What is on the Florida Drug and Alcohol Test?

Here's exactly what's on it, how it's scored, and how to pass it the first time.

What Exactly Is the Florida Drug and Alcohol Test?

It's the TLSAE Course Exam

The drug and alcohol test is the final assessment within the TLSAE course. The course pairs traffic-law instruction with substance-abuse education, and the exam confirms you absorbed the material. Despite the nickname, it isn't only about drugs and alcohol; the program's full name, Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education, signals that traffic laws are a major part of it too.

Who Has to Take It?

First-Time Drivers 18 and Older

The TLSAE course and its exam are required for first-time Florida license applicants 18 and older who have never held a license anywhere. It's a prerequisite before you can get your learner's permit, and it's set by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Teens Under 18 Take DETS Instead

First-time drivers ages 14 to 17 now complete the 6-hour Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course, which became mandatory as of August 1 and replaced TLSAE for minors. DETS covers similar substance-abuse and traffic-law content within a broader curriculum. If you're under 18 and enroll in TLSAE by mistake, the certificate won't satisfy the permit requirement. For the full story, see our DETS update guide.

What Topics Are on the Test?

Traffic Law and Substance Awareness

The TLSAE course is typically divided into seven lessons, and the exam pulls from all of them. Expect questions on:

• Florida traffic laws, road signs, and signals
• How alcohol affects perception, reaction time, and judgment
• How drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, impair driving
• Blood alcohol concentration and Florida's impaired-driving laws
• The legal and personal consequences of a DUI
• Defensive driving techniques and safe-driving practices

How Many Questions Are on the Test?

Typically 40 Questions at 80% to Pass

The TLSAE final exam is generally 40 multiple-choice questions, and you need to score at least 80% to pass, meaning roughly 32 correct. The questions come straight from the course lessons, so working through the material carefully is the best preparation. The exam has a reputation for tripping up people who rush, so read each question fully.

Can You Retake It?

Yes. Most state-approved providers allow exam retakes until you pass, though some may have a retake policy worth checking before you enroll. Because the test is integrated into the online course, you can review the lessons and try again without starting over.

Is This the Same as the Class E Knowledge Exam?

No, They're Two Separate Tests

This is the most common point of confusion in the whole process. The TLSAE exam (the drug and alcohol test) confirms you completed the substance-abuse and traffic-law education. The Class E Knowledge Exam is the official 50-question state test on road signs and traffic laws that you take to qualify for your learner's permit. You complete the TLSAE course and its exam first, then take the Class E exam. You have to pass both. For the full permit walkthrough, see our guide to getting your Florida learner's permit.

How Do You Take the Test?

Built Into the Online Course

The exam is part of the online TLSAE course module. You work through the seven lessons, each with a minimum time requirement, then take the final exam at the end. Once you pass, your provider submits your completion to the FLHSMV electronically, often within one business day, and you receive your certificate of completion.

How Do You Pass on the First Try?

1. Work through every lesson carefully. The questions come directly from the course content, so don't skim.
2. Focus on the substance-abuse sections. The effects of alcohol and drugs on driving are central to this exam.
3. Learn Florida's DUI consequences. Penalties and BAC limits are frequent question topics.
4. Watch for trick wording. Words like "except," "not," and "only" change the answer, so read each question completely.
5. Take a practice test. Our practice tests help you get comfortable with the format before the real thing.

What Can Slow Down Passing the Test?

• Rushing the lessons. Skimming makes a passable exam unnecessarily hard.
• Reading questions too quickly. Missing a "not" or "except" is the most common mistake.
• Confusing it with the Class E exam. They're separate tests with different content and question counts.
• Enrolling in the wrong course. Adults need TLSAE; teens under 18 need DETS.
• Using a non-approved provider. The course only counts if the provider is state-approved.

How Does Florida Compare to Other States?

Florida is one of the few states that requires a dedicated substance-abuse and traffic-law course before a first license, which is why the "drug and alcohol test" exists as its own step. Many states fold this content into a broader drivers ed course without a separately named exam. The practical takeaway: in Florida it's simply the exam for that required education, not an extra hurdle. If you're still sorting out which course applies to you, our guide to which Florida course you need breaks it down by age.

Pass the Drug and Alcohol Test the First Time

The test is genuinely manageable when your course is clear and well-paced. I Drive Safely's Florida drivers ed includes the state-approved TLSAE course for adults and the DETS course for teens, both 100% online with the exam built right in and your completion reported to the state for you. See the Florida drivers ed course to get started.