by Jim Thompson | Last Updated: October 14, 2023

First-time teenage drivers looking to obtain a Rhode Island driver license must complete a drivers ed program approved by the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This course will prepare you to get behind the wheel more safely and with more confidence as well as giving you the necessary information and skills to pass your required written and road tests.

About CCRI Drivers Ed

To qualify for the state required licensing process, a driver education course must be one that is approved by the Community College of Rhode Island. These courses are offered at many high schools, CCRI campuses and at a few CCRI satellite locations.

To register for a course, you must complete a registration form and pay a registration fee of $24.50. You may submit the payment in registration form in one of the following ways:

• In person at a CCRI location
• By fax to (401) 825-1116
• By mail to:
  • CCRI, Center for Workforce & Community Education
    Attn: Driver Education Program
    400 East Avenue, Warwick, RI 02886-1807

If you have recently moved to Rhode Island and have completed drivers ed in another state, you may be able to transfer proof of that completion to the CCRI. You may make inquiries by phone by calling (401) 825-1214 or by email to [email protected].

What to Expect in a Rhode Island Drivers Ed Course

A Rhode Island drivers ed course is comprised of 33 hours of classroom instruction. This instruction will cover topics such as:

• Basic vehicle operation
• Rhode Island traffic law
• Emergency situations and how to handle them
• Safe driving techniques
• Sharing the road with others including big trucks, cyclists and pedestrians
• The effects of alcohol and drug use on driving

After Drivers Ed Rhode Island

After completing your course, you will be ready to apply for your Rhode Island learner permit. This will require a visit to the Cranston DMV office located at 600 New London Ave. To make application, you must be from 16 to 18 years of age and will need to submit your driver education course completion certificate.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you will be required to pass a written knowledge test. To get ready for your test, be sure to review all that you learned in drivers ed, study the Rhode Island driver handbook and maybe take advantage of a permit practice test.

A permit practice test will let you know exactly what to expect at the DMV because RI practice tests are built from questions taken from past Rhode Island permit exams. There may not be a better way to boost your confidence than to walk into the DMV office knowing the answers before you even see the questions!

While you have your learners permit, you will need to complete 50 hours of driving practice supervised by a licensed adult. After holding your permit for six months and completing your practice driving, you are eligible to head back to the Cranston DMV to pass your driving skills test and get your license.