The ADE-1317 certificate does not expire. The one with a 90-day clock is ITAD.
The ADE-1317 is the Texas adult drivers ed certificate, required at 18 through 24 for a first license. Providers have up to 15 working days to issue it; it does not expire. It gets mixed up with two other certificates, the ITAD one you also need for the driving test and the teen DE-964. Which is which, and when yours arrives, is below.
What is the ADE-1317 certificate, and do I need one?
It is the certificate of completion for the Texas adult six-hour driver education course, and you need one if you are 18 through 24 and applying for a first Texas driver license. §521.1601 means DPS cannot issue that license without it. If you are 25 or older it is optional, and some people take the course anyway because it satisfies the highway sign and traffic law portions of the DPS knowledge exam.
Does the ADE-1317 certificate expire?
No, the ADE-1317 does not expire. The certificate with a 90-day life is ITAD, the one DPS gives you after its one-hour video.
| Certificate | Comes from | Clock |
|---|---|---|
| ADE-1317 driver education completion | Your course provider, after you pass | Does not expire |
| ITAD Impact Texas Adult Drivers | DPS, free, after a one-hour video | Valid 90 days |
You need both to sit a driving skills test at 18 to 24, and only the ITAD certificate expires. The trap that follows from that is set out in the 90-day certificate trap.
ADE-1317 or DE-964: which one is yours?
If you took the adult course, yours is the ADE-1317. The DE-964 is the teen driver education certificate; the ADE-1317 is the adult one.
DPS names both when it lists what you need for third-party skills testing at 18 to 24: “A valid DE-964/DEE-964 or ADE-1317/ADEE-1317 showing a completed driver education course.”
How long until I get my certificate?
Up to 15 working days after your completion date. That is the most Texas gives a provider to issue it, and a good provider issues it sooner. A provider that quotes you the full 15 days is within the rules, so check before you book a DPS appointment for the day after you finish.
Common questions
What is an ADE-1317 certificate?
The Texas adult driver education certificate of completion. A licensed provider issues it after you pass the six-hour course, and it is the document DPS wants from you if you are 18 through 24 and applying for a first Texas driver license.
How long does it take to get the certificate?
Up to 15 working days after the course completion date, which is the most Texas gives a provider. We email ours once you pass and a licensed instructor signs it, and a provider quoting 15 working days is within the rules.
Does the ADE-1317 expire?
No. The certificate with a 90-day clock is ITAD, the Impact Texas Adult Drivers certificate, and people confuse the two constantly.
What do I do with the certificate?
Bring it to your DPS appointment with your other documents. It is the proof that you completed driver education, and it is what lets a licensed instructor confirm the highway sign and traffic law portions on your behalf.
What if I lose it?
Ask the provider that issued it for a replacement. Providers are required to keep student records, so a certificate can be reissued.
Is ADE-1317 the same as DE-964?
No. DE-964 is the minor driver education certificate, for the 32-hour teen course. ADE-1317 is the adult six-hour equivalent. DPS accepts either for third-party skills testing at 18 to 24; they are still different documents.
Sources
- 16 TAC §84.503(h), the 15-working-day issuance rule
- Tex. Transp. Code §521.1601 and §521.167
- Texas DPS, Third Party Skills Testing Program
Last updated October 13, 2026. Texas rules change; where a page quotes an agency, the agency’s own page governs.
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