What the Florida drug and alcohol course is and who has to take it
Florida's drug and alcohol course is a state-mandated educational program you must complete if you are arrested for driving under the influence (DUI), regardless of whether you are convicted. The course is officially called the DUI School or Level 1 DUI Education Program, and it teaches the effects of alcohol and drugs on driving ability, the legal consequences of DUI, and crash statistics.
You are required to enroll within 30 days of your arrest. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) does not run the course itself — instead, the state contracts with approved providers throughout Florida. Your arrest paperwork will tell you which provider serves your county, or you can search the approved provider list on the DHSMV website.
Completing the course does not erase your arrest record, reduce your charges, or may provide any outcome in your case. It is a separate requirement from your criminal proceedings. If you do not complete it within the timeframe set by the court, your driver's license can be suspended.
Key Takeaways
- You must enroll in a DUI School course within 30 days of your DUI arrest, even if your case is still pending.
- The course is taught by state-approved providers in your county, not by the DMV, and costs vary by provider but typically range from $150 to $300.
- The course is usually one 4-hour session or two 2-hour sessions, held in person at the provider's location.
- You will receive a certificate of completion that you must provide to the court and the DHSMV to avoid license suspension.
- Completing the course does not reduce charges, affect your case outcome, or remove your arrest from your record.
How to find and enroll in an approved DUI School provider
The DHSMV maintains a list of approved DUI School providers on its website. You can search by county to find providers near you. Each provider sets its own schedule, location, and fees within state guidelines. Call the provider directly to ask about available class dates, times, and whether they offer online or in-person instruction.
When you contact a provider, have your arrest paperwork ready. You will need to provide your name, date of birth, driver's license number, and the date of your arrest. Some providers require payment at the time of enrollment; others allow you to pay on the day of class. Ask whether they accept credit cards, cash, or checks.
Do not wait until the last day of your 30-day window to enroll. Providers may not have when ready openings, and if you miss the important date, you cannot complete the course late to avoid suspension. If you cannot find an available class within 30 days, contact the court that issued your arrest paperwork — the judge can grant an extension in writing.
What to expect during the course
The DUI School course is typically 4 hours long, delivered in one session or split into two 2-hour sessions. You will attend in person at the provider's location; Florida does not currently allow the course to be taken entirely online, though some providers may offer a hybrid format with one in-person session required.
The curriculum covers the physiological effects of alcohol and drugs on the brain and body, how impairment affects reaction time and judgment, Florida's DUI laws and penalties, and crash statistics involving impaired drivers. You will also learn about the consequences of a DUI conviction, including license suspension, fines, jail time, and insurance increases. The course does not involve a test or pass-fail grade — attendance and completion are what matter.
Arrive on time with a valid photo ID. Bring a pen and paper to take notes if you wish. The instructor will take attendance and will provide you with a certificate of completion at the end of class. Keep this certificate — you will need to submit it to the court and the DHSMV.
Cost and payment options
The cost of DUI School varies by provider but typically ranges from $150 to $300. The state sets a maximum allowable fee, but individual providers may charge less. Ask about the exact cost when you call to enroll, and confirm what payment methods the provider accepts.
Some providers offer payment plans if you cannot pay the full amount upfront. If you are experiencing financial hardship, ask whether the provider offers a reduced fee or whether you can make partial payments. The court cannot waive the course requirement, but the provider may be able to work with you on timing or cost.
Do not send money to anyone claiming to offer a discount or to complete the course on your behalf. Scammers sometimes target people with DUI arrests by offering to "take care of" the course requirement for a fee. You must attend the course yourself in person.
What happens after you complete the course
When you finish the course, the provider will give you a certificate of completion. This certificate has your name, the date you completed the course, and the provider's signature. You are responsible for submitting this certificate to two places: the court that handled your arrest and the DHSMV.
Contact the clerk's office at the court listed on your arrest paperwork to find out where to send or deliver the certificate. Some courts accept mail; others require you to deliver it in person. Keep a copy for your records and ask for a receipt showing the court received it.
You must also send a copy to the DHSMV. Mail it to the address listed on the DHSMV website, or deliver it to your local DMV office in person. The DHSMV uses the certificate to confirm you have met the requirement and to prevent automatic license suspension. If you do not submit the certificate, your license can be suspended even if you completed the course.
License suspension and what to do if you miss the important date
If you do not enroll in DUI School within 30 days of your arrest, the DHSMV will suspend your driver's license. This suspension is separate from any suspension that may result from your DUI case itself. You cannot drive legally during this suspension, and driving with a suspended license carries criminal penalties.
If you missed the 30-day important date, contact the court when ready. Explain why you did not enroll in time and ask the judge to grant you an extension. The judge has the authority to extend the important date if you show good cause — for example, if you were hospitalized, out of state, or did not receive notice of the requirement. Bring documentation of your reason if you have it.
Once the judge grants an extension, you have a new important date to enroll. Enroll as soon as possible and submit your certificate of completion to both the court and the DHSMV. The DHSMV will lift the suspension once it receives proof that you completed the course.
Scam alerts and how to protect yourself
Several scams target people with DUI arrests. The most common is someone claiming they can complete the DUI School course for you or get you out of the requirement entirely. This is not possible — you must attend the course yourself. If someone offers to take the course in your place or to forge a certificate, that is fraud and will result in additional criminal charges.
Another scam involves fake "DUI School" websites that look official but are not on the state's approved provider list. They may collect payment and never deliver the course. Before you pay anyone, verify that the provider is on the DHSMV's official approved list. Call the DHSMV directly if you are unsure whether a provider is legitimate.
Do not give your personal information — Social Security number, bank account details, or driver's license number — to anyone over the phone unless you initiated the call to an approved provider. Scammers sometimes call people claiming to be from the DMV and demand payment to "clear" a DUI requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take the DUI School course online?
Florida does not currently allow the entire course to be taken online. Some approved providers offer a hybrid format where you attend one in-person session and complete the rest online, but you must verify this with the provider. Most courses are held entirely in person, either as one 4-hour session or two 2-hour sessions.
What if I cannot attend the course on the scheduled date?
Contact the provider and ask about other available dates. Most providers offer multiple class times throughout the week and month. If no dates work for you within your important date, contact the court and request an extension in writing. The judge can grant additional time if you have a legitimate reason.
Do I have to take the course in the county where I was arrested?
No. You can take the course at any approved provider in Florida, regardless of which county you were arrested in. If you have moved or prefer a provider in a different county, search the DHSMV's approved provider list for that county and enroll there. Submit your certificate to the court and DHSMV in your original arrest county.
Will completing DUI School reduce my DUI charges or help my case?
Completing the course is a separate requirement from your criminal case and does not affect the charges against you or the outcome of your case. It does not reduce penalties, lower fines, or help you negotiate with the prosecutor. Your attorney may advise you on how your case will proceed, but the course itself is not part of that process.
What if I lose my certificate of completion?
Contact the provider where you took the course and request a duplicate certificate. Providers keep records of who completed the course and can issue a replacement. There may be a small fee for a duplicate. Once you receive it, submit it to both the court and the DHSMV as you would the original.