Driver training rules in Kentucky

✓ Checked against official sources · 2026-10-18

Driver training rules in Kentucky for teen and adult driver's education, CDL schools, carriers that train their own drivers and school bus drivers, each with a link to the official source. Federal ELDT rules (49 CFR Part 380) apply in every state on top of these.

Driver education (teens)	Required under 18: permit applicants must enroll in school-district driver ed, a licensed driving school, or state traffic school; a class contains at least 4 hours of highway safety training. Behind-the-wheel hours not stated.source 1 · source 2
Supervised practice (teens)	60 hours supervised driving, 10 at night, with a licensed adult 21+. Permit held at least 180 days.source 3
New adult drivers	No course stated for adults. Ages 18-20 must hold permit 180 days; 21+ hold permit 30 days.source 4
Who licenses driving schools	Kentucky State Police licenses driver training schools; instructors apply to the KSP Drivers Testing Branch.source 5 · source 6 · source 7 · source 2
CDL training: state rules beyond federal ELDT	Licensed CDL schools follow the state General Curriculum Standards. ELDT-only providers are exempt and follow 49 CFR 380 instead. State hours not verified.source 8 · source 9
CDL schools: state license	Yes. A fee-charging CDL driver training school needs a Kentucky Commission on Proprietary Education license. Providers limited solely to federal ELDT are exempt (KRS 165A.310, .460, .470).source 10 · source 11 · source 9
CDL schools: state hours or curriculum	Licensed CDL schools must offer at least 160 hours to students never issued a CDL and follow the state General Curriculum Standards. ELDT-only providers exempt.source 12 · source 8 · source 9
CDL schools: instructor rules	Yes. Instructors need a Commission CDL instructor license: age 21+, high school or equivalent (or equivalent experience), a valid operator's license, and a state and national background check (KRS 165A.465, .470, .475). Skills (range and street) instructors also need a Class A CDL, at least 2 years of verifiable over-the-road CMV driving, and passing KSP written and skills exams (791 KAR 1:070). ELDT-only providers are exempt (KRS 165A.460).source 10 · source 13 · source 14 · source 15 · source 9
Carriers training their own drivers: license	Exempt if free. Employer courses for its own employees without charge are not proprietary schools, and the CDL school sections do not apply to employers instructing employees free.source 11 · source 16
Carriers: hours or curriculum	The 160-hour rule binds CDL driver training schools as defined in KRS 165A.310 (fee or tuition charged). A carrier training its own employees free is outside it; federal ELDT applies.source 12 · source 11 · source 16
Carriers: instructor rules	Instructor licensing applies to instructors of licensed CDL schools. Free in-house employer training is exempt from the chapter, so carrier trainers need only federal 380.605 qualifications.source 10 · source 16
New school bus drivers	21-hour initial training course plus follow-up reviews per the Kentucky School Bus Driver Trainer Manual. Classroom/BTW split not stated.source 17
School bus refresher	8-hour district update training before each school year. Missing it means redoing the 21-hour course.source 17

Driving manuals and handbooks

Official publications from Kentucky, checked 2026-10-19. Read them here or download them; the state's own copy is always linked.

Driving jobs in Kentucky

Rules change. Always confirm with the state agency before you rely on a rule. Something out of date? Email terry@eldt.courses.

Federal rules in every state

CDL entry-level driver training must come from a provider listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry, for a first Class A or B CDL, an upgrade to Class A or B, or a first P, S or H endorsement (49 CFR 380.609). See ELDT record keeping under 49 CFR 380.

Sources

1. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=55913
2. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/601/013/110.pdf
3. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=55914
4. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=55912
5. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=31830
6. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=31817
7. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/502/010/030.pdf
8. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/791/001/040.pdf
9. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=52160
10. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=40326
11. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=57597
12. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=40338
13. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=47787
14. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=40325
15. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/791/001/070.pdf
16. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=4670
17. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/702/005/080.pdf

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