Class E Knowledge Exam Through FLVS and DELAP: 2026 Guide

TLDR The Class E knowledge exam can be taken at a licensing office, online by under-18 applicants through an approved provider, or on campus through a DELAP high school driver education program. DELAP serves students enrolled in participating DOE-approved courses. Last updated September 2026.

Most Florida teens assume the Class E knowledge exam only happens at a driver license service center. It does not. Florida runs three separate routes to the same test, and one of them — the Driver Education Licensing Assistance Program, better known as DELAP — moves the exam onto a high school campus. If you are enrolled in a driver education class, you may be able to walk out of school with your permit test already passed. This guide explains who qualifies for each route, how DELAP works, what it costs, and exactly what students in FLVS or other online programs should ask before assuming they can test through school.

Three Ways to Take the Class E Knowledge Exam

FLHSMV lists all three testing options on its education and Class E pages. The exam itself is identical no matter where you take it: 50 questions, and you need 40 correct answers to pass — an 80 percent score. The difference is who administers the test and where you sit for it.

One detail trips up a lot of families: the online route is only available to applicants under 18. An adult taking the Class E knowledge exam must do it in person at a licensing office, or through a DELAP program if one applies to them. Our guide to the Class E knowledge exam versus the permit test explains why those two names describe the same exam.

What DELAP Is and How It Works

DELAP stands for the Driver Education Licensing Assistance Program. According to FLHSMV, it allows high school driver education programs to provide Class E driver license exam services to minors enrolled in those classes. In practice, the school becomes an extension of the testing system: the teacher proctors the state exam, and the results feed into the licensing process.

Not every driver education class qualifies. FLHSMV spells out that participating courses must be approved by the Florida Department of Education, which means:

1. The course is taught by a DOE-certified teacher who holds a Driver Education endorsement.
2. The school operates as a public or private secondary program.
3. The curriculum follows the DOE framework for approved course codes, such as course 1900300, Driver Education and Traffic Safety Classroom.

FLHSMV also notes that DELAP providers conduct the Class E examinations for high school-enrolled students who want to obtain a learner permit or Class E driver license, and that this includes the Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education, or TLSAE, curriculum requirement. That last part matters: TLSAE is required before a first Florida license for anyone never licensed in another state or country, so a DELAP course can fold that requirement into the same class rather than forcing a separate online course afterward.

Availability is the catch. DELAP only exists where a school district or private school runs a participating program, and provider lists change from year to year. FLHSMV maintains the list of approved current DELAP providers, so the authoritative answer to whether your school participates comes from that list and from your own school administration — not from a blog, including this one.

What FLVS and Online Students Should Ask

This is where honest answers get scarce. Florida Virtual School and other online programs publish course catalogs, and families reasonably assume a driver education offering comes with DELAP testing attached. As of September 2026, FLHSMV does not publish an FLVS-specific exam administration policy, and the FLHS course pages we checked returned errors. So the correct answer to whether you can take the Class E knowledge exam through an FLVS driver education course is: it varies, and you have to ask.

When you contact your school, virtual program, or district, ask these questions in order:

1. Is this course FLHSMV DELAP-approved to administer the Class E knowledge exam, or is it instruction only?
2. Does the course also cover the TLSAE curriculum requirement?
3. If testing is included, is it offered to online-only students, or only to students who attend in person?
4. If testing is not included, which local service centers or approved providers does the school recommend?

If the answer to question one is no, the course may still teach you to drive well, but you will take the exam yourself through a licensing office or, if you are under 18, through an approved online provider. Our overview of the FLVS driving course covers the instruction side in more depth.

Exam Format, Passing Score, and Retests

Whichever route you use, prepare for the same test. The Class E knowledge exam has 50 questions covering road rules and road signs, and you must answer 40 correctly — 80 percent. FLHSMV states that Class E knowledge examinations are available in English only, so plan study time accordingly if English is not your first language.

There is also a safeguard built into the third-party online route. Under section 322.56 of the Florida Statutes, students who pass through an approved third-party administrator are subject to a random, mandatory, no-fee retest. If you fail that mandatory retest, the re-exam fee applies to your next attempt. The point of the rule is to verify that online passers actually know the material, so the safest strategy is to study until practice scores are consistently well above the 80 percent threshold rather than barely clearing it.

Costs to Budget For

Even when the exam itself is free through school, licensing is not. The fees FLHSMV publishes are flat statewide, though most Tax Collector offices add a $6.25 service fee on top:

1. Original or renewal Class E license: $48, which includes the learner permit.
2. Knowledge exam retest after a failed attempt: $10.
3. Driving skills retest: $20.
4. Replacement license: $25.
5. Tax Collector service fee where applicable: $6.25.

If your teen is under 18, remember that a course requirement comes before the license itself: since August 1, 2025, under-18 applicants must complete the 6-hour Driver Education and Traffic Safety, or DETS, course instead of the older 4-hour TLSAE. Our explainers on what the DETS course is and how the DETS course connects to the permit exam walk through that requirement, and our full TLSAE course guide covers the rule for adults.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take the Class E knowledge exam through FLVS?

It varies. FLHSMV does not publish an FLVS-specific exam administration policy, so you must ask your school or program directly whether it is DELAP-approved to administer the exam. FLHSMV maintains the official list of current DELAP providers.

What is the DELAP program in Florida?

DELAP is the Driver Education Licensing Assistance Program. It lets high school driver education programs that are approved by the Department of Education provide Class E exam services, including the TLSAE curriculum requirement, to minors enrolled in those classes.

How many questions are on the Florida Class E knowledge exam?

The exam has 50 questions, and you need 40 correct answers to pass, which is a score of 80 percent. The exam is available in English only.

Can adults use DELAP to take the permit test at school?

DELAP is designed for minors enrolled in participating high school driver education programs. Adults take the Class E knowledge exam in person at a driver license service center.

How much does it cost to get a Florida learner permit?

The original Class E license fee, which includes the learner permit stage, is $48, and most Tax Collector offices add a $6.25 service fee. A knowledge exam retest costs $10 after a failed attempt.

Next Step for Under-18 Applicants

If your teen still needs the required course before testing, the 6-hour DETS course for applicants under 18 is available online at detscourse.com for $29.95, and the 4-hour TLSAE course for adults is available at drugandalcoholcourse.com, also $29.95, with an En espanol version. Completion is reported electronically, typically within 24 to 72 hours, so most students can book their exam or office visit without waiting on paperwork.

Citations

• FLHSMV — Driver Education Licensing Assistance Program (DELAP) Overview
• FLHSMV — Education and Courses
• FLHSMV — Class E Knowledge Exam and Driving Skills Test
• FLHSMV — Fees