Illinois Form DSD CDTS 116 Adult Driver Ed Guide – If you are 18, 19, or 20 years old and applying for your first Illinois driver’s license without prior high school or commercial driver education, you must complete a state-approved six-hour Adult Driver Education Course. The official record of that course is documented on Illinois Secretary of State Form DSD CDTS 116, the Adult Driver Education Course Record Card.
This form is issued and maintained by certified commercial driver training schools and online adult driver education providers. It serves as the official classroom (or online) instruction record that helps verify successful completion before the Secretary of State posts the course to your driving record.
Download Official Form DSD CDTS 116 (PDF) from the Illinois Secretary of State website.
Who Must Complete the Adult Driver Education Course?
Under Illinois law (effective July 1, 2014), first-time driver’s license applicants ages 18–20 who have never completed an approved driver education program must successfully finish a six-hour Adult Driver Education Course through a Secretary of State-certified provider before applying for a license.
You are required to take the course if all of the following apply:
- You are 18, 19, or 20 years old
- You are applying for an Illinois driver’s license for the first time
- You have never taken high school driver education or an approved commercial driver education course
If you already completed high school driver education (in Illinois or another state) and can provide acceptable proof, such as a certified transcript, you do not need the Adult Driver Education Course or Form DSD CDTS 116.
What Is Form DSD CDTS 116?
Form DSD CDTS 116 is the official Adult Driver Education Course Record Card used by certified providers for students ages 18–20. It records key student information and course completion details, including:
- Student’s last name, first name, and middle initial
- Date of birth
- Phone number and email address
- Address, city, and ZIP code
- Instruction permit number (if applicable)
- Date and time of instruction
- Final exam score
- Instructor’s signature
- Student’s signature (optional)
The form notes that the final exam must be attached to the record card. It is printed by authority of the State of Illinois (August 2014 version still in use on the official site).
Providers maintain these records for a minimum of three years and electronically transmit completion data (name, address, date of birth, gender, and email) to the Secretary of State within two business days, along with the statutory $5 fee.
How the Adult Driver Education Course Works?
The course lasts a minimum of six hours and may be taken in a classroom or entirely online through a certified provider. Content covers:
- Current Illinois traffic laws
- Highway signs, signals, and markings
- Crash risk factors including poor decision-making, risk-taking, impaired driving, distraction (cell phones and texting), speeding, failure to use seat belts, night driving, and failure to yield
A written final exam is required at the end of the course. Passing the provider’s exam does not waive the vision, written knowledge, or road tests you must still pass at a Secretary of State Driver Services facility.
Behind-the-wheel training is not required as part of the six-hour course, though the Secretary of State encourages at least 50 hours of supervised practice (including 10 hours at night) before testing.
How to Obtain and Use Form DSD CDTS 116?
You do not fill out Form DSD CDTS 116 yourself in most cases. Certified classroom or online providers complete and maintain the record card as part of their documentation requirements. After successful completion:
- The provider electronically reports your completion to the Illinois Secretary of State.
- You receive an email from the Secretary of State with a link to download your official Certificate of Completion.
- Print the certificate and bring it (along with required identification documents) to a Secretary of State facility when you apply for your driver’s license.
You can verify that your driver education completion has been posted to your record using the official Driver’s Education Course Completion Check tool (enter your instruction permit number if applicable).
Finding a Certified Adult Driver Education Provider
Only providers certified by the Illinois Secretary of State may issue valid course completion credit. Choose from the official list of classroom and online providers published by the Secretary of State. Using a non-certified school means your course will not be accepted.
View the current list of approved providers on the Illinois Secretary of State Adult Driver Education Provider Listing.
Course fees are set by each provider and vary. In addition to the provider’s fee, a $5 statutory fee is collected and remitted to the Secretary of State.
Acceptable Alternative Proof of Driver Education
If you completed driver education before age 18, you may present alternative documentation instead of the Adult Driver Education Course and Form DSD CDTS 116. Acceptable documents for ages 18–20 include (per official Secretary of State guidance):
- Certified high school transcript showing a passing grade in driver education
- High school report card showing a passing grade
- Original completion letter or certificate from an Illinois or out-of-state high school or licensed commercial school
- Original online completion certificate (when applicable)
- Out-of-state driver’s license (current, expired, or lapsed)
For the full list, see the official publication Acceptable Driver Education Documents for Applicants 18–20 Years Old (DSD A 403).
Next Steps After Completing the Course
Once your Certificate of Completion is issued and posted:
- Gather acceptable identification documents (see the current Acceptable and Unacceptable Identification Documents Chart).
- Schedule or visit a Secretary of State Driver Services facility.
- Pass the vision screening, written knowledge test, and road test.
- Pay applicable fees and complete the application process.
For facility locations and hours, use the official Illinois Secretary of State Facility Finder.
Official Sources and Additional Resources
All information in this guide is drawn from official Illinois Secretary of State publications and resources:
- Form DSD CDTS 116 – Adult Driver Education Course Record Card (PDF)
- Commercial Drivers Publications and Forms
- Adult Driver Education FAQs
- Adult Driver Education Provider Listing
- Driver’s Education Course Completion Check
- Illinois Vehicle Code Section 6-107.5 and related administrative rules
Always verify the most current requirements and forms directly on the official Illinois Secretary of State website (ilsos.gov), as procedures and forms can be updated