How Illinois Adult Driver Education Works
This page walks through the actual process a first-time Illinois applicant age 18-20 follows to complete the 6-hour adult driver education course, from picking a provider to what the Secretary of State receives at the end. For the underlying statute and hour requirement, see Illinois Adult Driver Education Requirements. For what happens once your completion has been transmitted, see After the Illinois Adult Driver Education Course. Back to Illinois Adult Driver Education for the full site overview.
How Does the Illinois Adult Driver Education Process Work?
A first-time applicant selects an SOS-certified provider, completes at least 6 hours of instruction in a classroom or online, and the provider then transmits the completion record electronically to the Illinois Secretary of State.
There is no separate registration step with the SOS itself before you start; you enroll directly with the provider you choose, and the SOS only becomes involved once your completion is transmitted at the end. This is different from some other state-mandated courses where a student registers with the regulator first and is then assigned or referred to a provider.
How Do I Choose an SOS-Certified Provider?
Confirm a provider currently holds SOS certification before paying, since only a certified provider's completion record can be transmitted to the Secretary of State and count toward your license application.
This site's Illinois SOS-Certified Adult Driver Education Providers page lists the providers profiled on this site; the SOS's own official roster is a plain, public HTML table listing all four (see that page for the full detail, including why we still profile only four of the roughly 60 providers statewide). A provider that markets itself heavily is not automatically the same as a provider that is currently certified; when in doubt, verify directly with the Illinois SOS Driver Services page or call the Illinois Secretary of State at 630-520-9310 before enrolling.
Does the Course Require an Exam, and Does It Replace the License Tests?
Yes, and no: the provider requires a written test to pass the course, but passing it does not replace the written, vision, and road tests you still take at an SOS Driver Services facility.
This is a meaningful difference from the written knowledge test and road skills test you still take later at an SOS Driver Services facility - those two steps are separate and are not satisfied by completing the provider's own in-course test. The adult driver education course itself is purely an instruction and testing requirement; it does not replace or shorten either of the remaining license-application tests. Illinois also does not require behind-the-wheel training as part of this course, though the SOS encourages at least 50 hours of practice driving, including at least 10 hours at night, before you apply for your license; you must still pass the road skills test either way.
How Long Does It Take to Complete the Course?
The course requires a minimum of 6 hours of instruction under 92 Ill. Adm. Code Part 1066; how each certified provider paces those hours is set by the provider itself, classroom or online, not by state rule.
Top Driver's own site states the certificate of completion is emailed within 1 to 3 business days of finishing the course. Drivers Education of America's own site states a student should "expect an e-mail within 24 hours from ilsos.net" after passing the course test. Pass Drivers Ed and DriversEd.com publish no turnaround-time figure for the online course specifically; confirm timing on either provider's own site or by contacting them directly before you enroll if it matters for your situation.
What Happens After I Finish the Course?
After finishing your hours, the Illinois SOS emails you a link to download your Certificate of Completion; you print it and carry it to a Driver Services facility for the written knowledge test, vision screening, and road skills test.
You do carry a printed Certificate of Completion to your SOS appointment, along with your other required identification documents; the Illinois SOS's own guidance describes an email with a link to download the certificate, sent to the address you gave your course provider, not the certificate delivered without any action on your part. See After the Illinois Adult Driver Education Course for the full sequence and realistic timing.
Sources
| Fact | Value | Authority | URL | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course delivery format | Classroom or online, depending on the provider's certification; does not include behind-the-wheel training | Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) | https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/driver-education/adefaq.html | 2026-09-20 |
| Course length | At least 6 hours (may vary by provider) | Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) | https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/driver-education/adefaq.html | 2026-09-20 |
| Provider certification authority | Illinois Secretary of State | Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) | https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/driver-education/ade.html | 2026-09-20 |
| Remaining license steps after this course | Written knowledge test, vision screening, road skills test | Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) | https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/driver-education/ade.html | 2026-09-20 |
| Statutory mandate | 625 ILCS 5/6-107.5 | Illinois General Assembly | https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Fulltext?DocName=062500050K6-107.5 | 2026-09-19 |
| In-course final exam and passing score | 20 questions from a test bank of at least 40; 75% minimum passing score; free retest with different questions if a student scores below that (failing twice fails the course) | 92 Ill. Adm. Code Part 1066, Section 1066.70(e)(4) | https://www.ilga.gov/agencies/JCAR/EntirePart?titlepart=09201066 | 2026-09-19 |
| Provider test does not replace SOS written test | The provider's end-of-course written test is required to pass the course but does not excuse the applicant from the written test at an SOS Driver Services facility | Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) | https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/driver-education/adefaq.html | 2026-09-20 |
| Recommended behind-the-wheel practice | Not required for the course; SOS encourages at least 50 hours of practice, including at least 10 hours at night, before applying for a license | Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) | https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/driver-education/adefaq.html | 2026-09-20 |
| Consumer-facing completion confirmation tool | Driver's Education Course Completion Check (enter Instruction Permit number) | Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) | https://apps.ilsos.gov/deccheck/ | 2026-09-14 |
| Certificate of Completion delivery | Secretary of State emails a link to download the Certificate of Completion to the address given to the course provider; the applicant prints it and brings it to a Driver Services facility for the vision, written, and road test | Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) | https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/driver-education/adefaq.html | 2026-09-20 |
| Top Driver certificate turnaround | Emailed within 1 to 3 business days of completion | Top Driver | https://topdriver.com/illinois-adult-driver-education/6-hour-online-course/ | 2026-09-19 |
| Drivers Education of America certificate turnaround | E-mail from ilsos.net expected within 24 hours of passing the course test | Drivers Education of America | https://www.driverseducationofamerica.com/illinois/ | 2026-09-19 |
Frequently asked questions
Do I register with the SOS before starting the course?
No. You enroll directly with the SOS-certified provider you choose; the SOS only receives your completion record after the provider transmits it at the end of the course.
Can I complete the course on a phone or tablet?
If you choose a provider that delivers the course online, Part 1066 does not restrict the device used, but individual providers set their own technical requirements; check the provider's own site before enrolling if device compatibility matters to you. A classroom-based provider has no device question at all.
Is there a minimum passing score for a final test?
Yes. Illinois Administrative Code requires a final examination at the end of the course, drawing 20 questions from a test bank of at least 40; a student who scores below 75% must be retested with different questions at no additional charge. This in-course final exam is separate from the written knowledge test you still take later at an SOS Driver Services facility.
What if I do not finish my hours in one sitting?
For a provider that delivers the course online, most platforms are structured to let you resume where you left off; exact session and re-entry rules are set by each provider, whether classroom or online, not by state rule, so confirm this with your chosen provider before assuming a specific behavior.
Does completing the course guarantee I pass my license tests?
No. This course satisfies the adult driver education requirement only; the written knowledge test, vision screening, and road skills test at an SOS Driver Services facility are separate and are not guaranteed by completing this course. See After the Illinois Adult Driver Education Course for what comes next.
How do I know my completion actually reached the SOS?
Yes. The Illinois SOS operates a Driver's Education Course Completion Check tool where you can enter your Instruction Permit number to verify that a course completion has been entered on your driving record, ahead of your Driver Services appointment.