Driver's Education FAQ

Montgomery College's Driving School is Maryland MVA licensed and certified. Our programs include Learner’s Permit Prep, Driver Education, Driver Education with Additional Support and Driver Improvement Lessons.
The classroom portion of the program fulfills the state requirement of 30 hours. Classes run for 3 hours and 15 minutes for a total of 10 sessions.
The Behind the Wheel (BTW) portion of the program is divided into three lessons of 2 hours each, for a total of 6 hours. Each lesson is held separately on a different day.
Classes are held at our Gaithersburg Business Training Center (GBTC), Rockville Campus, or the Germantown Campus. See MC maps for directions. We are also expanding into Montgomery County Public Schools. (Please see Schedule/Cost tab for available classes).
The Gaithersburg Business Training Center (GBTC), map, 12 South Summit Ave, 4th floor, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877. GBTC is located on
RIDE ON bus route 55 (stop at Summit Ave., walk two blocks toward City Hall / Gaithersburg
MARC train station) or RIDE ON bus route 54 (stop at Diamond Ave. and walk 3/4 mile
east parallel to RR tracks).
See MC maps for directions to the Germantown Campus, Gaithersburg, and Rockville Campus.
All behind the wheel lessons begin and end at the designated college campus; no exceptions.
Meet your Instructor and the Driver Education car on time for your lessons. For Gaithersburg
Business Training Center, meet at the rear entrance adjacent to the parking garage;
for lessons at Germantown and Rockville campus special arrangements will be prearranged.
Yes, effective October 2008, students must have a Learner's Permit to take the class.
The process to obtain a Leaner’s Permit is as follows:
- Learner's permits may be obtained at the MVA and require certain documents such as a birth certificate, passing an eye test, and passing a quiz, etc.
- The Rookie Driver Program new windowhas information on how to get a learner's permit.
- Montgomery College has a Learners Permit Preparatory Course that includes several tutorials to help students practice and prepare for the Learner's Permit.
- The MVA now has an online tutorial new windowto be used as a practice guide to help prepare you for your Learner's Permit.
Learners Permit Prep. Course:
We offer a 10 hour Learners Permit Prep Course to help prepare students for the Maryland MVA learners permit test. This course is open to all students, yet designed by a Special Education Teacher to help students who require additional supports. Call for more information 240-567-1895 or see Schedule/Cost Tab.


When: The MVA recommends that we do not begin the behind the wheel sessions until after the third classroom session. Students may not have more than one driving lesson per day. Lessons are scheduled 7 days a week.
Where: All behind the wheel lessons begin and end at the designated college campus; no exceptions. Meet your Instructor and the Driver Education car on time for your lessons. For Gaithersburg Business Training Center, meet at the rear entrance adjacent to the parking garage; for lessons at Germantown and Rockville campus special arrangements will be prearranged.
Schedule: Students will get their behind the wheel schedule during the first three classes if they brought their learner's permit to the first class. The MVA recommends that we do not begin the Behind the Wheel sessions until after the third classroom session.
Students need to make the Driver Education classes a priority. There is limited flexibility in modifying the schedule. To avoid conflicts you should bring your activity calendar to the first class. If you have a serious conflict, try the following:
- Rearrange your outside engagement or appointment.
- Contact the instructor.
- If still unsuccessful, call the BTW coordinator for assistance, 240-567-1895.
Students must successfully complete all 6 hours (three 2-hour lessons) of the behind the wheel portion of the Driver Education class before completion data can be submitted to the MVA. Success is determined by completion of all 6 hours satisfactorily. Instructor discretion is used for students earning an unsatisfactory on any of the skills.
If an Instructor sees that a student may not pass the behind the wheel portion, he may recommend that the student defer his/her 2nd or 3rd lesson in order to have more practice driving, thus having a better chance of passing. This practice may be with a parent or mentor, or they may take Driver Improvement Lessons. If a student fails the behind the wheel portion, they must practice (this can be with the school or a parent/mentor driver) and then arrange with the school to re-take the failed lesson. Any lesson outside of the 6 hours included in the course is at an additional charge.
Important Information about Driver Education Courses:
NOTE: All behind the wheel lessons begin and end at the designated college campus; no exceptions. Meet your Instructor and the Driver Education car on time for your lessons. For Gaithersburg Business Training Center, meet at the rear entrance adjacent to the parking garage; for lessons at Germantown and Rockville campus special arrangements will be prearranged.
Be advised that while Driver Education schools are accomplished at making judgment
and sharing insight on driver skills, none are authorized to make determination or
prognosis on whether a rookie driver can or cannot drive on Maryland roads. The responsibility
lies with the parent/guardian and the state of Maryland on whether this student should
share Maryland roads. Participation in our Driver Education program is open to all
students. However, students with conditions identified by COMAR 11.17.03.02-1 "Reportable
Medical Conditions", must be reported to the MVA and Medical Advisory Board as instructed.
Please view online instructions at: Customer Self-Report of a Medical Condition (PDF, ) . Any Restricted Learner Permit or Driver License will be evaluated by us to ensure
we can teach under those conditions identified by the MVA/Medical Advisory Board (MAB).
Also be advised that during behind the wheel instruction, Montgomery College reserves the right to stop the behind the wheel lesson if any student demonstrates safety concerns. At this point, the student may be referred to screening to determine driver readiness.