Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte
The Florida 6-hour drug and alcohol course is usually another name for DETS, the 6-hour Driver Education Traffic Safety course that teens under 18 need before a first license. The 4-hour “drug and alcohol course” is TLSAE, which adults 18 and older still take. The name causes mix-ups, so check the course’s hours, age group, and FLHSMV approval before you buy.
Key Facts
- 6-hour course: Usually means DETS, required for first-time applicants under 18 since August 1, 2025. See why the names overlap.
- 4-hour course: TLSAE, still required for first-time applicants 18 and older. See the difference.
- Final exam: DETS ends with 40 questions, and you need 80% to pass. See how to check a course.
- Wrong course: A 4-hour course a teen takes after August 1, 2025, usually does not count. See common mix-ups.
- Approval: DETS and TLSAE have separate FLHSMV provider lists. See how to verify.
Why People Call DETS the 6-Hour Drug and Alcohol Course
For years, Florida’s first-time driver course was the 4-hour Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course. Most families called it “the drug and alcohol course,” because a big part of it covers alcohol, drugs, and driving.
On August 1, 2025, Florida began requiring the 6-hour DETS course for applicants under 18 instead. DETS also teaches about alcohol and drugs, along with much more. So the old nickname stuck, and “6-hour drug and alcohol course” became a common way to search for DETS.
Some course sellers use the nickname too. One national online school’s blog calls it the “6-Hour Drug and Alcohol (DETS) Course.” That helps people find it, but it also blurs the line between two different courses.
Is the Florida 6-Hour Drug and Alcohol Course the Same as DETS?
In most cases, yes. If a course is 6 hours, made for teens under 18, and offered by an FLHSMV-approved DETS provider, it is DETS.
But the name alone does not prove it. A course page might say “drug and alcohol course” and still be the 4-hour TLSAE. Always check three things:
- Hours: DETS is at least 6 hours. TLSAE is at least 4 hours.
- Age group: DETS is for under 18. TLSAE is for 18 and older.
- Approval: The provider should appear on FLHSMV’s DETS list, not only the TLSAE list.
6-Hour vs. 4-Hour at a Glance
| 6-hour course (DETS) | 4-hour course (TLSAE) | |
|---|---|---|
| Official name | Driver Education Traffic Safety | Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education |
| Common nickname | “6-hour drug and alcohol course” | “Drug and alcohol course” |
| Who takes it | First-time applicants under 18 | First-time applicants 18 and older |
| Minimum length | 6 hours | 4 hours |
| Content standard | Meets or exceeds FDOE course 1900300 | Required under F.S. 322.095 |
| Final exam | 40 questions, 80% to pass | Set by the course |
| FLHSMV list | DETS provider list | TLSAE provider list |
The FLHSMV DETS course page explains the teen rule. The adult course comes from F.S. 322.095.
How to Tell Which Course a Site Is Selling
Course pages use many names. This decoder helps you read them:
| If the course page says… | It usually means… | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| “DETS” or “Driver Education Traffic Safety” | The 6-hour teen course | FLHSMV approval |
| “6-hour drug and alcohol course” | DETS | That it is for under 18 and FLHSMV-approved for DETS |
| “TLSAE” or “Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education” | The 4-hour adult course | Only buy it if the student is 18 or older |
| “4-hour drug and alcohol course” | TLSAE | Not for teens under 18 |
| “Drug and alcohol course” with no hours | Could be either | Read the hours and age group before you pay |
| “Permit course” or “learner’s permit course” | Often DETS, sometimes bundled with permit test prep | Confirm it includes the 6-hour DETS course |
Also look for the final exam. A DETS course ends with a 40-question exam, and you need 80% to pass, according to the FLHSMV DETS FAQ.
Check the Right FLHSMV List
FLHSMV keeps separate lists for the two courses:
- DETS providers: On the FLHSMV DETS course page. On October 19, 2026, it listed four providers, all online.
- TLSAE providers: On FLHSMV’s TLSAE provider listing.
A provider approved for TLSAE is not automatically approved for DETS. FLHSMV’s FAQ says TLSAE providers must submit a new application to offer DETS.
Some schools sell an approved provider’s course under their own brand name. If you do not see the school’s name on the DETS list, ask which FLHSMV-approved provider’s DETS course it uses. Our guide to FLHSMV-Approved DETS Course: What It Means and How to Verify Your Provider explains this step.
Common Mix-Ups and How to Fix Them
Here are common situations and what each one means:
A teen took the 4-hour drug and alcohol course.
If the teen completed TLSAE on or after August 1, 2025, it does not meet the teen requirement. The only exception is a teen enrolled in an approved school course (FDOE 1900300, 1900310, or a qualifying DELAP course). Most teens in this spot need to take DETS.
A teen took TLSAE before August 1, 2025.
FLHSMV allowed those certificates for one year from the completion date. Every one of those windows has now closed, so the teen needs DETS.
An adult bought the 6-hour course.
Adults 18 and older need TLSAE, not DETS. Contact the seller about switching courses or a refund.
A teen is about to turn 18.
The course depends on age when you apply. If the teen will apply at 18, TLSAE is the right course.
The course page does not say how many hours.
Do not buy it until you confirm the hours, the age group, and the approval.
Why the Difference Matters
Buying the wrong course costs more than the price of the course. It can delay a teen’s learner’s license by days or weeks.
Here is what usually happens when a teen takes the 4-hour course by mistake:
- The office cannot accept it as the teen driver education requirement.
- The family buys DETS and the teen completes another 6 hours of lessons.
- The learner’s license visit moves to a later date.
- The 12-month learner’s period starts later, which pushes back the date of a full license.
Checking the hours and age group before you pay takes about one minute. It is the easiest way to avoid all of this.
