Illinois Form DSD CDTS 115 Adult Driver Ed Certification

Illinois Form DSD CDTS 115 Adult Driver Ed Certification – Commercial driver training schools in Illinois that want to offer the required six-hour Adult Driver Education Course must complete and submit Form DSD CDTS 115. This official Illinois Secretary of State application certifies schools to provide classroom or online instruction for first-time driver’s license applicants ages 18, 19, or 20 who have not previously completed an approved driver education program.

The form is essential for schools seeking to serve young adult drivers under Illinois Vehicle Code Section 6-107.5 and related administrative rules. Accurate completion helps ensure compliance with state standards for curriculum, facilities, records, and student reporting.

What Is Form DSD CDTS 115?

Form DSD CDTS 115 is the official “Commercial Driver Training School Application for Adult Driver Education Course Certification” issued by the Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services Department. Licensed commercial driver training schools use it to apply for certification to offer the Adult Driver Education Course.

The course is a minimum six-hour program covering traffic laws, highway signs and signals, risk management, distracted and impaired driving, and other safety topics. It is mandatory for most first-time Illinois driver’s license applicants who are 18–20 years old and have not completed high school or commercial driver education.

Schools already licensed and accredited for teen instruction are generally certified to offer adult education upon proper application. New or expanding providers must submit the form with required exhibits.

Download the official form here: Illinois Secretary of State Form DSD CDTS 115 (PDF).

Who Needs to Complete Form DSD CDTS 115?

Any entity licensed as a commercial driver training school in Illinois that wishes to offer or advertise an Adult Driver Education Course (classroom or online) must obtain certification through this form before providing instruction.

  • Schools already licensed for teen driver education may use the form for adult certification.
  • Providers offering only online adult courses follow related requirements under Part 1066 of the Illinois Administrative Code and may need additional forms such as DSD A 293, DSD A 294, and DSD A 295.
  • Unlicensed entities cannot offer the course for credit toward an Illinois driver’s license.

Certification is tied to the school’s commercial driver training school license and is renewable upon license expiration if all standards continue to be met.

Key Requirements for Adult Driver Education Certification

Applicants must demonstrate compliance with Illinois Administrative Code Title 92, Part 1060 (Commercial Driver Training Schools), especially Section 1060.71 (Adult Driver Education Course Certification) and Section 1060.72 (Adult Driver Education Classroom Instruction). Online providers also follow Part 1066.

Core instructional standards include:

  • Minimum of six hours of instruction.
  • Students must complete the course within 30 days of starting.
  • Classroom size limits (generally no more than 30–35 students depending on facility size).
  • Limits on video/animation (no more than 90 minutes) and simulators (up to 60 minutes).
  • Distribution of the current Illinois Rules of the Road booklet at the start of class.
  • A final examination of 20 questions from a bank of at least 40 questions; minimum passing score of 75 percent.
  • Clear disclosure of all fees before enrollment.
  • Maintenance of detailed student records for at least three years (name, address, date of birth, gender, email, time spent, test responses, identity verification). Schools may not request Social Security numbers.

Within two business days of a student’s successful completion, the provider must electronically transmit the student’s information to the Secretary of State along with the statutory $5 fee.

How to Complete and Submit Form DSD CDTS 115?

The form is divided into two main parts:

  • Part I – Classroom Adult Driver Education Course: Complete this section if offering in-person instruction. Attach numbered exhibits covering course of instruction, course content/objectives, student records procedures, and notification requirements.
  • Part II – Online Adult Driver Education Course: Complete this section for online-only delivery. Additional documentation on course timing calculations, content updates for new laws, accessibility, and identity verification is required.

Required information typically includes:

  • Contact person name and email
  • School name, website/URL, and full address
  • Detailed course objectives and content outline matching state requirements (traffic laws, signs/signals, accident causes, right-of-way, alcohol/drugs, organ donation, Emergency Contact Database, etc.)
  • Signatures of school officers

Mail the completed application and exhibits to:

Commercial Driver Training School Section
1800 W. Hawthorne Lane
West Chicago, IL 60185
Phone: 630-520-9310

Upon receipt, the Secretary of State investigates the application, may inspect facilities, and contacts the applicant when certification is complete. Always download the latest version of the form from the official website before filling it out, preferably using Adobe Acrobat Reader for fillable fields.

Official forms page: Illinois Commercial Drivers Publications and Forms.

Why Adult Driver Education Certification Matters for U.S. Schools and Students?

For young adults ages 18–20 applying for their first Illinois driver’s license without prior driver education credit, successful completion of a certified six-hour Adult Driver Education Course is a legal prerequisite. The Secretary of State will not issue a license until electronic verification of course completion is received from an approved provider.

Certified schools help students meet this requirement efficiently—either in a traditional classroom setting or through approved online programs—while ensuring curriculum quality and accurate reporting. Parents, students, and driving schools across the United States seeking Illinois-specific guidance should always verify current rules on the official Illinois Secretary of State website, as administrative codes and forms can be updated.

Additional resources:

By properly completing Form DSD CDTS 115 and maintaining compliance, commercial driver training schools support safer roads and help young adult drivers successfully obtain their Illinois licenses.

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