?

Yes. Driver education is not required for the age-16 less-restricted path. The applicant still must meet the applicable permit-holding and 50-hour requirements and complete any testing that is not replaced by an accepted driver-education certificate.

Can Private Driving Lessons Replace Approved Kansas Driver's Education at Age 15?

Only if the lessons are part of a Kansas-approved driver-education program. Ordinary private lessons do not replace the approved driver-education requirement for the age-15 restricted-license path.

How Many Driving Lessons Does a Kansas Applicant Actually Need?

The number of professional lessons required depends on the licensing path. The approved age-15 driver-education route includes at least 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. Professional driving lessons are not a blanket requirement for every applicant under 17, and age-16 applicants can qualify without mandatory professional lessons.

Required Training vs. Optional Extra Lessons

Extra lessons can still be useful for applicants who want more practice, but they are optional unless they are part of an approved driver-education route that your age/stage requires.

Does having a training certificate help you pass the road test easier?

An accepted DE-99 can change testing requirements for qualifying applicants. If you still need a road test, optional professional lessons can help with vehicle control and examiner-style skills, but detailed road-test preparation belongs on the Road Test pages.

Where to Compare Kansas Driving-School Costs

Approved driver-education tuition and optional private lesson prices vary by provider. Use the dedicated Behind-the-Wheel Training Cost page for current package examples and extra-fee details.

Common Training Requirement Confusions

• Age 15: Supervised practice does not replace the approved driver-education requirement for the restricted-license path.
• Age 16: Professional driver education is optional; the age-16 path uses the applicable permit-holding and 50-hour supervised-driving requirements.
• Private lessons: Ordinary private lessons do not become an approved DE-99 course simply because a licensed adult or instructor provides them.

Do You Need Extra Driving Lessons After Completing the Six Required Driver's-Ed Hours?

The six behind-the-wheel hours are the minimum professional component of an approved course, not the end of supervised practice. The separate 25- or 50-hour supervised-driving requirements still apply according to age and license stage.

Does a Kansas driver's-ed completion certificate expire? Yes. KDOR says a driver's-education completion expires after two years, so applicants should use it within that period or confirm current requirements before relying on an older certificate.