A new law, effective July 1, 2025, requires Florida teens to complete a driver's education course to qualify for a learner's permit. The new program, known as Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS), is mandatory for all applicants ages 15 to 17 as of August 1.
Previously, the only education Florida teens needed to qualify for a permit was the Drug, Alcohol and Traffic Awareness (DATA) course. This program is also commonly known as Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE).
While the new driver's ed program is available to applicants on July 1, Florida announced a transition period in July when the state will accept both TLSAE and DETS. On August 1, the new driver's ed course became mandatory, and a TLSAE certificate no longer satisfies permit requirements for applicants under 18.
Students can take the new driver's ed course online or in person as part of a semester-long high school program for grades nine to 12.
If you completed the DATA course prior to August 1 and are between the ages of 15 and 17, your DATA certificate will satisfy state permit requirements after the August 1 transition to mandatory driver's ed. Students who did not earn a DATA certificate by the July 31 deadline must complete the new DETS course.
According to the Florida Department of Education, the DETS course teaches new drivers about:
The in-person program offered at select Florida schools will last one semester. The online version will take at least six hours to complete and must meet or exceed the Department of Education's requirements for classroom training.
Yes, drivers 18 and up are still required to take the DATA course after August 1. There are certain exemptions to this requirement, such as previously holding a license in another state or completing a Florida Department of Education driver's ed program.
In addition, court-ordered DATA training may be required after certain driving offenses involving drugs or alcohol. We will continue to offer the online DATA course in English and Spanish.
