The written exams dished out by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) are there for a reason: to measure the driver’s and conductor’s license applicants’ comprehension of crucial subjects like road rules and regulations, traffic signs, road markings, and emergencies. Doing so ensures that those who work with vehicles know everything they need to know in order to behave and act appropriately on the road.
There are different types of LTO exams that both drivers and conductors are required to take in order to secure the requirements they need to get a license. There are practical and written exams, and some of them are available online and in person, via a pen-and-paper test. In this guide, we rounded up a complete list of all the LTO exams there is, to help you identify and prepare for the ones you will need to take to secure your license.
Types of LTO Exams for Drivers and Conductors
Here’s a complete list of LTO exams for both drivers and conductors in the Philippines:
For Drivers
Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) Exam
LTO’s Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) Exam refers to the written exam at he end of the 15-hour TDC seminar. The driver’s license applicants are expected to attend a classroom session covering numerous topics or modules—from the LTO basics to the comprehensive discussion on the safe use of motor vehicles. It also comes with actual driving practices, when taken in private driving schools.
It can be taken either at an LTO branch, online, at an LTO Driver Education Center (DEC), or at any LTO-accredited institutions. The course culminates in a written exam that varies in number depending on the following license classifications:
- For non-professional driver’s license application: Applicants need to get at least thirty (30) correct answers out of forty (40) questions.
- For professional driver’s license application: Applicants need to get at least forty-five (45) correct answers out of sixty (60) questions.
The TDC exam covers the following topics:
- The progress and role of the LTO in our society’s growth
- The organization and operation of the LTO
- Requirements and process of getting a driver’s license
- Traffic regulations that include signs, road markings, and right of way
- Specific directives and laws designed by the LTO
- Scanning of danger to reduce road crash risks
- Operations of automotive parts and related accessories
- Effective driving with proper maneuvering
- Different parking skills
- Techniques and tips on how to save fuel
- The correct way of checking the safety of a vehicle
- Practicum on basic troubleshooting
- Defensive driving, road discipline, and other related practices
- Comprehensive discussion regarding the safe use of motorcycle and light motor vehicles
LTO Driver’s License Application Written Exam
The Driver’s License Application Written Exam, generally known as LTO (written) exam, refers to the pen-and-paper or online exam taken right before the practical driving test. This test will decide whether or not you can proceed to the practical driving test which is yet another step towards acquiring a driver’s license. To pass the test, you need to get the following score:
- Student driver permit: You need to score 20 out of a set of 25 questions.
- Non-professional driver’s license (NPDL): You need to score 35 out of a set of 40 questions.
- Professional driver’s license (PDL): You need to score 50 out of a set of 60 questions.
The LTO written exam for driver’s license application, whether taken in English or Filipino (Tagalog), remains a randomized 25-, 40-, or 60-item multiple choice exam that covers the same six (6) different subjects including:
- General Driving Knowledge
- defensive driving
- proper techniques
- road safety
- stress management
- driving rules
- licenses, and
- maintenance
- Parking
- parking rules and restrictions on Philippines roads
- Emergencies
- road emergencies,
- what to do when involved in mechanical failures, and
- accidents
- Handling & Driving
- how to drive the optimal way
- rights and responsibilities of drivers on the road
- common regulatory rules
- traffic signs and signals, and
- making sure that the vehicle’s documents are up-to-date and in order
- Road Signs & Lane Markings
- traffic signs
- signals
- pavement markings
- This also ensures that you know enough of the rules regarding regulatory signs such as no U-turn, no right turn, or left turn not only to pass the exam, but also to ensure both yours and others’ safety on the road.
- Road Position
- yielding
- right of way and
- everything else about where you should position your vehicle while driving
Practical Driving Test
The Practical Driving Course (PDC) Exam is a practical exam that every aspiring driver needs to pass. It is taken during the license application, after the applicant passed the LTO written exam.
The actual practical test is a short one, maybe around five (5) minutes or so, depending on the driver and it requires the license applicants to make only one round on an obstacle course.
It involves driving straight on a flat and elevated road, parking, and making tight turns and can be taken using either an LTO vehicle, your own car, or your driving school’s vehicle. To pass, the applicant needs to score 70/100.
The exam criteria is as follows:
- pre-driving check-up
- driving skills, and
- observance of traffic rules
Driver Enhancement Program (DEP)
The Driver Enhancement Program is a program exclusively designed in accordance with RA 10930 for those who are looking to renew and extend the validity of their licenses. The program is divided into two types: the Comprehensive Driver Education (CDE) Exam for law-abiding drivers and the Driver Reorientation Course (DRC) Exam for driving who like to live on the edge and has made violations for the duration of the validity of the license to be renewed.
Comprehensive Driver Education (CDE) Exam
The Comprehensive Driver Education (CDE) Exam is the “final exam” for the drivers who are renewing their expired licenses. It’s the culminating activity in the LTO-mandated complete the Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE) course, a five (5) hour mandatory refresher course for drivers and motorcycle riders designed to ensure that only qualified applicants with adequate driving skills, knowledge of road safety, and proper road etiquette have their licenses renewed.
To secure a Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE) certificate, the licensee must pass the CDE Validating Exam either in person at the LTO Driver’s Education Center (DEC) in select LTO offices or online through the Land Transport Management System (LTMS) portal. To take the exam online, they must first create an account in LTO’s LTMS Portal and pass the exam with at least 20 correct answers out of 25 multiple choice questions (80 percent rating) regardless of license classification.
The actual CDE Examination covers the following topics:
- Road Safety
- Road etiquette, dealing with driving stress, and avoiding road rage
- The causes of traffic accidents and how to avoid them
- Engine breakdowns: what causes them and how to avoid them.
