Frequently Asked Questions
Are home study driver education courses legal in California?
Yes! The courts have repeatedly held that home study driver education classes are legal and have ordered DMV to accept completion certificates issued by schools offering home study driver education classes.
Will the California DMV accept my Certificate of Completion ?
Over 20,000 students have taken our home study driver education courses and received their licenses from DMV. We have had students from almost every high school in California take our courses.
Where do you get the DMV Certificate of Completion forms?
DMV provides the forms and some study materials to high schools registered with the California Department of Education who offer driver education classes.
Why shouldn't we wait and take drivers ed in public school for free?
You can, but many schools don't offer driver ed until the sophomore year. Californians can now get a learners permit on their 15th birthday if they have completed an approved driver ed class and are enrolled in driver training. More and more students are taking outside driver ed classes as freshmen while they are still 14 years old.
Why take a home study course?
Today's students have busier schedules than ever before. Students are involved in football, basketball, baseball, soccer, swimming and other after school sports. They are also involved in drama, music, student government and other activities. Homework assignments are getting heavier, especially in world history, algebra and computer classes. Everyone is striving to raise your Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores and get admitted to a good college. It makes more sense to study at home on your own schedule in your spare time.
Do I still need to take driver training?
Yes, after you complete our course, you still need to sign up with a local driver training school for six hours of behind the wheel instruction. You can find a list of local driving schols at California Driver Training.
Do you have classes for other states?
No, at this time we only offer classes for Californians. Our classes are specifically designed to meet the requirements of the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Who can take this class?
Any high school student in California. Also, California students who are studying out of state as exchange students, etc., but who plan to apply for their license in California when they return. (We do not mail to addresses outside the United States, but you may have the study materials sent to your family here who can forward them overseas.)
Online Course
I received a security warning while trying to register?
Some browsers generate a warning message: "The identity of the certificate issuer cannot be verified"
Every browser contains a list of "Trusted Sites" however the list must be updated periodically. Microsoft Internet Explorer has not been updated recently (especially for the Mac) and sometimes generates this error. More Information
I forgot my username, what do I do?
The Log-in page has a place to enter your email address and our computer will automatically send you your username and password to the email address you gave us when you registered.
I didn't receive an email from you
Please check the junk mail file in your email program. Your SPAM filters may have blocked or diverted our messages. We especially have problems with this from AOL.
Do I have to log in everytime?
No, if you check the "Remember me" box on the Log-in page , our server will remember your location and let you back in. If you are using a school computer or at a library, you should not use this feature, but you'll need to enter your username and password each time.
Your computer told me to choose another username, was my credit card charges twice?
No, your credit card is the last thing to be processed during registration. If there are any errors, we ask you to correct them before processing your credit card.
I received an alert message from my browser that said I was being transferred from a secure site to another site. Why?
Your registration and credit card information are processed in a "secure" area of our server. All information is encrypted and decrypted while passing through the internet. This is secure but slow. Once you have successfully registered, you are taken automatically to the ordinary "unsecure" portion of the server for the class materials. It makes the course materials process faster.
The type on the page is hard to read, how can I make it larger?
Every browser has a way to change your "preferences" You can change your font size in that file.
I finished the course and passed. When will I receive my DMV certificate?
The certificates are mailed from Sacramento every business day via first class mail. You should receive it within one to two days depending on where you live in California.
Ordering the Workbook Course by Mail
How long does it take to receive the class materials?
We mail your class materials by Priority Mail within one business day of receiving your registration form and payment. The mail seems to take about two days each way depending on where you live in California. Allowing for Sundays and postal holidays, you should receive the materials within a week at the most.
I finished the course and passed. When will I receive my DMV certificate?
The certificates are mailed from Sacramento every business day via first class mail. You should receive it within one to two days depending on where you live in California.
Occasionally Asked Questions
What if I lose or misplace my DMV certificate after completing the class?
DMV Completion Certificates are serially numbered and strictly controlled by DMV. We must have a signed letter from a parent stating that the certificate was lost or destroyed and there is a $25.00 processing fee to issue a replacement certificate. Do not lose your certificate.
How long do I have to complete the course?
You have 90 days from registration to complete the course. You may apply for an extension under special circumstances. There is no charge for extensions.
Can I get a refund after registering?
There are no refunds except under special circumstances. Pacific High School has sole discretion over what it considers special circumstances. There are absolutely no refunds after 30 days.
|
