(a) An applicant who is at least 15 but younger than 18 years of age must enroll in an approved commercial, public, or parent taught driver education program prior to applying for a driver license. The applicant must be at least 14 years of age to begin driver education. The department will not approve a driver license application if any coursework is taught prior to the applicant's 14th birthday.
(b) Upon completion of the required hours of classroom driver education, the applicant must visit a driver license office and complete the requirements to obtain a learner license. To qualify for a learner license, the applicant must be at least 15 years of age and have completed the first six hours of classroom instruction if enrolled in the concurrent method or 32 hours if enrolled in the block method. A learner license is required before any behind the wheel phase of instruction may begin.
(c) An applicant must hold a learner or hardship license for a minimum of six months and be at least 16 but younger than 18 years of age to apply for a provisional driver license.
(d) The driver license application of a minor must be signed by the person having custody of the minor. If the minor is not in the custody of the minor's parent(s), the guardian or agent under a power of attorney for the parent should sign. If not in the custody of any of the foregoing, the minor's employer or the county judge of the county in which the minor resides or the Department of Family and Protective Services custodian may sign.
(e) Any examinations or issuance requirements not completed by a driver education provider or authorized entity will be administered at the driver license office.
(f) If the minor applies to operate a vehicle not authorized under the original application, a separate, new notarized authorization from the custodian is required.
(g) Adult authorization is not required for an applicant younger than 18 years of age who is or has been married or whose disabilities of minority have been removed generally, by law. Instead, they must:
  (1) Present a marriage certificate or divorce decree (not an annulment decree) or other satisfactory evidence of marriage or having been married;
  (2) Present a court order showing removal of disabilities of minority; or
  (3) Obtain a notarized parental authorization as though the minor was not or had not been married.
(h) Marriage or removal of disabilities of minority affect only requirements pertaining to parental authorization. All other requirements, including minimum ages for licensing, must be met.
(i) A request to withdraw or restore an authorization for a minor driver license must be submitted to the department in writing.
(j) The driver education certificate must contain applicable items for certification of classroom and laboratory training.
(k) Driver education certificates issued by a jurisdiction or agency other than one of the 50 United States must be approved by a driver license office supervisor.
(l) A certificate from any state showing completion of an approved driver education course will be accepted. Applications with certificates showing completion of only classroom instruction may be accepted for a learner license and applications with certificates showing completion of both classroom and behind the wheel requirements may be accepted for a provisional license.
(m) The department will check the driver record of the parent taught course instructor at the time of application for the learner and provisional license. If the instructor is ineligible to teach the course, the learner or provisional license will be denied and all instruction time will be forfeited. An instructor with an out of state or country driver license must present a copy of his or her driver record for the preceding three years. Out of country driver records must be translated into English.
(n) Verification of enrollment and attendance in school, a course to complete high school requirements, or proof of high school completion is required.
  (1) A minor applicant enrolled in high school shall submit a Verification of Enrollment (VOE) form or the equivalent with the original application.
  (2) The VOE is valid for 30 days from the date of signature when school is in session and 90 days from the date of signature during the summer break.
  (3) An applicant who is enrolled in home school may submit the VOE or a letter from the instructor as a substitute for the VOE form. The letter must contain the same information as the VOE with the exception of the school name and district.

Source Note: The provisions of this §15.27 adopted to be effective May 19, 2021, 46 TexReg 3143