In North Carolina, to obtain a limited learner's permit one must be 15 years of age or older and complete a driver's education class. North Carolina is like most states in that it has a graduated driver's licensing (GDL) system. The Limited Learner's Permit is level one of this GDL.

For at least 12 months a Level 1 driver (permit holder) must be supervised by parent, guardian or other approved licensed driver who has been licensed at least five years. There are also other provisions and restrictions to limited learner's permit in NC including that before graduating to Level Two, you must keep Level One for at least 12 months and have no convictions of motor vehicle moving violations or seat belt infraction in the preceding 6 months.

Level 2 is a Limited Provisional License and it protects young drivers during the night time hours when they are most at risk. With this license drivers must be at least 16 years old, but less than 18. 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.

A Full Provisional License rewards violation-free driving and is level 3 in the NC licensing process. With this license unsupervised driving is allowed at any time but the driver is subject to all other conditions of provisional license.

So if you obtained your permit when you were 15 years old than at age 16 you could get a Level 2 Limited Provisional License and then 6 months later could move up to a Full Provisional License. Drivers under age 18 are provisional licensees so you will have to wait till age 18 to apply for a full North Carolina driver's license.

To find out more about how to apply for a NC driver's license, contact the NCDOT Division of Motor Vehicles.