Getting your driver’s license as a teenager in 2024 will include a hurdle not seen since before the pandemic.

Drivers under 18 who have completed a driver education course, behind-the-wheel training, 50 hours of supervised driving, and have parent/guardian approval will have to take a road test beginning January 1st, 2024. Since May 2020, teenagers have been able to waive the Department of Motor Vehicles’ behind-the-wheel test if they met the other requirements as a part of the pilot program. During the last three-plus years, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation says over 169,000 16 and 17-year-olds bypassed the test, adding that their data showed they received slightly fewer citations and stayed out of accidents compared to those who took the test.

Wisconsin had been one of four states to allow a waiver, but now those drivers will have to schedule a road test with the DMV. The state opened the scheduling portal in October when it was first announced that the waiver program would not continue. The DOT encourages people to go to wisconsindmv.gov to schedule appointments online to limit their wait times.