Our course is certified to meet the State of Washington requirements for a teen traffic safety education course. It includes 30 hours of classroom instruction, 6 hours of behind the wheel instruction, and 1 hour of in-car observation.

Our courses are held 3 days per week, the classroom portion of the course will take about 5 weeks. The behind the wheel instruction time extends beyond the classroom time. Expect the entire course to take about 3 months.

Parkside made the decision to move to a virtual classroom product after carefully considering several benefits and potential weaknesses. One factor was the demand for teens time. Teens are more busy today than at any time in the past, and their parents are constantly shuttling them from one commitment to the next. Parkside's course is a big commitment of time, and we are finding it easier for our students to attend virutally. Another factor is the distance some students are travelling to attend a course. We have found that rural students are much more likely to take a traffic safety course when they only have to travel to us for the driving lessons. The biggest factor, however, is how will the students learning be affected? We are constantly changing our classroom course to be more engaging and better suited for a virtual environment, and so far, it's working. Our student performance on tests is essentially the same for our virtual students as it was for our in-person students. That being said, Parkside realizes that it may be easier for some students who do not want to learn to slip through. We need the help of parents and family members with this. At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter where or how they attend the classes. What matters is that they are mature enough for the subject matter and they are actively engaged in the learning process.

We have made the class attendance process as easy as possible. Students login to their student portal and click on the zoom link for that days class. If they miss a class, they can schedule a make-up there too.

Missing a class is not a good idea, but sometimes things happen. A student can miss classes and make them up by attending an upcoming class on the same lesson. A student can schedule a make-up class by logging into their student portal. If a student misses a large number of classes, Parkside may require them to restart in a future class.

Attendance is recorded through the use of student polling. Each class has 3 specific times that a student MUST respond to a poll to show that they are there. In addition to the attendance polls, we are also monitoring for student engagement and knowledge retention. We utilize daily quizzes, Q&A responses, and other activities to help our students stay in an active learning mindset. We are proud of the compliments we have received from numerous parents about our classes. Some of those compliments have come from school teachers that feel our classes are really well designed. Regardless, we regularly look for ways to enhance our course so it reaches our students in an ever better way.

Parkside Driving School is a locally owned driving school operating in the Tri-Cities and Yakima communities. We have been offering driver training since 1997, and have strong ties to the communities we serve. Our instructors are trained to be patient and understanding, with an emphasis on confidence building and good habit development. We make every attempt to keep our costs reasonable, and we do everything we can to accommodate the specific needs of our students (within State guidelines, of course). We mean no disrespect to any other driving schools, but we confidently believe we are the best driving school in the area.

Safety is a serious concern when teaching a new driver on public streets. First, we make sure our instructors have the observation skills to see problems developing before they become serious. Next, we make sure the instruction takes place on streets and in traffic situations which are appropriate for the skill level of the driver. Finally, when selecting an instruction vehicle, we consider the crash worthiness and safety ratings of the vehicle. Using this approach, Parkside Driving School is very proud to say that, despite a rare fender bender, we have never had a student injury, nor has any student been found at fault for a collision during instruction.

Yes! If you think you have the right stuff to teach new drivers, we want to talk to you. We are always in search of the right people to add to our team. Part time and sometimes full time positions may be possible. Contact us for more details.

Yes! Anyone eligible to attempt the DOL knowledge exam or the DOL skills exam can make an appointment with Parkside. Give us a call when you are ready, and we'll schedule a time.

First, enroll in a Parkside course. The start date of that course will determine when you can get a permit. Next, pre-apply for a first license. Then, when you have a WDL number, call Parkside and give us that number. After we have the number, and within 10 days of the class start, you can go to any DOL office and get a permit. Make sure you look on the DOL website for the things they want you to bring when you go. They will charge you for a permit. Parkside is not allowed to include that fee in tuition.

It can be a little confusing to figure out how to get a license. There are a few requirements you must meet beforehand. First, if you are under 18, you have to complete a driver education course. Then, you have to pass both a knowledge exam and a skills exam. You also have to complete at least 50 hours of home driving practice over a period of no less than 6 months. Then, you can visit any DOL office with the necessary documents and money, and they will issue a license. Or, you can skip the trip to DOL, and visit their website instead. If you have a Washington State photo instructional permit, and you're okay with that photo being on your license, you can get your first license online!

Visit www.dol.wa.gov for more details.

The camera systems Parkside is using includes a front facing camera recording where the car is, and what is going on in front of the car. In addition, we have an interior camera that is recording the driver, the instructor, and the back seat passengers. Parkside primarily reviews the footage for instructor training purposes, and never shares it publicly. Our goal is to provide the best driver education possible. The cameras are one more way we make that possible.

Call Parkside with your WDL number.
If you have lost your Washington ID card, visit a DOL office to get your number, then call Parkside with it.
Visit a DOL office up to 10 days before your class starts.
Pay DOL the permit fee ($25)
Pass a vision screening
DOL will usually issue a temporary permit right then, and mail you a permanent permit.

Pre-apply with Washington DOL using this link. Pre-Apply
If you prefer, you may visit a DOL office and pre-apply in person.
Call Parkside with the WDL number you are issued. (It will be your license number)
Visit a DOL office up to 10 days before your class starts.
Take your WDL number with you.
Check the DOL website for the required proof of identity you will need to show them.
Pay DOL the permit fee ($25)
Pass a vision screening
DOL will usually issue a temporary permit right then, and mail you a permanent permit.

Pre-apply with Washington DOL using this link. Pre-Apply
If you prefer, you may visit a DOL office and pre-apply in person.
Call Parkside to schedule a knowledge test appointment.
Take the WDL number with you to the appointment.
The test costs $20 per attempt
After you pass the test, visit a DOL office.
Take the WDL number with you.
Check the DOL website for the required proof of identity you will need to show them.
Pay DOL the permit fee ($25)
Pass a vision screening
DOL will usually issue a temporary permit right then, and mail you a permanent permit.