About EDT
Essential Driver Training (EDT) is a mandatory 12-step program for new drivers in Ireland to get their full driving licence. The twelve lessons run from basic car control through to emergency situations, on Irish roads.
Do you have to do all twelve?
Yes, if you are learning on a first learner permit. All twelve are required and you cannot sit the driving test until the last one is signed off in your logbook. Session 1 comes first; sessions 2 to 8 can be taken in any order after that, and 9 to 12 only once 2 to 8 are done. There is one exception: drivers who already hold a full licence from certain countries may qualify for a shorter programme — that is what reduced EDT is, and it is applied for, not chosen.
The 12 EDT Lessons
Car Controls and Safety Checks
The car’s controls, and the checks you do before moving off.
Correct Positioning
Where to place the car on the road in different situations.
Changing Direction
Learn how to change direction safely and correctly.
Progression Management
Understand how to make safe progress through traffic.
Correct Positioning on the Road
Road positioning again, on busier roads and harder junctions.
Anticipation and Reaction
Learn to anticipate and react to hazards safely.
Sharing the Road
Understanding how to share the road safely with others.
Driving Safely Through Traffic
Navigate safely through various traffic situations.
Changing Direction (More Complex)
Handle more complex situations when changing direction.
Speed Management
Learn proper speed management in different conditions.
Driving Calmly
Driving calmly when the conditions get difficult.
Night Driving
Driving safely after dark.
Important Information
EDT is not a test preparation course
This is the part people are most often surprised by. The twelve lessons teach a syllabus the RSA sets; passing the test is a separate skill, and finishing EDT does not by itself mean you are ready. Plenty of people complete all twelve and are still not test-ready, which is not a failure — it is what the programme is and is not for. When your date is close, a pretest is the lesson that looks at the test itself.
What happens between lessons
The hours between the twelve matter more than the twelve. Each session assumes you have consolidated the last one, so a learner who practises between lessons arrives at lesson eight ready for lesson eight, and one who does not spends it repeating lesson six. You need a car you are insured in and someone with a full licence sitting beside you. The RSA sets the conditions on who may accompany a learner, so check rsa.ie against your own circumstances rather than assuming. If that is not available to you, say so early and we will space the lessons differently.
ADI Resources
Learn more about EDT by reading the official driving booklets. You can also download a sample logbook below: