We believe that Driver Education is one of the most important courses a student will take because it provides them with the foundation on which to build their knowledge and skills for safe driving for the rest of their lives. As a result, our classes are small (limited to no more than 24 students), and focus on the basics of driving skills, safety, attitudes and behaviors.
Our course consists of 20 or more hours of classroom instruction, 4 hours of driving range activities, and 5 hours of behind-the-wheel driving instruction. Passing the course results in the waiver of written and driving tests at the Nebraska DMV unless the student is 18 or older. Persons 18 or older will receive a certificate but are required to test at the DMV.
Registration Information:
Each student is required by the Nebraska DMV to have a valid permit in order to enroll in this course.
Registrations will be accepted in person, via fax, mail and online. No telephone registrations will be accepted. To register for the course, complete the registration form and return it to the Nebraska Safety Center with payment or you may register online, see links below.
Registration deadline is 2 weeks prior to the class start date.
All payments (except online), must be sent to the Nebraska Safety Center Office. We accept personal checks, cashier’s checks or money orders. Please make payment to “University of Nebraska at Kearney”. The classroom instructor will NOT accept payment.
Payment plans require a $175 deposit at the time of registration. Payment in full is required 2 weeks before the class begins. Class results will not be reported to the DMV without full payment. Failure to make full payment may result in your account being sent to collections.
Classes require a minimum enrollment of 8 students and are limited to a maximum of 24 students.Registration will not be accepted without payment. Enrollment will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Classes which do not meet the minimum enrollment are subject to cancellation. You will be given the option of switching to another class (includes online) or your payment will be refunded.
An email confirming enrollment will be sent the business day following the receipt of registration. You will receive a detailed letter approximately 2 weeks before class. There is a parent/student meeting it will be held the first hour the first day of class, COVID-19 permitting. If restrictions do not allow, a recorded video of the meeting will be emailed to the parents.
Students are provided 5 hours of behind-the-wheel driving time. Driving appointments are scheduled with the instructor for outside of classroom times. Students requiring more driving time will be charged $50 per hour. If a student schedules a time to drive and is not present for the lesson, that lesson will be rescheduled and the $50 rescheduling fee will apply.
If the Driver Education student is under 18 years of age at the time the course is completed, passing the course with his/her current permit results in a waiver of the written and drive tests at the Nebraska DMV Office.
If the student is 18 or older at the time the course is completed, passing the course will result in a Certificate of Completion but the student is required to take the written and drive tests at the DMV office.
This course conforms to the rules and regulations of the DMV and exceeds the criteria established for insurance discounts. Nebraska DMV regulations require that, “Students must attend all course presentations and pass all examinations”. Therefore, any missed portion(s) of the course, for any reason, must be made up prior to the issuance of a waiver. A $50 rescheduling fee will be assessed for every class, range time, or driving time missed.
If a student requires any accommodations due to a documented disability, please contact the Nebraska Safety Center prior to the beginning of the course. Special arrangements may be made to accommodate these needs.
Check Re-presentment Policy: In the event that your check is returned unpaid for insufficient or uncollected funds, we may re-present your check electronically. In the ordinary course of business, your check will not be provided to you with your bank statement, but a copy can be retrieved by contacting your financial institution.
Please contact the Driver’s Education Program at 308-865-8256 if you have further questions.
Driver Education Online
The Nebraska Safety Center at UNK is pleased to announce that we will now be offering our Driver Education program in an online format. The class curriculum will be completed online. Once the online class portion is completed students can complete the behind the wheel driving (when COVID-19 allows). Behind the wheel times will be available in: Ainsworth, Broken Bow, Chadron, Franklin, Grand Island, Hastings, Holdrege, Kearney, North Platte, Ogallala, Scottsbluff and Utica.
Students can register without a permit number but must have obtained a permit before any behind the wheel driving starts.
After online registration is completed you will receive an email confirmation that will provide a link and a code for the online classroom portion.
Please allow two days to receive this email for processing within our offices.
$39 is non-refundable if you have accessed the course and choose not to continue.
The student will have six months to complete and pass the online classroom portion.
The course will take approximately 30 hours to complete
There is a six hour limit per day. Students can do three hours maximum per session with a required two hour break in between.
Once the online classroom portion is completed and passed it is required that the student/guardian email a copy of the completion certificate to keithdc@unk.edu
Once the certificate is received by the office, an email will be sent to the student with a link to select behind the wheel drive times. Drive times are first come, first served.
Behind the wheel drive times must be completed within six months of completing the online portion.
Additional details:
The cost of the class is $350.
Students are provided five hours of behind the wheel driving time.
If a student fails to show up for a lesson a $50 rescheduling fee will be charged
If the Driver Education student is under 18 years of age at the time the course is completed, passing the course with a current permit results in a waiver of the written and drive tests at a Nebraska DMV Examining office.
If the student is 18 or older at the time the course is completed, passing the course will result in a Certificate of Completion but the student is required to take the written and drive tests at a Nebraska DMV Examining office.
Please contact the Driver’s Education Program at 308-865-8562 if you have further questions.
Lincoln Summer 1 Classes: June 2-6, 2025 | 8:00 am to 12:00 pm Location: Innovation Campus
Lincoln Summer 2 Classes: July 7-11, 2025 | 8:00 am to 12:00 pm Location: Innovation Campus
*You must attend all class sessions. *Behind-the-wheel drive times are scheduled with the instructor outside of classroom time and will be completed as quickly as possible
Adams Central 1 (Open only for AC Students until May 1, 2025) Classes: June 2-6, 2025 Times: 8:00am - 12:00pm Range included is June 4, 2025, from 9:30am to 6:00pm in Kearney
Adams Central 2 (Open only for AC Students until May 1, 2025) Classes: June 9-13, 2025 Times: 8:00am - 12:00pm Range included is June 11, 2025, from 9:30am to 6:00pm in Kearney
Classes will be held at Boone Central: Classes: June 4, 5, 9, and 10, 2025 | 8:00 am to 12:00 pm Range Exercises in Kearney | Monday, June 16, 2025 | 9:30am - 6:00pm
