Texas Adult Driver Education Certificate: The ADE-1317

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

The Texas adult driver education certificate is the ADE-1317, the form a TDLR-licensed provider gives you when you finish and pass the six-hour adult course. Applicants 18 to 24 show it to DPS, and online providers must issue it within 15 working days. TDLR’s current template for this certificate is named ADEE-1317.

Key Facts

Name: ADE-1317, with ADEE-1317 as TDLR’s current template name. See what it is.
Who gets it: only students who finish and pass an approved adult course. See how you earn it.
Timing: online providers must issue it by the 15th working day after you finish. See when it arrives.
Not a DE-964: it cannot replace the teen course certificate. See other certificates.
Two-year rule: under 25, a certificate dated two or more years back waives no exams. See the two-year rule.
Lost it? Contact the provider that issued it. See if you lose it.

What the Texas Adult Driver Education Certificate Is

The ADE-1317 proves you completed the adult course. DPS uses this name in its ITAD FAQ. TDLR uses it in its certificate rule, 16 TAC 84.43.

You may also see “ADEE-1317.” TDLR’s certificate ordering page says providers of the adult six-hour course “must create a certificate of completion using the TDLR model DEE-964 and or ADEE-1317 template.” The DPS third-party testing page lists both names together as “ADE-1317/ADEE-1317.”

So both names point to the same adult course certificate. The extra “E” is in the current template’s name.

Certificate Names You May See

Texas uses several course certificates. Only one is for the adult course:

Certificate	Course it comes from	Where the name appears
ADE-1317	Adult driver education	DPS ITAD FAQ; 16 TAC 84.43
ADEE-1317	Adult driver education (current template)	TDLR ordering page; DPS TPST page
DE-964 or DEE-964	Driver education for minors	DPS TPST page; 16 TAC 84.43
Uniform Certificate of Course Completion	Driving safety (defensive driving)	16 TAC 84.63

Who Needs It

Transportation Code § 521.1601, in Chapter 521, says DPS may not license a person under 25 without a driver education certificate. For applicants 18 or older, a TDLR-approved adult course meets that rule.

DPS applies this to first-time applicants 18 through 24. Ages 25 and older have no driver education requirement. Adults who hold a valid license from another state are exempt under the same statute.

Who Does Not Need One

Some applicants do not need a certificate, because they do not need the course:

Ages 25 and older. DPS lists no driver education requirement. Its third-party testing page calls the course “highly recommended” for first-time applicants over 25.
New residents 18 and older. DPS exempts holders of an out-of-state license that is valid or “not expired over two years” from adult driver education.

Our new residents guide explains the out-of-state rules.

How You Earn It

The certificate goes only to students who finish the whole course. Under 16 TAC 84.43, providers may issue certificates “only to students who have successfully completed” the course. TDLR’s ordering page says “all elements” of the course must be done.

Passing matters too:

In person. Under 16 TAC 84.502, no certificate is issued without at least 70 percent on the highway signs exam and on the traffic laws exam.
Online. Under 16 TAC 84.503, a licensed instructor must confirm you finished and passed before signing the certificate.
Age. A provider may not issue an ADE-1317 to anyone under 18.

When It Arrives

For online courses, the rule is clear. The provider must issue the ADE-1317 “not later than the 15th working day after the course completion date.”

The in-person rule we read does not set a delivery deadline. If you take a classroom course, ask the school when and how it issues certificates.

How the ADE-1317 moves from the course final exam to DPS, with the 15 working day limit for online providers

What Is on the Certificate

TDLR controls the certificate numbers. Its ordering page says providers order them through TDLR’s Online Licensing System. Other points from that page:

The number goes in the top right corner.
“No students should receive the same control number.”
All required fields must be filled in before the certificate is issued.
The DPS copy must contain the instructor’s original signature.

Under 16 TAC 84.43, the front of each certificate must also show TDLR’s complaint contact information. Look over your certificate when it arrives, and ask the provider to fix any error.

Treat It as an Official Record

TDLR’s rule calls these certificates a government record. Under 16 TAC 84.43, misusing them can lead to the loss of a provider’s license or approval, or to criminal charges.

So never change a date, name or number on your certificate. If something is wrong, ask the provider for a corrected one.

Check It Before You Apply

A quick review can save a second trip. Look for these points, all drawn from the rules above:

The form says ADE-1317 or ADEE-1317, not DE-964 or a driving safety certificate.
A certificate number appears in the top right corner.
All required fields are filled in.
The date is less than two years before you plan to apply, if you are under 25.

If anything is missing, contact the provider before your DPS appointment.

Paper or Digital?

TDLR’s ordering page says, “A digital certificate is acceptable.” That line is written for providers.

The paper-only rule you may have heard about is for a different form. DPS says the ITAD certificate must be printed, because “electronic copies” are not accepted. That rule is for ITAD, not the ADE-1317.

Ask your provider how it delivers the ADE-1317. If you are unsure what to bring, ask DPS or your testing school.

Not a DE-964

The DE-964 is the certificate for the minors driver education course. Under 16 TAC 84.43, a provider may not “use an ADE-1317 driver education certificate or certificate number to replace a DE-964.”

It is also not a defensive driving certificate. That course issues a Uniform Certificate of Course Completion under 16 TAC 84.63. Our guide to adult driver education vs defensive driving compares the two.

