As your curriculum provider, Traffic Safety Consultants, Inc., (TSC) is always striving to remain aware of the latest developments in the industry—and to keep you updated on those trends as well. Today, we write regarding changes to the law that were recently passed by the Florida Legislature (SB 994, 2025) and that take effect on July 1, 2025.
Under the provisions of these pending changes, the Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course is now required only for driver license applicants who are 18 years of age and older and who have never been licensed in another jurisdiction. A new course, the Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course is required for learner's driver license applicants who are under the age of 18 years.
The upshot of this is that a TLSAE course completed on July 1 or later will no longer fulfill the education requirements for a learner's driver license for prospective drivers ages 15 – 17. And, unfortunately, there does not currently exist a DETS course that is approved by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).
TSC has been in contact with FLHSMV and is working furiously to develop a course that meets the requirements of the new curriculum and will be able to pass FLHSMV review. Hopefully we will have one of—if not the—first such course in the state of Florida. Nonetheless, this is an entirely new program that will need to go through the FLHSMV assessment process.
In the meantime, you can, for the next few weeks, continue to offer the TLSAE course to younger license candidates. However, we recommend that you ensure that only older students are registered for any TLSAE classes you conduct after June 2025. As things currently stand, TLSAE completions on July 1 or later will no longer satisfy the education requirements for applicants for a learner's driver license who are under the age of 18.
TSC is working to update the text and functionality of all of its managed websites to reflect this new information. If you manage your own website, you will be responsible for presenting the new information to your students.
We are continuing to work through the details of this sudden development with FLHSMV and will, of course, keep you informed of any updates to the situation. If you have any questions, you may contact the Driver Education, Process Improvement, and Accountability Office at 850 . 617 . 2598 or email Driver-Education@flhsmv.gov. Donna in our Florida office (800 . 252 . 9951 or email donna@trafficeducation.net) will also be available to help as best we can.
