Tennessee Permit Practice: 50 Hours and SF-1256 Log

Tennessee learner permit Tennessee requires 50 hours of supervised driving, 10 at night, before advancing to an Intermediate Restricted License. You log these on Form SF-1256. Adults 18 and older skip this requirement entirely.

How Many Practice Hours Do You Need for a Tennessee Learner Permit?

50 hours total - 10 must happen at night. These hours are mandatory for anyone under 18 in Tennessee's GDL program. You certify them on Form SF-1256 when you book your road test.

What Counts Toward Tennessee's 50-Hour Driving Requirement

For Tennessee drivers under 18, the requirement is 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night. Practice must stay within learner-permit restrictions, including the 10 p.m.-6 a.m. driving prohibition.

• Who may supervise: A licensed driver age 21 or older must be in the front passenger seat while the learner practices.
• Who signs SF-1256: A parent, guardian, or licensed driving instructor certifies completion of the required hours. The person who signs the final certification does not have to be the only adult who supervised practice.
• Professional lessons: Hours completed with a qualified instructor can count toward the total.

Can practice hours with a grandparent, sibling or other 21+ licensed adult count?

Yes, if the adult is at least 21 and has a valid driver license, those supervised practice hours can count. The final SF-1256 certification is signed by a parent, guardian, or licensed driving instructor, so the person supervising every individual drive does not have to be the person who signs the certification.

Do Tennessee's 10 night-driving hours have to be after 10 PM?

No. The 10 required night hours must still be completed during legal learner-permit driving hours. A Tennessee learner permit does not allow driving from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., so night practice should be completed before 10 p.m.

How to Complete the Tennessee 50-Hour Certification

Tennessee requires the signed SF-1256 50-Hour Certification. A detailed daily driving log can be useful for tracking practice, but Tennessee does not require that daily log to be submitted.

Keep your own notes if they help you total the hours accurately. Before the road test, make sure the certification shows at least 50 total hours and at least 10 night hours and is signed by an eligible certifying adult or licensed instructor.

Does Tennessee require you to submit a daily 50-hour driving log?

No. Tennessee requires the signed SF-1256 50-Hour Certification, but the detailed daily driving log is optional and does not have to be submitted. You can still use a personal log to track dates, night hours, and your running total.

Where Can You Find the Tennessee Driver's Handbook?

Download the Tennessee Complete Driver License Manual directly from the Tennessee Department of Safety website as a PDF. You need it to study for both the permit knowledge test and to understand GDL rules while logging practice hours.

What to Submit Before the Tennessee Road Test

For the teen road-test/license step, bring the completed SF-1256 certification. Tennessee does not require a separate daily practice log to be turned in. The certification is the document used to confirm the 50-hour requirement.

How Does the 50-Hour Requirement Fit Into Tennessee GDL?

The 50-hour certification is one requirement for an under-18 permit holder moving to the Intermediate Restricted License. See Road Test & License for the remaining advancement rules and Fees & Costs for current licensing charges.

What Happens If You Get Caught Driving Alone With a Tennessee Permit

Driving without the required supervisor violates the learner-permit restrictions and can affect the driver's record and GDL progress. See Permit Driving Rules for the detailed driving-alone, points, Driver Improvement, and suspension guidance.

Do You Need Behind-the-Wheel Training in Tennessee?

No. Tennessee does not require paid professional behind-the-wheel lessons to satisfy the 50-hour teen practice requirement. Family-supervised practice can satisfy it, and eligible instructor hours can also count. See Behind-the-Wheel Training for paid-lesson and CDTP details.

After You Get Your Tennessee Learner Permit: What to Do

Start supervised practice and track your progress toward 50 hours, including 10 at night. Teen permit holders must also meet the applicable holding-period and eligibility rules before the next license stage. See Road Test & License for those next-step requirements.