No, we are not aware of any way in which to obtain a learner's permit for a period of less than 12 months if you are under 18. According to the NC DOT Division of Motor Vehicles if you are under 18 you will need to proceed through the NC graduated driver's licensing (GDL) system to obtain a license.

The first step of the GDL is to obtain a limited permit. The process to get this permit includes:

• You must be at least 15 years old but less than 18 years old and reside in North Carolina.
• You must pass written, signs and vision tests.
• All passengers must be restrained by seat belt or child safety seat.
• No one except the driver and the supervising driver are allowed in the front seat.
• During the first six months, a Level One permit authorizes you to drive between the hours of 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. while accompanied by your supervising driver.
• Six months from Level One issuance, you are eligible to drive anytime with your supervising driver.

It should be noted that before graduating to Level Two, you must keep this permit for at least 12 months and have no convictions of moving violations or seat belt infractions within the preceding six months.

Level 2 is limited provisional license. With a limited provisional license:

• Drivers must be at least 16 years old, but less than 18.
• All passengers must be restrained by seat belt or child safety seat.
• Supervising driver must be seated beside the driver.
• You may drive without supervision from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m. and at any time when driving directly to or from work or any volunteer fire, rescue or EMS (emergency medical service), if you are a member.
• When the license holder is driving the vehicle and is not accompanied by the supervising driver, there may be no more than one passenger under 21 years of age in the vehicle. This limit does not apply to passengers who are members of the license holder's immediate family or whose primary residence is the same household as the license holder.

Before graduating to Level Three, you must keep this license for at least 6 months and have no convictions of moving violations or seat belt infractions within the preceding six months.

Level 3 is a full provisional license. Upon completion of six months of driving with no convictions of moving violations or seat belt infractions, you are eligible to receive a Level Three License.

If you wait instead until you are 18 to start the process of obtaining a license you instead would apply for a Learner Permit which is valid for 18 months.

A Learner Permit authorizes the permit holder to drive specified type or class of motor vehicle while in possession of the permit. The permit holder must, while operating a motor vehicle over the highways, be accompanied by a person who is licensed to operate the motor vehicle being driven and is seated beside the permit holder.

So you may want to wait until you turn 18 then you can apply for this type of learner permit, however it appears you will still be required to be accompanied by a licensed driver in certain circumstances.

For more information on the various ways in which to get licensed in North Carolina contact the NC DMV.