A Complete Driver Education Program Conducted by Certified Instructors
Driver Education
Phase 1:
Classroom Training
This is your first stop on the road to a driver’s license. The class meets for three hours a day, Monday through Friday for two weeks (30 hours). After finishing the classroom session, students will receive a “blue card”. The student will provide the blue card when applying for an instruction permit. Once the permit has been obtained, students should have their permit for 6 months before starting Behind-the-Wheel (Phase 2).
Please note: students can miss one day of Driver’s Ed Classroom and still pass the class. If a student misses more than one day for any reason (medical, school events, family emergencies), student will be required to repeat the entire course. In special circumstances, when families have been in communication with Community Education, payment can be transferred to the next session. If more than one class is missed and we have received no communication, it is the families responsibility to re-register their student and pay the full fee.
You can register online for both Classroom and Behind the Wheel! Or fill out a paper registration form from the Community Education Center or on this page.
2025 Driver’s Education classroom sessions
January: January 2-January 15, 3-6pm (weekdays).
March: March 3-24, 6-9pm (weekdays)
Our annual schedule for Driver’s Education Classroom sessions:
Winter/Spring- (2 sessions) January and March
Summer- (3 sessions) morning session in June, afternoon session in June and morning session in late July/early August
Fall- (1 session) October
Students must be 14 years, 9 months old before the first day of class.
All classes are held in person at Northfield High School.
Call 507.664.3648 with questions about the Northfield Community Education Driver’s Education program.
Phase 2:
Behind-the-Wheel Training
The six-hour Behind-the-Wheel experience is available by appointment following completion of the classroom session, and students having their permit for 6 months. To register, students provide their instruction permit number and payment.
Register online or fill out a registration form from Community Education. Once registered, contact Marianne Moser, Enrichment Coordinator: mmoser@northfieldschools.org or 507.664.3648 for appointment scheduling information.
- Students under the age of 18 must have their permit for 6 months before they are able to schedule a road test. Before scheduling your Behind the Wheel appointments, most of the student’s Supervised Driving Log should be completed. We recommend scheduling your Behind the Wheel appointments 6-8 weeks before your road test.
- Our appointments are currently 3-4 weeks out.
- Our Behind the Wheel appointments are in 2 hour increments, During the school year, appointments are available most days after school, Saturday mornings and occasionally on Sundays. Appointments during June, July and August are typically during the day.
- The appointment scheduling link is sent to those on the contact list on the 15th of each month. For example: On December 15th, the scheduling link for February will be sent to those on the list. You will continue to receive the link on the 15th (or the Friday before if the 15th lands on a weekend) of the month until 3 appointments have been scheduled.
The cost of the training is $262. After successful completion of Behind-the-Wheel training, students will receive a certificate of completion “white card,” which is necessary, along with the completed Supervised Practice Driving Log, to apply for a driver’s license.
New! Cones Now Available
Cones are available for your family to use when practicing driving skills. Visit our office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. to check out cones for two days at no charge. Please call 507-664-3649 for more information.
Driving Log State Requirements
Effective January 1, 2015, every driver under the age of 18 who completes behind the wheel instruction and is testing for a provisional driver’s license must submit a driving log. Parents/guardians have two options regarding the supervised driving log (see below). The driving log must be presented at the time of the road test and submitted with the application for the provisional license.
Option 1: Complete a supplemental parent class provided by a driver education program approved in Minnesota (see Parent Awareness Presentation information), and then submit a supervised driving log showing their teen has completed at least 40 hours (2,400 minutes) of supervised driving, 15 (900 minutes) of which are nighttime hours.
Option 2: If the parent/guardian chooses to not complete the supplemental parent class, the driving log must show that their teen has completed at least 50 hours (3,000 minutes) of supervised driving, 15 (900 minutes) of which are nighttime hours.
Parent Awareness Presentation
Point of Impact is a free, supplemental curriculum night for parents held by Community Education. Presenters include the Rice County Sheriff’s office and Community Education Driving Instructor Doug Bengtson.
Next presentation: Will be held Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 6:30pm at the Northfield Middle School auditorium. We ask that parents register for the free presentation so that your certificate can be prepared in advance. Register here.