15-Hour Driving Course Now Required for Student-Driver Permit Applicants

For those who are thinking of applying for a student-driver permit soon, the Land Transporation Office (LTO) has issued a new policy that requires all applicants to take a 15-hour Theoretical Driving Course starting April 6, 2020.

The Memorandum Circular was signed by Assistant Secretary of the LTO Edgar C. Galvante on the 5th of December 2019.

The Memorandum Circular No. 2019-2176 has the following objectives:

• To establish an accreditation system that ensures the compliance of driving schools and centers with the prescribed driver education standards.
• To ensure the uniformity of the driver education course components.
• To raise the standard of instruction, develop safety consciousness, and positive driving attitudes.

Also read: LTO Implements New Point System for Driver’s License Renewal

As per the memorandum, all applicants of the said permit will have to undergo a 15-hour Theoretical Driving Course under the LTO or any of its accredited agencies and driving schools. A permit will only be issued upon the completion of the course and it should be completed within two years from the start of the course.

The said course will have three sessions and a practical driving course that will tackle topics such as an introduction to driving, road and traffic rules, land transportation laws, as well as LTO Core Applications (Driver’s Licensing System, Vehicle Registration, and Law Enforcement and Ticketing Systems).

As stated, the course will take 15 hours to complete with each of its sessions lasting for five hours.

The practical course, on the other hand, will tackle everything from starting the car to night driving before a review where the students shall be tested in different situations. This course will take eight hours to complete.

Also read: Expats’ Guide to Driving Laws in the Philippines

Memorandum Circular No. 2019-2176 can be viewed in full through the LTO’s official website.

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Source: lto.gov.ph