Clark County Adult Driver Education

Online Adult Driver Education in Clark County, Illinois

If you are 18, 19, or 20 and applying for an Illinois driver's license for the first time, you may need to complete the Illinois Secretary of State's six-hour Adult Driver Education course before applying for your license. The course can be completed online when provided by a Secretary of State-certified provider. (Illinois Secretary of State)

For eligible first-time applicants in Clark County, online course access can be useful whether you live in county seat Marshall, Casey, Martinsville, or another community such as Westfield or West Union. After successfully completing the course and its provider-administered final test, you receive a completion certificate. You then take that certificate and your required identification documents to an Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services facility to complete the applicable licensing examinations. (Illinois Secretary of State)

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Who Must Take Adult Driver Education?

Illinois requires the six-hour Adult Driver Education course whenall threeof these conditions apply:

You are18, 19, or 20 years old.

You are applying for anIllinois driver's license for the first time.

You havenever completed an approved driver education coursethrough a high school or commercial driving school.

If all three conditions apply, you must successfully complete the Adult Driver Education course before obtaining your Illinois driver's license. The Secretary of State states that the course must be completed through a certified provider. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Who Does Not Need This Course?

The six-hour Adult Driver Education requirement does not apply in every licensing situation.

You generally do not need this specific course if:

You areunder 18and are following Illinois' separate teen driver education and Graduated Driver Licensing process.

You are21 or older, unless another specific requirement applies to your situation.

You have previously been licensed and are not a first-time Illinois license applicant subject to the adult education requirement.

You previously completed an approved driver education course through a high school or commercial driving school.

You are moving to Illinois with avalid out-of-state driver's licenseand are transferring that license. The Secretary of State says you surrender the out-of-state license and complete the applicable Illinois requirements rather than taking the Adult Driver Education course solely because you are moving to Illinois. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Applicants under 18 follow Illinois' Graduated Driver Licensing system and its separate teen requirements. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Illinois Online Course Rules

The Adult Driver Education course must be provided by a provider certified by the Illinois Secretary of State. The Secretary of State specifically states that courses may be offered in a classroom or online, depending on the provider's certification. A course completed through a provider that is not listed as certified will not be accepted. (Illinois Secretary of State)

The course must contain at leastsix hours of classroom or online instruction. Topics include traffic laws, highway signs, signals and markings, poor decision-making, risk taking, impaired driving, driver distraction, speeding, safety-belt use, nighttime driving, and failure to yield. (Illinois Secretary of State)

The course also includes aprovider-administered written final test. Passing that test demonstrates successful completion of the course itself. It is separate from the written examination administered by the Illinois Secretary of State when you apply for your driver's license. (Illinois Secretary of State)

After successful completion, the provider gives you access to a certificate of completion. Keep the certificate and download or print it for your licensing visit. (Illinois Secretary of State)

What the Course Includes and Does Not Include

The course includes

At least six hours of classroom or online Adult Driver Education instruction

Illinois traffic safety information

Traffic laws and rules of the road

Highway signs, signals and pavement markings

Information about impaired driving and distracted driving

Information about speeding, nighttime driving and right-of-way

A provider-administered written final test

A certificate of completion after successful completion

The course does not include

Behind-the-wheel instruction

Driving lessons with an instructor

The Illinois Secretary of State written examination

The Illinois Secretary of State road examination

Automatic issuance of an Illinois driver's license

Illinois encourages adult applicants to completeat least 50 hours of supervised driving practice, including at least 10 hours at night, but those practice hours are a recommendation and are not a required component of the six-hour Adult Driver Education course. You must still pass the applicable behind-the-wheel portion of the Illinois licensing examination. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Clark County Licensing Process

For an eligible first-time applicant in Clark County, the process generally works as follows:

Confirm your eligibility.Make sure you are 18, 19, or 20, are applying for an Illinois driver's license for the first time, and have not previously completed an approved driver education course.

Choose a Secretary of State-certified Adult Driver Education provider.Illinois requires the course to be completed through a certified provider. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Complete the six-hour course online.The online option is available when offered by a properly certified provider.

Complete the provider's final written test.This test is part of the Adult Driver Education course.

Obtain your completion certificate.Download and print the certificate so you can take it with you.

Gather your required identification documents.The Secretary of State requires first-time applicants to bring the appropriate identification documents. Photocopies are not accepted. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Visit an Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services facility.Use the official facility finder to confirm the location, services, current hours and appointment information before traveling.

Complete the applicable Secretary of State examinations.Depending on your licensing situation, this includes the required vision, written and road examinations. The provider's final test does not replace the Secretary of State written test. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Complete the remaining licensing requirements and pay the applicable fees.Course completion does not guarantee issuance of a driver's license or create driving privileges by itself.

Driving in Clark County

Clark County has a predominantly rural driving environment, with several smaller communities connected by state and federal highways. Marshall, the county seat, sits at the intersection of Illinois Route 1 and U.S. Route 40 near Interstate 70. The city describes its location as being just off I-70 and identifies Illinois Route 1 and U.S. 40 as important transportation routes through the community. (Marshall)

Outside the communities, new drivers can encounter agricultural traffic, two-lane rural roads, railroad crossings and changing roadway conditions. The county's transportation network also connects local traffic with interstate and regional travel, so drivers may move quickly from quiet rural roads to higher-speed highway environments.

Railroad infrastructure is an important consideration. Illinois Commerce Commission records document highway-rail crossings involving CSX Transportation near Marshall, Martinsville and Casey. (Illinois Commerce Commission)

Clark County also has Mill Creek Lake and Park west of Marshall. The park's official directions route visitors from I-70 and Illinois Route 1 through U.S. 40 and Clarksville Road, creating additional recreational traffic on local roads, particularly when visitors are traveling to the park. (CC Park District)

Winter conditions can make rural driving more demanding. New drivers should reduce speed when pavement is snow-covered, icy or wet, allow extra following distance and be especially cautious on bridges and shaded sections of roadway.

Major Roads and Highways

Interstate 70

Interstate 70is the county's principal interstate route. It crosses Clark County and provides regional east-west access toward Terre Haute and western Illinois. IDOT's current highway program identifies I-70 projects in Clark County, including work near Martinsville, Mill Creek and the CSX railroad northeast of Marshall. (IDOT)

U.S. Route 40

U.S. Route 40serves as an important east-west route through the county and connects with Illinois Route 49 and Illinois Route 1 in the Marshall area. IDOT has programmed resurfacing, shoulder and safety improvements along U.S. 40 from Illinois Route 1 toward the Indiana state line. (IDOT)

Illinois Route 1

Illinois Route 1is a major north-south route through Clark County. It passes through Marshall and connects the county with communities to the north and south. IDOT has programmed improvements along Illinois Route 1 in Clark County, including resurfacing, pedestrian improvements and bridge work. (IDOT)

Illinois Route 49

Illinois Route 49is another important north-south route, particularly for traffic around Casey and the western portion of the county. IDOT records identify Illinois Route 49 among the state routes receiving work in Clark County. (IDOT)

Primary Local Driving Topic: Interstate 70 Merging and High-Speed Traffic

For a new Clark County driver,Interstate 70 mergingis an important skill because I-70 provides a direct high-speed connection through the county and intersects with major local routes.

Entering I-70 requires drivers to judge the speed and spacing of traffic already on the interstate. New drivers should use the acceleration lane to build speed, check mirrors and blind spots, signal before changing lanes, and avoid stopping at the end of an entrance ramp unless traffic conditions make it unavoidable.

Drivers should also be prepared for commercial vehicles and changing traffic conditions. IDOT's Clark County highway program identifies substantial truck activity on portions of I-70 and has programmed bridge and roadway work along the route. (IDOT)

When approaching an interchange near Marshall or Martinsville, watch signs early and move into the appropriate lane well before the exit. If you miss an exit, continue safely to the next opportunity rather than making an abrupt lane change.

