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 online provider, completes all 6 hours of instruction on that provider's platform, 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 under 92 Ill. Adm. Code Part 1066 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 in our own source research; a 2026-09-19 direct browser load confirmed 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 Commercial Driver Training School Division before enrolling.
Does the Course Require an Exam or Proctoring?
No. Illinois law does not require a proctored exam or any in-person component for this course; Part 1066 authorizes fully online delivery, and all instruction and completion tracking happen inside the provider's own platform.
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 remain in-person and are not satisfied by this online course. The adult driver education course itself is purely an instruction requirement; it does not replace or shorten either of the remaining license-application tests.
How Long Does It Take to Complete the Course?
The course requires a minimum of 6 total hours of instruction under 92 Ill. Adm. Code Part 1066; exactly how each certified provider paces or sessions those hours is set by the provider's own platform, 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, fetched 2026-09-19. A 2026-09-19 browser recheck found a figure for one more provider: 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 still publish no turnaround-time figure this site's research could locate for the online course specifically, and should be confirmed on either provider's own site or by contacting them directly before you enroll if timing matters for your situation.
What Happens After I Finish the Course?
After finishing the 6 hours, the Illinois SOS emails you a Certificate of Completion, which you print and carry to a Driver Services facility to complete the written knowledge test, vision screening, and road skills test to receive your license.
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 the certificate as emailed to the address you gave your course provider, not delivered silently behind the scenes. See After the Illinois Adult Driver Education Course for the full sequence and realistic timing.
Sources
| Fact | Value | Authority | URL | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course delivery format | Fully online, no proctored exam or in-person component required | 92 Ill. Adm. Code Part 1066 | https://www.ilga.gov/agencies/JCAR/EntirePart?titlepart=09201066 | 2026-06-07 |
| Course length | Minimum 6 hours | 92 Ill. Adm. Code Part 1066 | https://www.ilga.gov/agencies/JCAR/EntirePart?titlepart=09201066 | 2026-06-07 |
| Provider certification authority | Illinois SOS Commercial Driver Training School Division | Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) | https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/driver-education/ade.html | 2026-07-12 |
| 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 | 2026-07-12 |
| Statutory mandate | 625 ILCS 5/6-107.5 | Illinois General Assembly | https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Fulltext?DocName=062500050K6-107.5 | 2026-06-07 |
| 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 | Illinois Administrative Code, Title 92 (adult driver education course rules) | https://www.ilga.gov/agencies/JCAR/EntirePart?titlepart=09201066 | 2026-09-14 |
| 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 | Emailed to the student; printed and carried to a Driver Services facility | Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) | https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/driver-education/adefaq.html | 2026-09-19 |
| 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?
Part 1066 requires only that delivery be online and does not restrict the device, but individual providers set their own technical requirements; check the provider's own site before enrolling if device compatibility matters to you.
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 the 6 hours in one sitting?
Because the course is delivered entirely online, most providers are structured to let you resume where you left off; exact session and re-entry rules are set by each provider's own platform, 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.