The Two-Year Rule

The date on your certificate matters if you are under 25. DPS rule 37 TAC 15.55 says these applicants “who present driver education completion certificates dated two or more years prior to the date of application will not have any examinations waived.”

The same rule adds that such certificates “are acceptable as proof of driver education completion.” So an older certificate still proves the course. It just does not count for any exam.

What the Certificate Can Do at DPS

Texas law, § 521.1655, lets a licensed provider give the highway sign and traffic law parts of the license exam. A test passed in the course satisfies those parts. The DPS handbook says that after “certain courses,” you do not take the knowledge exam at the office.

Ask your provider whether its course gives this test. You still take the vision test and the driving test at DPS or an approved school. Our written test waiver guide explains the limits.

Using It With ITAD and the Road Test

The certificate leads to the next step. The ITAD FAQ says, “Any applicant who has taken a 6 hour Adult Driver Education Course and was issued an ADE-1317 Certificate” must complete ITAD. DPS says to take ITAD after the course.

If you test with a school, the DPS third-party testing page says applicants 18 to 24 need the ADE-1317/ADEE-1317 (or a DE-964). They also need ITAD, dated within 90 days. Our ITAD guide covers that video.

Timing Your Certificate and ITAD

Two dates work together. Under 25, your course certificate should be less than two years old when you apply, so the course test can still count. Your ITAD certificate is valid for only 90 days.

The ITAD FAQ says to take ITAD after the adult course, and no more than 90 days before the driving test. So finish the course first, then plan ITAD around your test date.

You can book a DPS appointment at txdpsscheduler.com up to six months ahead. Road tests can be booked up to 180 days ahead.

If You Lose It

Start with the provider that issued it. The TDLR student FAQ tells students who need a duplicate teen certificate to “contact the driver education school you attended.” The same step makes sense for the adult certificate.

Under 16 TAC 84.43, the provider must note the original certificate’s serial number on any duplicate it issues, where necessary. Keep a copy or photo of your certificate number once you get it.

New Reporting by Providers

TDLR added a reporting step for providers. Its ordering page says, “Effective August 17, 2026, Driver Education Providers will begin reporting certificate completion data.” That includes data for ADE-1317s.

Providers send this data to TDLR electronically. It is a provider duty, so there is nothing for students to file.

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the TDLR and DPS pages we checked on October 26, 2026, three names appeared for the adult certificate. The ITAD FAQ said “ADE-1317.” TDLR’s ordering page said “ADEE-1317.” The DPS third-party testing page listed “ADE-1317/ADEE-1317.”

TDLR’s student FAQ described duplicates only for the teen certificate. We found no separate TDLR page on replacing a lost ADE-1317.

ADE-1317 quick facts: who gets it, what it cannot replace, the two-year rule and what a duplicate must show

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Each item comes from a TDLR rule or a DPS page:

Expecting it before you pass. It goes only to students who complete the course.
Mixing it up with the DE-964. One cannot replace the other.
Using a defensive driving certificate. That is a different course and form.
Waiting too long to apply. Under 25, a certificate dated two or more years back waives no exams.
Treating it like the ITAD form. The paper-only rule DPS states is for ITAD.
Losing the number. A duplicate notes the original serial number when needed.

How Requirements Can Vary

Texas driver license rules come from state law, Texas DPS rules and TDLR rules, and they apply statewide. What you need still depends on your age, whether you hold a license from another state, and which tests you have already passed.

Laws, fees and office procedures can change. Check the Texas DPS and TDLR websites for current rules before you book an appointment or enroll in a course.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ADE-1317?

It is the certificate for the Texas six-hour adult driver education course. A TDLR-licensed provider issues it when you finish and pass. TDLR’s current template is called ADEE-1317.

How long does it take to get my certificate?

Online providers must issue it no later than the 15th working day after you finish. For a classroom course, ask the school about its timing.

Is the ADEE-1317 different from the ADE-1317?

They are the same adult course certificate. TDLR’s current template is named ADEE-1317, and DPS lists “ADE-1317/ADEE-1317” together.

Can I use the ADE-1317 instead of a DE-964?

No. TDLR’s rule says an ADE-1317 may not replace a DE-964. The DE-964 is for the minors course.

Does my certificate expire?

No expiration date is set, but age matters. Under 25, a certificate dated two or more years before you apply still proves the course, but it waives no exams.

What do I do if I lose my certificate?

Contact the provider that issued it. TDLR rules say the provider notes the original serial number on a duplicate when needed.

Does the certificate need a signature?

Yes. TDLR says the DPS copy must contain the instructor’s original signature. For online courses, a licensed instructor must also confirm you finished and passed before signing.

Do I need ITAD too?

Yes, if you take the driving test. The ITAD FAQ says anyone issued an ADE-1317 must complete ITAD, though DPS rules let adults choose ITTD instead. DPS says to take it after the course.

Conclusion

The Texas adult driver education certificate is the ADE-1317, with ADEE-1317 as TDLR’s current template name. Online providers must issue it within 15 working days, and only to students who pass.

Under 25, apply within two years so the course test can still count. To begin, see Driving Logic’s online Texas adult driver education course.

Sources

Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, a state-approved driver improvement course provider serving Texas and other U.S. states.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Texas driver license and driver education rules are set by Texas law, Texas DPS and TDLR, and they can change. Check the official DPS and TDLR websites for current requirements before you apply.