Texas Permit Test Locations: DPS Offices and Approved Driver Education Programs

You can take the Texas learner's permit knowledge test at a Texas DPS driver license office, or complete it through an approved driver-education pathway that is authorized to administer the exam. Retail self-service knowledge-test kiosks are not part of the current DPS learner-license process.

Texas Permit Knowledge-Test Locations

The knowledge exam can be completed through two main routes: at a DPS driver license office, or through an approved driver-education program that administers the test as part of the course.

Use the official DPS office locator to confirm that a driver license office provides the service you need. Appointment strategy and document preparation are covered in Appointments & SOS and Eligibility & Documents.

Can I take the Texas permit test online from home without driver education?

Texas does not offer a general DPS at-home knowledge-test option for someone who is simply applying on their own. An approved driver-education pathway may administer the knowledge exam as part of its authorized course.

Can I take the knowledge test at a different DPS office from the office handling my application? DPS public guidance does not promise that one in-person application can be split freely across offices. If you want to change offices after starting the transaction, confirm the correct service and appointment with DPS before relying on a partial visit.

DPS Testing vs. Approved Driver-Education Testing

Minors do not always have to take the knowledge exam in person at DPS. Texas DPS accepts evidence that a teen passed the knowledge exam through approved driver education or Parent Taught Driver Education.

Adults in an approved adult driver-education course may also complete the knowledge-test component through that course. The certificate used depends on the program: DE-964/DEE-964 for teen driver education and ADE-1317/ADEE-1317 for adult driver education.

This is different from a general retail or self-service at-home DPS knowledge test. Follow the approved course or DPS-office route that applies to you.

Can Parent Taught Driver Education administer the Texas knowledge test?

Yes. The DPS learner-license checklist accepts knowledge-test results from Parent Taught Driver Education when the approved course provides the required evidence.

Can an adult driver-education course administer the knowledge test?

Approved adult driver-education courses can satisfy the knowledge-test requirement when the course is authorized to do so. Use the provider's required completion evidence, such as the applicable ADE-1317 certificate.

Proof to Bring After Passing the Knowledge Test in Driver Education

For teen driver education, DPS accepts evidence such as a DE-964 with the test result noted, secure test results from the driver school, or Parent Taught Driver Education test results. Adult applicants should bring the completion/test evidence required for their approved adult course.

Is the knowledge test different at DPS and at an approved driver-ed provider?

The administration route can differ, but both are meant to verify Texas Class C knowledge. DPS also supplies secure Class C knowledge exams to certified driver-education schools that are authorized to test students.

Knowledge-Test Administration at DPS and Driver-Ed Programs

At DPS offices, the learner-license knowledge exam is administered under supervision on the testing system provided for the transaction. Approved driver-education programs may use their authorized testing process.

The key point for applicants is the testing route, not payment or appointment tactics. Study from the Texas Driver Handbook and use practice tests before the official exam.