The 4 phases of the Quebec driving course: length and content
The Class 5 driving course is not a block of lessons to take in any order. It is a 4-phase program, defined by the SAAQ, that alternates theory and practice over about a year. Here is what each phase contains, how long it lasts and when the learner's licence and the tests come in.
The Road Safety Education Program is the same in every SAAQ-approved school: 12 theory modules (24 hours) and 15 in-car sessions (15 hours), spread over 4 phases. What changes from one school to another is the quality of teaching, instructor availability and price. The content itself is regulated.
| Phase | Theory | In-car | Minimum length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Modules 1 to 5 | No sessions | 28 days |
| Phase 2 | Modules 6 and 7 | Sessions 1 to 4 | 28 days |
| Phase 3 | Modules 8 to 10 | Sessions 5 to 10 | 56 days |
| Phase 4 | Modules 11 and 12 | Sessions 11 to 15 | 56 days |
Phase 1: theory before the learner's licence
Phase 1 takes place entirely in the classroom. Five two-hour modules cover the vehicle, the driver, the road environment and risky behaviours, followed by an evaluation. You must pass it for the SAAQ to issue your learner's licence. This phase can start before age 16; the learner's licence itself is only issued from 16.
Key step. At the end of Phase 1, the school gives you an attestation. With it, your ID and $88.35, you get your learner's licence at an SAAQ service centre. Everything is explained in our learner's licence guide.
Phase 2: directed driving
Your first sessions on the road, four in total, with the instructor guiding every manoeuvre. Alongside, modules 6 and 7 cover accompanied driving and the OEA strategy (observe, evaluate, act), the method you will apply in every session. It is also when your parents or accompanying driver start driving with you outside the course.
Phase 3: semi-directed driving
Six sessions (5 to 10) where you gradually make the decisions, with an instructor who steps in less and less. Modules 8 to 10 cover speed, sharing the road with pedestrians, cyclists and trucks, then alcohol and drugs. An evaluation of your practical training is done at sessions 5 and 10.
Phases 3 and 4 each require at least 56 days. That is not administrative slowness: the SAAQ wants accompanied practice to spread over time, across several seasons and road conditions, rather than being crammed into two weeks. These phases are also where the 10-month wait before the knowledge test falls.
Phase 4: toward independent driving
The last five sessions (11 to 15) put you in real conditions: longer trips, highway, varied conditions, and session 15 serves as a summary before the SAAQ road test. Modules 11 and 12 cover fatigue, distractions and eco-driving. At the end of Phase 4, the school gives you the attestation that lets you book the road test, provided you have held your learner's licence for at least 12 months.
Where the SAAQ tests fit in
Obtained at the SAAQ with the school's attestation. No SAAQ test at this stage.
$13.50, at a service centre, 3 parts, 75% in each. Usually during Phase 3 or 4.
$33.75, after completing the course. Session 15 is your dress rehearsal.
$107.96 for 24 months. Then the full Class 5 driver's licence.
How long does the whole course take?
Adding up the minimum lengths of the 4 phases gives 168 days, about five and a half months. But the real calendar is set by the SAAQ's waiting periods: 12 months on a learner's licence before the road test. A student who follows the course at a steady pace therefore gets a probationary licence 12 to 13 months after the learner's licence. Each step is detailed in the steps to a Quebec driver's licence.
What the course costs, and what is included
At Vision Plus, the complete course (12 modules and 15 sessions) is $999 + taxes, payable in 6 instalments, at our 5 branches. We break down what that price includes in the $999 driving course: what's included, and compare market prices in how much does a driving course cost in Quebec.
Frequently asked questions
No. The phases follow in order and each has a minimum length set by the SAAQ. A school promising the full course in a few weeks is not following the program.
Each session lasts 55 minutes with the instructor. The 15 sessions add up to the program's 15 hours of practice.
The SAAQ allows approved schools to offer the theory modules in class or online. Ask about the format offered at your branch.
A transfer is possible. Ask both schools how completed modules and sessions are recognized and what fees apply before switching.
One complete course, 4 phases, one price
SAAQ-approved driving school, 5 branches from Laval to Saint-Jérôme. Complete Class 5 course for $999 + taxes, payable in 6 instalments.
Register onlineInformation verified in September 2026 on the SAAQ website: Road Safety Education Program overview (PDF, French) and Class 5 licence page (fees, delays, minimum lengths). Rules can change: check the SAAQ website for the current version.
