Tell me more about the Driver Education Course.
We created our program to be as convenient as possible for the student. It is designed as an alternative to a classroom Driver Education program. Student work at their own pace—around their busy schedules. The goal of PEN’s Driver Education program is for students to comprehend and retain the information necessary to pass the California permit exam to be safe drivers.
How do I complete the course work?
ONLINE: Once you enroll, you will be given access to the online course. Our Online Driver Education course is divided into thirteen sections. The online course will lead you through sections of reading, quizzes and tests. Once you read through the material and answer the quizzes, you will complete a section final exams. You will complete each chapter before moving on to the next section.
All work is completed online.The program will grade your tests and you will know immediately if you have passed. If you do not pass, you will be directed to repeat the section or chapter that you had failed.
BOOKLET: Once you enroll, your Driver Education booklet will be mailed to you. Once you receive it, you should begin working on it right away. The booklet includes all worksheets, answer sheets and tests that you will need to complete the program. As you progress through each section, you will complete worksheet questions and a final test before moving on to the next section. When you have finished the course, you will mail your test answers and worksheet questions to us for grading.
What is the grading policy?
ONLINE: All quizzes must be passed with a score of 70% or better. The final exams at the end of the lesson require a score of 80% or higher to pass. You may retest twice if a satisfactory score is not achieved originally.
BOOKLET: A student must score 75% or higher on every section in order to pass the course. A total of 2 retests are allowed when an average of 75% or better on the tests is not initially achieved. The student’s Parent/Guardian must proctor the tests. Students must not have access to any of the testing materials until corresponding topic questions have been completed. The Parent/Guardian must certify that the student completed the test without assistance.
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When do I have to complete the program?
ONLINE: The internet program must be completed no later than 30 days from the date of course enrollment.
BOOKLET: Completed coursework must be postmarked no later than 30 days from the date materials were received. (A maximum of 5 mailing days are allowed from the date PEN mails out the materials.)
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What if I need more time?
If you require more than the allotted 30 days to complete your course, the following fees apply:
ONLINE: You must contact PEN in order to pay your extension fee before you will be allowed to continue. If your online course has expired, you may pay online for a 30 day extension with a credit card on our Special Services page.
BOOKLET: When returning your completed materials to us, please include the appropriate Extension fee payment. The amount due is based on the number of days the course material is overdue. We will refer to the postmark date when determining how overdue your materials are.
Please refer to the course materiall for the Extension fee amount due.
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What if I need help?
PEN is available to help you with any questions you may have. You can reach by telephone at (408) 280-1122 Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST or contact support by sending an message from our Contact_Us page. Please note, your online account will be credited for number of days lost due to technical issues.
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When do I get my Driver Education Certificate of Completion (DL387)?
Upon successful course completion, it will take PEN approximately 10 business days to process the completion certificate. Teens between 15 and 18 years old will receive a CA DMV Driver Education Completion Certificate.
Completion certificates are processed onsite at PEN and signed by an Instructor. For this reason, we are unable to fax, email, or mail photocopies of certificates.
NOTE: If a student does not pass or qualify for the internet or booklet course, a completion certificate will NOT be issued.
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What's included in the course price?
All course materials, a completion certificate, and regular mailing fee are covered in the course tuition.
NOTE: If a student does not pass or qualify for this course, a completion certificate will NOT be issued.
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I completed and passed the driver education course, what's the next step?
Enroll in Driver Training (Behind-the-Wheel) with a driving school in your area. You will need to get a Driver Training Enrollment certificate from them. This certificate must be submitted with your Driver Education Completion certificate when you go to the DMV to test for your permit. The local driving school may require you to put down a deposit. Once you have your permit, you will go back to the driving school to begin Driver Training.
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How do I get my permit?
Steps to getting a California Driver License (16-18 yrs. old):
Step 1: Complete PEN’s Driver Education course online or via booklet and receive your Driver Education Completion Certificate in the mail.
Step 2: Enroll in Driver Training with a local driving school. Get a Certification of Enrollment in Driver Training from the driving school.
Step 3: Schedule an appointment at the DMV for the written test. Go to DMV, take the test and PASS. Visit the DMV website at www.dmv.ca.gov to schedule an appointment online.
What you'll need for your DMV appointment: Student's Driver Education Completion Certificate and Driver Training Enrollment Certificate, completed DL44 application, social security number, Birth date verification and legal presence documents (DMV accepts original documents only), and applicable fees. Please visit the DMV website for a complete list and outline of acceptable documents.
Step 4: Return to the driving school for your Driver Training lessons.
Step 5: Begin Driving with your Parents.
Step 6: After 6 months to go DMV to take the drive test. (Online appointments not available)
NOTE: The DMV will not return your original certificates to you. Be sure to make copies before submitting them. (PEN charges a $25 fee for duplicate certificates mailed by regular U.S. Mail.)
For more information, please refer to the DMV website for permit requirements.
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What documents will DMV accept?
For a detailed list of the documents DMV will accept for birth date verification and legal presence within the United States , please visit the official DMV website.
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