Additional Driving or Safety Topic: Railroad Crossings

Railroad crossings deserve particular attention in Clark County because CSX railroad infrastructure intersects local highways and roads. Illinois Commerce Commission records identify crossings near Marshall, Martinsville and Casey. (Illinois Commerce Commission)

New drivers should:

Slow down when approaching a railroad crossing.

Look and listen for trains even when warning devices are not active.

Never drive around lowered gates.

Leave enough space on the other side of the tracks before proceeding.

Avoid stopping on the tracks.

Follow posted signs and signals.

Be particularly careful when visibility is limited by buildings, vegetation, darkness or roadway curves.

A train can take much longer to stop than a passenger vehicle, so drivers should never assume they can beat an approaching train.

Take the Course Online Throughout Clark County

Eligible residents throughout Clark County can complete the six-hour Adult Driver Education classroom component online when they select a provider certified for online Adult Driver Education.

That means an eligible student in Marshall, Casey, Martinsville, Westfield, West Union or a rural part of Clark County does not need to attend a physical classroom for the course when using a properly certified online provider. The Secretary of State recognizes both classroom and online course formats when offered by appropriately certified providers. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Online course completion does not eliminate the in-person licensing requirements. After successfully completing the course, you still need to take your certificate, identification documents and other required materials to a Secretary of State Driver Services facility and complete the applicable examinations. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Important Clark County Communities

Marshall

Marshall is thecounty seat of Clark Countyand the county's largest municipality. The city is located at the intersection of Illinois Route 1 and U.S. Route 40, just off Interstate 70. That combination makes Marshall an important local connection point for residents traveling between county roads and regional highways. (Marshall)

Casey

Casey is located in western Clark County and is connected to the regional highway network through Illinois Route 49 and U.S. 40. Casey also has a documented history tied to the National Road, which later became U.S. 40, giving the community a longstanding connection to east-west transportation through the county. (Casey Township)

Martinsville

Martinsville is located in eastern Clark County near Interstate 70. The interstate provides regional access while local roads connect the community with the surrounding agricultural areas. IDOT's current Clark County highway program includes I-70 work near the Martinsville interchange and other locations in the county. (IDOT)

Westfield

Westfield is an incorporated village in Clark County and is one of the communities identified by the official county government. Its smaller-town setting means drivers should be prepared to transition between local streets and rural roads when traveling through the surrounding area. (Clark County IL)

West Union

West Union is a small community in northern Clark County. The county's official community directory identifies West Union, and county election information places local facilities in and around the community along Union Street and nearby rural roads. (Clark County IL)

Mill Creek Area

The Mill Creek area west of Marshall is associated with Mill Creek Lake and Park. The Clark County Park District directs visitors from the Marshall area along U.S. 40 and Clarksville Road, making awareness of recreational traffic and rural-road conditions particularly useful when traveling in this part of the county. (CC Park District)

Illinois Secretary of State Facilities

Clark County does not currently have a Driver Services facility listed in the Illinois Secretary of State's statewide facility directory. Nearby facilities that may be useful for Clark County residents include:

Paris Driver Services Facility

714 GrandviewParis, IL 61944

The current statewide facility list doesnotidentify the Paris facility as "Appointment Required for Driver Services." Because facility services and appointment policies can change, applicants should confirm current information through the official DMV Finder before traveling. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Robinson Driver Services Facility

300 W. MainRobinson, IL 62454

The statewide facility list also does not currently identify the Robinson facility as "Appointment Required for Driver Services." Applicants should confirm current services, hours, testing availability and appointment requirements before making the trip. (Illinois Secretary of State)

These are full Driver Services locations listed by the Secretary of State, rather than renewal-only kiosks. The official DMV Finder allows applicants to search for specific services, including first-time driver's license issuance, written testing, vision screening and road testing. (Illinois Secretary of State Apps)

Always check the official DMV Finder before traveling.Facility services, testing availability, hours and appointment policies can change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Adult Driver Education if I live in Clark County?

