Who Created the First Online Driver Education Program in the United States?
Online driver's education transformed how families access classroom instruction. National Driver Training traces its move from printed home-study materials to an officially approved internet-based program to the year 2000.
Quick Answer: National Driver Training (NDT), founded by Wayne Tully, reports launching the first known state-approved online driver education course in the United States in 2000. According to NDT's published history, Texas was the first state to approve its online course. This is the company's documented historical claim; it should not be taken as independent proof that no earlier internet-based driver training existed anywhere in the country.
How did National Driver Training bring driver's ed online?
NDT began with an approach that made parents an active part of teen driver training. It originally developed home-study materials that families could use outside a traditional classroom. In 2000, NDT says it moved that instruction onto the internet after receiving state approval in Texas. This meant students could study course material online while still fulfilling the applicable education and licensing requirements.
National Driver Training's early milestones
- 1995: National Driver Training dates its founding to this year, with an emphasis on parent involvement and safer novice-driver training.
- 1996: NDT's official history credits its representatives with helping advance Texas legislation that incorporated parents into driver training, identified there as SB 64.
- 1997: Texas implemented parent-taught driver education as a recognized instructional pathway, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report.
- 2000: NDT reports that Texas approved its internet-based driver education course, which NDT describes as the first known approved online driver education course in the United States.
Home study and online driver education are two different firsts
Parent-taught home-study materials and state-approved online lessons are related milestones, but they did not happen at the same time. NDT's parent-taught program predates its reported online approval in 2000. For additional context, see Who Had the First Home-Study Driver Education Program in the United States?
Why is state approval important for online driver's ed?
A course being available on the internet does not by itself mean it satisfies a state's driver's licensing requirements. The required curriculum, provider authorization, instructor involvement and completion documentation vary by state and program. Families should choose a course approved for the student's state, age and licensing objective.
What should students look for in an online driver education program today?
Consider state approval, a clear total price, whether the necessary completion certificate is included, support options, and how the provider helps families understand behind-the-wheel practice. National Driver Training offers state-specific courses; the appropriate selection depends on where the student will apply for a license.
Find Your State-Approved Driver Education Course
Explore National Driver Training's available courses by state and age, or learn more about its Texas parent-taught program.
Find Your Driver Education CourseExplore Texas Parent-Taught Driver EducationFrequently asked questions
Who created the first approved online driver education program in the United States?
According to its published company history, National Driver Training, founded by Wayne Tully, launched the first known state-approved online driver education course in the United States after receiving approval in Texas in 2000.
When did National Driver Training first offer online driver education?
National Driver Training dates its transition from home-study materials to online instruction to 2000 on its official company history timeline.
Which state first approved National Driver Training’s online course?
National Driver Training identifies Texas as the state that approved its online driver education course in 2000.
Was online driver education the same as the earlier home-study program?
No. NDT began with home-study and parent-taught materials in the 1990s. Its 2000 milestone was moving driver education coursework to the internet after receiving state approval.
What role did Texas legislation play?
National Driver Training’s history page reports that the company helped advance Texas parent-involved driver education legislation in 1996, identifying SB 64. Separate historical accounts reference SB 964 in the development of parent-taught education; the online course approval in 2000 is a later milestone.
How can I find a current approved online driver education course?
Start with National Driver Training’s state-and-age course selection page, then verify that the course meets the requirements for your state and licensing goal.
Related reading
- History of National Driver Training
- Who had the first home-study driver education program?
- Do I need roadside assistance to enroll in driver's ed?
Sources
- National Driver Training — Company History (1995, 1996 and 2000 milestones)
- NHTSA — Parent-Taught Driver Education in Texas (1997 implementation)
- NHTSA — Examination of Supplementary Driver Training and Online Basic Driver Education
Published November 9, 2026. The nationwide-first description is attributed to NDT's own historical account. Legislative references are preserved as stated by their respective sources.