If you already bought the wrong course, contact the seller right away. Some schools may let you switch courses or ask for a refund, so ask before the student starts the lessons.
For Families With Older Children
If an older child got a license before August 2025, your family may remember the 4-hour drug and alcohol course. That was the right course for teens back then.
Things are different now. A younger teen who has never held a license needs the 6-hour DETS course instead. The old 4-hour course is only for applicants 18 and older.
Some families also have an adult in the house getting a first license. That adult takes the 4-hour TLSAE course, while the teen takes DETS.
Questions to Ask a Course Seller
If a course page is unclear, ask the seller these questions before you pay:
- Is this the 6-hour DETS course or the 4-hour TLSAE course?
- Is it for applicants under 18 or 18 and older?
- Which FLHSMV-approved provider’s course is this?
- How many final exam attempts are included?
- Is there an extra certificate fee?
A clear answer to the first three questions tells you whether the course will count. The last two help you compare prices fairly.
What the 6-Hour Course Covers
Alcohol and drugs are only one part of DETS. Because it must meet or exceed Florida’s school driver education standards (course 1900300), it covers a wider list:
- Florida traffic laws, signs, and signals
- Right-of-way and sharing the road
- Defensive driving and hazard spotting
- Alcohol, drugs, and driving, including Zero Tolerance and Implied Consent
- Distracted and drowsy driving
- Teen license rules under Florida’s graduated driver license system
- Crashes and bad weather
So calling DETS “the drug and alcohol course” undersells it. It is a full teen driver education course.
The impaired driving lessons are still important. They explain how alcohol and drugs affect reaction time and judgment, and what Florida’s laws say about drivers under 21. Those lessons are a big reason the old nickname still fits part of the course.
Searching for the Right Course
People search for this course in many ways. Here are common searches and what they usually lead to:
- “Florida 6-hour drug and alcohol course”: DETS for teens
- “Florida drug and alcohol course”: often TLSAE, sometimes DETS
- “DMV drug and alcohol course Florida”: either course, depending on the site. Florida’s courses are approved by FLHSMV, not a “DMV,” so check FLHSMV’s lists.
- “Florida permit course online”: often DETS, sometimes a bundle with permit test prep
Whatever you search, the check is the same: hours, age group, and the right FLHSMV list.
If a search result shows a price that seems too low or a promise that seems too fast, slow down. A real DETS course takes at least 6 hours and comes from an FLHSMV-approved provider, so instant or no-name courses are a warning sign.
What Happens After the 6-Hour Course
Once a teen passes DETS, the provider reports the completion to FLHSMV. The teen then needs to:
- Be at least 15
- Pass the knowledge exam, which has 50 questions, with 40 correct needed to pass
- Pass the vision and hearing tests
- Bring a signed HSMV 71142 parental consent form and identity and address documents
For the full path, read our Florida DETS Course: The Complete Guide for Teens Under 18. For the history of the change, see Florida DETS vs TLSAE: What Changed and Who Needs Which Course.
How Requirements Can Vary
Florida’s course and license rules apply statewide, but some details depend on where you live. Driver license services are often handled by your county tax collector’s office, and each office sets its own appointment process and hours. Some county school boards also offer driver education programs, such as DELAP courses, that can count instead of DETS.
FLHSMV can update course rules, forms, documents, and fees. Check FLHSMV and your county office for current requirements before your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 6-hour drug and alcohol course the same as DETS?
Usually, yes. Most sites use the name for DETS, the 6-hour course for Florida teens under 18. Check the hours, age group, and FLHSMV approval to be sure.
Is the 4-hour drug and alcohol course still required?
Yes, for adults. TLSAE, the 4-hour course, is still required for first-time applicants 18 and older.
Can a teen take the 4-hour drug and alcohol course instead?
Generally, no. A TLSAE course a teen completed on or after August 1, 2025, does not count unless the teen is in an approved school course.
How do I know if a course is DETS?
It should say DETS or Driver Education Traffic Safety, last at least 6 hours, be for applicants under 18, and come from an FLHSMV-approved DETS provider.
Does the 6-hour course have a test?
Yes. DETS ends with a 40-question final exam, and you need 80% to pass.
How much does the 6-hour drug and alcohol course cost?
Prices vary by provider. Four national online DETS courses we checked on October 19, 2026, listed $19.95 to $36, with some fees and discounts.
Is there a 6-hour drug and alcohol course for adults?
No. Adults 18 and older take the 4-hour TLSAE course for a first Florida license.
Conclusion
The Florida 6-hour drug and alcohol course is usually DETS, the course teens under 18 need before a first license.
The 4-hour version is TLSAE for adults. Check the hours, age group, and the right FLHSMV list before you buy. Driving Logic is a state-approved driver improvement course provider, and our online Florida DETS course is coming soon.
Related Articles
- Florida DETS Course: The Complete Guide for Teens Under 18
- Florida DETS vs TLSAE: What Changed and Who Needs Which Course
- FLHSMV-Approved DETS Course: What It Means and How to Verify Your Provider
Sources
- FLHSMV — Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) and approved provider list
- FLHSMV — DETS Course Frequently Asked Questions
- Florida Statutes — F.S. 322.095 (TLSAE)
- FLHSMV — Approved TLSAE Course Providers
- FLHSMV — Driver Education Courses
- Course comparison: Driving Logic review of the public Florida DETS course pages of four national online schools, October 19, 2026.
Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, a state-approved driver improvement course provider serving Florida and other U.S. states.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Florida licensing requirements, course rules, documents, and fees are set by FLHSMV and Florida law and can change. Use official FLHSMV and Florida statute sources for current requirements before you enroll in a course or visit a driver license office.