If you are 18, 19 or 20, are applying for an Illinois driver's license for the first time, and have never completed an approved driver education course, Illinois requires you to complete the six-hour Adult Driver Education course. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Can I take the Adult Driver Education course online in Clark County?

Yes. Illinois allows the course to be completed online when the provider is certified to offer the online version. (Illinois Secretary of State)

How long is the Adult Driver Education course?

The course is at least six hours long. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Does the course include driving lessons?

No. The six-hour Adult Driver Education course consists of classroom or online instruction. It does not include or require behind-the-wheel instruction. (Illinois Secretary of State)

How much supervised driving practice does Illinois recommend?

Illinois encourages adult applicants to complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice, including at least 10 hours at night. This is a recommendation and is separate from the six-hour Adult Driver Education course. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Does the course have a final test?

Yes. The provider administers a written test at the end of the course. You must successfully complete that test as part of completing the Adult Driver Education course. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Does the provider's final test replace the Secretary of State written test?

No. The provider's test is for successful completion of the course. You must still complete the applicable written examination when applying for your driver's license at a Secretary of State Driver Services facility. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Where can Clark County residents go for Driver Services?

The statewide facility directory does not currently list a Driver Services facility inside Clark County. Nearby listed facilities include Paris at 714 Grandview and Robinson at 300 W. Main. Confirm current services before traveling. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Do I need an appointment at the Paris facility?

The current statewide facility list does not label the Paris location as appointment required for Driver Services. However, applicants should use the official DMV Finder to confirm the current appointment policy and available services before traveling. (Illinois Secretary of State)

What documents should I bring?

First-time applicants must bring the required identification documents. The Secretary of State's current identification-document requirements organize acceptable documents into groups covering written signature, date of birth, Social Security number and residency. Photocopies are not accepted. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Do I need to print my completion certificate?

Yes. After successfully completing the course, download and print your certificate so you can bring it to the Secretary of State when completing your licensing process. (Illinois Secretary of State)

What if I am under 18 and live in Clark County?

Applicants under 18 follow Illinois' separate teen driver education and Graduated Driver Licensing requirements rather than the six-hour adult course described on this page. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Do applicants age 21 or older need this course?

Most applicants age 21 or older are not subject to this particular six-hour Adult Driver Education requirement. The requirement is specifically directed at eligible first-time applicants ages 18, 19 and 20. (Illinois Secretary of State)

Is there anything special to know about driving near Marshall or Martinsville?

Both communities are connected to Interstate 70, while Marshall also connects directly with Illinois Route 1 and U.S. Route 40. New drivers should be comfortable transitioning between local streets, rural roads and higher-speed interstate traffic. IDOT currently has projects along I-70 in the Marshall and Martinsville areas. (Marshall)

Should I be careful around railroad crossings in Clark County?

Yes. Railroad crossings are present in the county, including crossings documented near Marshall, Martinsville and Casey. Slow down, obey warning devices and never stop on or drive around lowered crossing gates. (Illinois Commerce Commission)

Start Your Clark County Adult Driver Education Course

If you are an eligible first-time Illinois driver's license applicant who is 18, 19 or 20, you can complete the required six-hour Adult Driver Education course online through a certified provider.

Complete the course, pass the provider's final test, download your completion certificate, and then take your certificate and required documents to a Secretary of State Driver Services facility to continue the licensing process.

Cities and Towns in Clark County, Illinois

Casey, city

Marshall, city and county seat

Martinsville, city

Clark County's official community directory also identifies Westfield as a community, but Westfield is a village and is therefore excluded from this cities-and-towns list. The county seat is Marshall, as confirmed by the Illinois State Archives. (Clark County IL)

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