Permis PrêtMandatory Class 5 driving course: how many hours, and who has to take it?
The Programme d’éducation à la sécurité routière: length, modules, road sessions, phases, and when the course is not required.
Short answer: for a first Class 5 licence, the course at a driving school recognized by the SAAQ is mandatory. It lasts at least 39 hours: 24 hours of theory in 12 two-hour modules and 15 road sessions with an instructor, spread over 4 phases. You get your learner’s licence after phase 1.
Who has to take the course?
The Code de la sécurité routière (Quebec’s Highway Safety Code) says a licence applicant must have successfully completed the SAAQ’s training program in the cases set by regulation (s. 66.1). For Class 5, the required training is that program (Regulation respecting licences, s. 7.12.1). The SAAQ puts it simply: taking a driving course at a school recognized by the SAAQ is mandatory (“Auto (classe 5)” page).
The course is called the Programme d’éducation à la sécurité routière (Road Safety Education Program). It focuses on visual scanning, anticipating hazards, dangerous behaviours (speed, alcohol or drugs, distraction) and sharing the road (Guide de la route, ch. 1, “L’inscription au cours de conduite”).
How many hours?
According to the SAAQ’s page on the car course, the course lasts at least 39 hours:
- Theory: 24 hours, in 12 two-hour modules.
- Practice: 15 road sessions with an instructor, about 1 hour each (the SAAQ states 55 minutes per session).
- The instructor evaluates you at sessions 5, 10 and 15; session 15 is the wrap-up before the SAAQ road test.
You can sign up before age 16 to do the theory part.
The 4 phases and 12 modules
| Phase | Modules (French titles) | Minimum length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1. Le véhicule (the vehicle) · 2. Le conducteur (the driver) · 3. L’environnement (the environment) · 4. Les comportements à risque (risky behaviours) · 5. L’évaluation (the evaluation) | 28 days |
| 2 | 6. La conduite accompagnée (accompanied driving) · 7. La stratégie OEA (first road sessions, guided driving) | 28 days |
| 3 | 8. La vitesse (speed) · 9. Le partage de la route (sharing the road) · 10. Alcool et drogues (alcohol and drugs) (semi-guided driving) | 56 days |
| 4 | 11. Fatigue et distractions (fatigue and distractions) · 12. L’écoconduite (eco-driving) (more independent driving) | 56 days |
Source: SAAQ, “Cours de conduite – Automobile (véhicule de promenade)”.
The learner’s licence, after phase 1
At the end of phase 1, the school gives you a theory evaluation (module 5). With the school’s certificate of success, you apply for your learner’s licence at an SAAQ service centre (Guide de la route, ch. 1; Regulation respecting licences, s. 12.2). If you took the course at more than one school, you need a certificate from each one (SAAQ, “Auto (classe 5)”). The learner’s licence is required before the phase 2 road sessions can start.
What comes next (the knowledge test after 10 months with a learner’s licence, the road test after 12 months and the end of the course) is covered in learner’s licence steps. For the road test you must show the certificate for the whole course, and passing the knowledge test does not excuse you from finishing the modules and road sessions (Guide de la route, ch. 1). That certificate for the theory and practical parts is also required to get the probationary licence (Regulation respecting licences, s. 22).
Recognized schools
The SAAQ sets the program and recognizes the driving schools allowed to teach it (Code, s. 66.2). The SAAQ has a search tool to find a recognized school. The maximum price of the Class 5 course is set by regulation and indexed every January 1 (Regulation respecting licences, s. 7.13).
If you cancel your course, keep the certificate the school gives you; otherwise part of the course will have to be redone. A lost certificate, or one never handed over (for example because the school closed), can be replaced by a substitute certificate requested from the SAAQ (SAAQ, “Cours de conduite : questions fréquemment posées”).
For deaf or hard-of-hearing learners, the SAAQ pays for a recognized interpreter for the theory and practical parts, if the course is taken at a recognized school (SAAQ, “Auto (classe 5)”).
Who doesn’t have to take the course?
The published exemptions mostly concern people who already hold a licence from elsewhere:
- Licence from another province, the United States or a country with an agreement with Quebec: the exchange gives you an equivalent Quebec licence without taking a course (SAAQ, “Permis de conduire canadien ou étranger”).
- Licence from a country without an agreement, held for at least one year before you settled in Quebec: no course and no learner’s licence, but you must pass the SAAQ tests and apply within 12 months of settling in Canada (Code, s. 91.3; Regulation respecting licences, s. 32.2).
- Less than one year of experience on a licence from a country without an agreement, or a Canadian or US licence expired for 3 years or more: the driving course and the graduated licensing process are required (SAAQ, “Permis de conduire canadien ou étranger”).
Details are in Exchanging a foreign driver’s licence in Quebec.
Key points for the test
- The course is mandatory for a first Class 5 licence, at a school recognized by the SAAQ.
- At least 39 hours: 24 hours of theory (12 modules) and 15 road sessions.
- 4 phases; the learner’s licence comes after phase 1 (modules 1 to 5).
- Passing the knowledge test does not excuse you from finishing the course.
Original questions with an explanation and a source, “Highway Safety Code” section.
Practise for free
See also
- Free SAAQ practice test: 15 questions
- Learner’s licence in Quebec: the steps
- Class 5 knowledge test: how many questions?
- Class 5 road test: how it works
Official sources
- SAAQ, “Cours de conduite – Automobile (véhicule de promenade)” (French; last modified May 30, 2024; consulted 2026-10-29)
- SAAQ, “Auto (classe 5)” (French), driving course and learner’s licence sections (last modified September 9, 2026; consulted 2026-10-29)
- SAAQ, “Cours de conduite : questions fréquemment posées” (French; last modified October 16, 2026; consulted 2026-10-29)
- SAAQ, “Permis de conduire canadien ou étranger” (French; last modified April 30, 2026; consulted 2026-10-29)
- SAAQ, “Trouver une école de conduite reconnue” (find a recognized school, French)
- Code de la sécurité routière (Highway Safety Code, CQLR c. C-24.2), ss. 66.1, 66.2 and 91.3
- Règlement sur les permis (Regulation respecting licences, CQLR c. C-24.2, r. 34), ss. 7.12.1, 7.13, 12.2, 22 and 32.2
- SAAQ, Guide de la route (4th ed., 2024, French), ch. 1, “L’inscription au cours de conduite”, “L’obtention du permis d’apprenti conducteur”, “La réussite de l’examen théorique”
General information page, current as of 2026-10-29. If in doubt, the official text prevails. Rules can change: check saaq.gouv.qc.ca and legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca. For the course price and SAAQ fees, ask your school and see the SAAQ’s page.