- Roadside emergencies: how to respond and what to do in an emergency.
- A driver’s duties, responsibilities, and legal rights
- Traffic Rules and Regulations
- Road discipline
- Identifying traffic signals, traffic signs, and road markings
- The proper use of highways and expressways.
- Land Transportation-Related Laws
- RA 4136 – Traffic and administrative rules, policies and regulations, fines, penalties, and demerit system. Take special attention to over-speeding and overloading.
- Special laws on driving such as the
- Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act (RA 10586)
- the Seatbelt Law (RA 8750)
- Anti-Distraction Driving Law (RA 10913)
- Child Safety in Motor Vehicle Act (RA 11229)
- Child Safety in Motorcycle Act (RA 10666)
Driver Reorientation Course (DRC) Exam
The Driver Reorientation Course (DRC) Exam is a lot like the CDE validation exam, it’s like the flip side of a coin. The course, which was designed pursuant to Sections 14 and 15 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) as well as Section 26 of the Republic Act 4136, otherwise known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, is the counterpart of the CDE for licensees who had accumulated at least five (5) to ten (10) demerit points or who had committed the same violation for at least three (3) times during the validity of the driver’s license.
This Driver’s Reorientation Course (DRC) exam is a pen-and-paper test proctored by either the Traffic Safety Division (TSD) or Driver Education Center (DEC) personnel. Upon passing the DRC culminating exam, the driver will receive a Certificate of Completion (COC) which is a requirement for driver’s license renewal with the Land Transportation Office (LTO). It is available in English and Filipino and like the CDE, also features twenty-five (25)-item randomized multiple choice questions to be answered within 30 minutes. Likewise, it requires 80% or 20 correct answers to pass. Unlike the CDE, however, the DRC is exclusively designed for those who have committed traffic or driving violations during the validity of the driver’s license to be renewed. It is particularly important to go through the DRC as failure to do so within thirty (30) days from the date of the last apprehension shall cause the suspension of the driver’s license until the required attendance to the course is complied with.
The LTO DRC exam covers the following topics:
- Road Safety
- Road etiquette, especially when dealing with stress and road rage
- Traffic accident causes and how to avoid them
- Engine breakdowns causes and how to avoid them
- Roadside emergencies and how to respond and act accordingly
- Driver’s duties, responsibilities, and legal rights
- Traffic Rules and Regulations
- Road discipline
- Identifying traffic signals, traffic signs, and road markings
- Proper usage of highways and expressways
- Land Transportation-Related Laws
- RA 4136 – Traffic and administrative rules, policies and regulations, fines, penalties, and demerit system. Take special attention to over-speeding and overloading.4
- Special laws on driving such as the
- Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act (RA 10586)
- the Seatbelt Law (RA 8750)
- Anti-Distraction Driving Law (RA 10913)
- Child Safety in Motor Vehicle Act (RA 11229)
- Child Safety in Motorcycle Act (RA 10666)
For Conductors
Conductor’s License Application Written Exam
Like the driver’s licenses issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) under the mandate of the Land Transportation and Traffic Code (RA 4136), the Conductor’s license comes with both a written and practical test taken at the LTO. After all, conductors need to know what they are doing since they are the ones who are held liable in cases of violations regarding overloading of passengers or freight or cargo beyond its registered carrying capacity.
Much like the Professional Driver’s License (PDL) exam, the Conductor’s License exam is a necessary step for those who wish to work as a conductor and earn. It requires applicants to take a 20-item written assessment and to attend an orientation or enhancement program, regardless of whether he can or cannot drive. It doesn’t require or give one the authority to drive, but it does allow the bearer to legally perform the following:
- collecting and issuing tickets, passes or fares
- checking the validity of issued tickets
- attending to the passengers
providing assistance regarding boarding, seating and luggage particularly to the elderly, sick, disabled, or injured passengers; - opening and closing doors for passengers;
- performing safety checks prior to departure
- signaling to drivers to stop or proceed when passengers disembark
- greeting passengers, checking boarding transportation equipment, and announcing routes and stops
ensuring that safety regulations are observed - responding to passengers requests and complaints; and
- taking charge of appropriate actions in cases of emergencies or accidents
Conductor Theoretical Course (CTC) Exam
All applicants for a Conductor’s License are required to undergo the mandatory eight (8)-hour Conductor’s Theoretical Course (CTC) conducted by the LTO DECs. They also need to pass 80% of the required examination after the completion of the course before they can be issued a CTC Certificate of Completion (COC) which will then be electronically transmitted to the LTO LTMS. The DECs usually offer CTC classes at least twice a month through an appointment system. No other driving institution is allowed to conduct the CTC unless duly authorized by the LTO, as per Memorandum Circular MC_JMT_2023_2390.
Conductor Enhancement Program (CEP)
Just like the Driver Enhancement Programs (DEP), conductors need to complete and pass the culminating exam of the Conductor Enhancement Program (CEP)—a program exclusively designed in accordance with RA 10930 for those who are looking to renew and extend the validity of their conductor license. The program is not divided into two types, though it is a lot like the Comprehensive Driver Education (CDE) Exam for the law-abiding conductors who like to live on the edge and has made violations for the duration of the validity of the license to be renewed.
Summary
The LTO exams are in place for good reasons. First, they remind and refresh the license applicants, regardless if it’s for a driver’s or a conductor’s license, of the things they need to do and remember to do.
These exams also ensure that they remember the dos and don’ts of the road, before they are allowed to run free on open roads. Passing the exams mean that the license applicant has earned his license, even though not every license holder is as careful on the road as they are expected to be.