You've Signed Up Your Teen for Driver's Ed—What's Next? A Parent's Guide from Control Driving School (Part 2)

Knowledge Test complete—one step closer to driving!

✅ Complete the Driver's Education Course

Once your teen begins the course, it's important to keep a steady pace.. Most students finish in 1 to 3 months, and pacing the drives alongside the classes helps reinforce what they're learning both in class and behind the wheel.

• Encourage your teen to attend classes consistently and schedule drives throughout the course.
• Regular practice with a licensed adult helps build confidence and keeps the material fresh between lessons.
• We'll send gentle reminders to help your family stay on track.

After attending all the zoom classes and doing all 6 drives we will enter your course completion information into the DOL website. Once that is done they have completed Driver's Education!

However they are not yet ready to be issued an intermediate license, there are a few more steps to ensure they are road ready.

✅ Knowledge Test

Your teen can take the Knowledge Test anytime during or after their Driver's Education course but it is normally done once they complete the theory portion of the course, the zoom classes.

Here's what to know:

• 📝 The Knowledge Test is a 40-question multiple choice test
• ✅ A score of 80% or higher is required to pass
• 🕐 The test takes about 1 hour to complete
• 📍 It's offered on-site at Control Driving School or any other licensed Driving School

Once they pass their Knowledge Test and have completed a Driver's Education course they are eligible to take the Driving Test (Road Test).

✅ Practice Driving Hours

Before your teen can move on to the Driving Test (Road Test), it's important they get plenty of practice behind the wheel. While it's not necessary to complete the full 50 hours before finishing the course or taking the Driving Test (Road Test), these hours are required to qualify for the Intermediate License.

Here's what to know:

• 50 hours of supervised driving with an adult are required
• 10 of those hours must be at night
• Practice should include a variety of driving situations:
  • Residential streets
  • Highways
  • Heavy traffic
  • Parking

These hours help your teen build confidence and experience in real-world conditions. Logging these hours is a key part of getting ready for the Driving Test (Road Test) and earning their Intermediate License.

✅ Apply for the Intermediate Driver's License

Once all requirements are complete, your teen can apply for their Intermediate License. Here's what's required:

• Be at least 16 years old
• Held their permit for at least 6 months
• Have completed the full Driver's Education Course
• Passed both the Knowledge and Driving (Road) Tests
• Logged 50 hours of supervised practice, including 10 at night
• Have no tickets or violations in the past 6 months

Your teen can apply online through the DOL website or in person. You'll also need to confirm the 50 practice hours during the application process.

The Intermediate License

✅ Understand the Intermediate License Restrictions

Even though your teen can now drive solo, there are still some important safety-related rules in place:

• ❌ No driving between 1 AM and 5 AM
• ❌ No passengers under 20 (unless they're immediate family or a licensed adult is present)
• ❌ No use of phones or wireless devices (not even hands-free)

Some of these restrictions automatically lift over time if your teen drives safely without tickets or accidents. At age 18, the Intermediate License becomes a Standard Driver's License with no restrictions.

✅ Looking Ahead: After the Intermediate License

Here's a quick view of what's next after your teen gets licensed:

• Continue gaining real-world driving experience
• Maintain safe driving habits to keep insurance rates lower
• Look forward to automatic upgrade to a standard license at age 18
• Consider optional lessons to fine-tune skills like freeway driving or parallel parking

Thanks for trusting us—see you on the road!

🎓 Final Thoughts

From enrolling in the Driver's Education Course to passing the final test, your teen has come a long way. With your support and guidance, they're not just checking boxes—they're building confidence and responsibility on the road.

At Control Driving School, we're proud to be part of that journey.

Need help scheduling a test, planning the next steps, or getting clarification? We're just a call or text away. Contact us and ask any questions—we're happy to help. 425.572.6871

For even more details on the requirements for teens seeking a driver's license in Washington, visit the DOL website for full information and special circumstances.