Effective January 1, 2026, anyone applying for a learner’s permit will need to complete the free Connecticut Work Zone Safety Course.

The purpose of this free online course is to not only teach you what to do in a work zone, but to help you understand why being a work zone safe driver matters every time you get behind the wheel.

The course takes less than an hour to complete. 

Step 1: Create an account using your legal name.

Step 2: Print your completion certificate.

Step 3: Give the printed completion certificate to the DMV, along with any other required documents, prior to taking your knowledge test.

GET STARTED

Please note:  All testing is offered by appointment only at select DMV locations. 

Before you’re able to take the knowledge test to get a learner’s permit, you'll need to complete the vision test. The minimum vision requirement for a Class D license—any motor vehicle that doesn’t require a commercial driver’s license—is 20/40 vision or better, with or without corrective lenses. The vision test also evaluates your peripheral vision (how far you can see to either side while looking straight ahead). To meet the vision requirements, a person must have 140 degrees of binocular peripheral visual field.

Languages offered for the knowledge test:  Albanian, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, English, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Applicants also have the option to request and complete in hard copy format a written knowledge test in these additional languages: Amharic Ethiopia, Armenian, Bosnian, Chinese Simplified, Croatian, Dari, German, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Nepali, Pashto, Persian Farsi, Portuguese Brizil, Punjabi, Romanian, Somali, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Urdu.

FAQ: What if I fail the vision test?

You can reschedule your appointment immediately. If you fail the knowledge test, you will need to wait seven days and will need to pay $40 to reschedule your appointment to retake the knowledge test.

You’ll need to bring the following items to your appointment before you’re able to take the DMV vision and DMV knowledge tests:

1. Acceptable forms of identification, as defined by the document checklist (English version PDF | Spanish version PDF). Photocopies or faxed copies of any documents are not acceptable.
   
   • Note: Puerto Rico-issued birth certificates dated before July 1, 2010, need to be replaced—see more information here.
2. Completed and signed application for a non-commercial learner’s permit or driver’s license (Form R-229). This can be printed after making your online appointment. If you need to reprint, you can access your form using your appointment PIN via DMV's online service and selecting "print receipt."
3. $40 license exam fee
   
   • View acceptable forms of payment
4. Connecticut non-driver ID card, if applicable. This card must be surrendered when a learner's permit is issued.
5. Glasses or contact lenses if needed for the vision test.
6. Connecticut Work Zone Safety Course completion certificate. 

Testing is offered by appointment only at select DMV offices. The vision and knowledge tests are taken during the same appointment, and you will take the vision test first since you need to pass it before taking the knowledge test.

Make an appointment

Explore the linked content below to help you practice for—and pass—your knowledge test. Good luck!

1. Download the Connecticut driver’s manual
   
   
2. Listen to episodes of the DMV Infocast podcast:

• New Drivers -- Driving in bad weather conditions
• New Drivers -- Use precaution around a truck's no-zone area
• New Drivers -- Know your traffic signs
• New Drivers -- Sharing the road
• New Drivers -- Taking the road test (or “driving test”)

DMV offers learner's permit knowledge practice tests in both English and Spanish:

Practice Test #1

• English version
• Spanish version

Practice Test #2

• English version
• Spanish version

Practice Test #3

• English version
• Spanish version

For your convenience, the Connecticut driver’s manual is also available as an audio study tool in an MP3 audio format, available for download in both English and in Spanish (en español).

Note: The audio versions of the driver’s manual DO NOT include the most up-to-date information. Please refer to the written driver’s manuals for the most recent guidance and laws, including updates on driving & driving laws, pedestrian & bicycle safety, and teen driving laws in CT.

Audio manual (Recorded from November 2014 edition):

• Download CT driver’s manual in English (MP3):
  
  • Chapter 1: Getting a Connecticut driver's license
  • Chapter 2: Before you get behind the wheel
  • Chapter 3: Driving behaviors
  • Chapter 4: Road safety
  • Chapter 5: Know the road
    
    
• Descargar el manual del conductor de CT en español (MP3):
  • Capitulo uno: Obtenindo licensia de el estado de CT
  • Capitulo dos: Antes de ir detras del volante
  • Capitulo tres: Comportamientos de manejo
  • Capitulo cuatro: Seguridad de la carretera
  • Capitulo cinco: Saber la carretera