(1) Application. The application of a person under the age of 18 years for a driver's license or a motorcycle endorsement must be signed by a parent, guardian, employer, or responsible adult as defined in RCW 46.20.075.

(2) Traffic safety education requirement. For a person under the age of 18 years to obtain a driver's license, the person must meet the traffic safety education requirements of this subsection.

(a) To meet the traffic safety education requirement for a driver's license:

(i) The applicant must satisfactorily complete a driver training education course as defined in RCW 28A.220.020 for a course offered by a school district or approved private school, or a driver training education course as defined by the department of licensing for a course offered by a driver training school licensed under chapter 46.82 RCW. The course offered by a school district or an approved private school must be part of a traffic safety education program authorized by the office of the superintendent of public instruction and certified under chapter 28A.220 RCW. The course offered by a driver training school must meet the standards established by the department of licensing under chapter 46.82 RCW. A school district, approved private school, or driver training school may offer the behind-the-wheel instruction portion for up to four hours in a single day in cases of hardship, such as a student needing to travel a great distance to receive the behind-the-wheel instruction. The driver training education course may be provided by:

(A) A secondary school within a school district or approved private school that establishes and maintains an approved and certified traffic safety education program under chapter 28A.220 RCW; or

(B) A driver training school licensed under chapter 46.82 RCW that is annually approved by the department of licensing; and

(ii) Beginning May 1, 2026, until January 1, 2031, the applicant must satisfactorily complete the applicable driver work zone and first responder safety course required under RCW 46.20.1191(3).

(b) Driver training schools licensed under chapter 46.82 RCW are encouraged to include a self-paced online course, or components of a self-paced online course, in the classroom instruction portion of driver training education courses, as authorized and certified by the department, to the extent feasible, and to focus teaching resources on the behind-the-wheel portion of driver training education.

(c) To meet the traffic safety education requirement for a motorcycle endorsement, the applicant must successfully complete a motorcycle safety education course that meets the standards established by the department of licensing.

(d) The department may waive the driver training education course requirement for a driver's license if the applicant demonstrates to the department's satisfaction that:

(i) The applicant was unable to take or complete a driver training education course;

(ii) A need exists for the applicant to operate a motor vehicle; and

(iii) The applicant has the ability to operate a motor vehicle in such a manner as not to jeopardize the safety of persons or property. The department may adopt rules to implement this subsection (2)(d) in collaboration with the supervisor of the traffic safety education section of the office of the superintendent of public instruction.

(e) The department may waive the driver training education course requirement if the applicant was licensed to drive a motor vehicle or motorcycle from a reciprocal jurisdiction outside this state or provides proof that he or she has had education equivalent, from a reciprocal jurisdiction, to that required under this subsection.

Findings—Intent—2025 c 299: See note following RCW 46.20.1191.

Effective date—2024 c 162 ss 1-3: See note following RCW 46.20.075.

Findings—Intent—Effective date—2017 c 197: See notes following RCW 28A.220.020.

Effective date—2010 1st sp.s. c 26; 2010 1st sp.s. c 7: See note following RCW 43.03.027.

Intent—1999 c 6: See note following RCW 46.04.168.

Severability—1973 1st ex.s. c 154: See note following RCW 2.12.030.