Texas DWI programs · 12-hour DWI Education
12-Hour DWI Class in Texas: The DWI Education Program Explained
The Texas 12-hour DWI class is the DWI Education Program. It is at least 12 hours, taught by a TDLR-licensed provider online or in person, and it usually must be finished before day 181 of community supervision. The class itself is simple. The deadline, and the license revocation if DPS never gets your certificate, are what cause trouble.
Quick answer: the 12-hour DWI class in Texas
- Hours: at least 12, with no more than 4 hours a day, so it takes at least 3 days.
- Who: people convicted of DWI and other intoxication offenses and placed on community supervision (Art. 42A.403).
- Deadline: before the 181st day of supervision. The judge can extend it up to one year for good cause.
- Online: allowed from a TDLR-licensed provider, unless your court specifies a format.
- Cost: not set by the state. Each provider sets its own fee.
- Certificate: the instructor sends it to DPS and your probation department within 10 working days.
12-hour DWI Education vs the "32-hour" DWI Intervention class
Texas has two court-ordered DWI programs, and they are not interchangeable. A certificate from the wrong one does not satisfy your order.
| 12-hour DWI Education (DWIE) | DWI Intervention (DWII) | |
|---|---|---|
| Common names | 12-hour DWI class, DWI Education, DWIE, first-offender program | "32-hour" DWI class, DWI Intervention, DWII, repeat offender program |
| Hours | Minimum 12 hours of instruction | Minimum 30 hours of class instruction, plus at least 2 individual sessions and an exit interview |
| Who it is for | A defendant convicted of an intoxication offense (Penal Code §§ 49.04–49.08) and placed on community supervision (Art. 42A.403) | A defendant punished under the repeat-offense statute, Penal Code § 49.09 (Art. 42A.404). TDLR describes it as for offenders with multiple DWIs or problems a first-offender program did not address |
| Deadline | Before the 181st day after community supervision is granted. A judge may extend it, on a written motion showing good cause, to no later than one year after supervision began | Set by your court order. The statute does not fix a number of days |
| Class schedule | No more than 4 hours of instruction a day, so at least 3 days. Classes of 3 to 30 people | Modules of 2 to 3 hours, no more than one a day and two a week, so at least 5 weeks. Classes of 3 to 15 people |
| Online or in person | Either. Texas law lets a licensed provider offer it online or in person, and your court may specify the format | Either. Same rule: allowed online or in person, and your court may specify the format |
| Cost | Not set by the state. Providers must set definite, reasonable course fees (not charged class by class) and share their fee schedule on request | Not set by the state. Same rule on definite, reasonable course fees |
| Certificate | Within 10 working days of completion, the instructor notifies your community supervision department and sends the certificate to DPS (sooner if your deadline is closer) | Same 10-working-day rule: notice to your community supervision department and a copy of the certificate to DPS |
| If DPS never gets proof | DPS revokes your license (or bars you from getting one). Reinstatement requires an application and a $100 fee | DPS revokes your license (or bars you from getting one) if the program is not completed in the period the judge set |
If your paperwork says "DWI Intervention," "DWII," or "repeat offender program," see our Texas 32-hour DWI Intervention guide. TDLR also regulates two non-DWI programs, the 15-hour Drug Offender Education Program and the 6-hour Alcohol Education Program for Minors. For the full Texas picture, see the Texas DWI classes overview.
Who has to take the 12-hour class
Art. 42A.403 says a judge who places a defendant convicted under Penal Code §§ 49.04–49.08 on community supervision shall require the educational program as a condition of supervision. That covers DWI and the other intoxication offenses in that range. The requirement does not apply if a jury recommends community supervision and also recommends that your license not be suspended. The judge must waive the class if you complete approved education while in a residential treatment facility (Art. 42A.4045).
The 180-day deadline, extensions, and waivers
You must finish before the 181st day after community supervision is granted. You or your attorney can file a written motion showing good cause. The judge can then extend the deadline to no later than one year after your supervision began, or waive the class entirely. The statute lists factors the judge may consider: your school and work schedule, your health, how far you would travel to an in-person class, whether you live out of state or lack a license or transportation, and whether you have reliable internet for an online class. Ask before the deadline, not after.
Online vs in person
Since September 1, 2021, Government Code § 171.0055 has allowed a licensed provider to offer court-ordered programs online or in person. TDLR's online rules make it a live class. The instructor stays on camera, you must stay on camera for the whole class (breaks aside), and anyone who drops off camera is removed and does not get a certificate. There is one catch. Government Code § 171.0002 says a court may specify the type and format of program you must complete. Check your order before you pick online.
What the 12 hours cover: TDLR lists alcohol/drug and traffic safety problems, Texas DWI laws, effects of alcohol and drugs, alcohol/drugs and driving ability, chemical dependency and its symptoms, sources of help, the costs of a DWI, and decision-making. Every provider uses the same TDLR-approved curriculum, online or in person, and gives pre- and post-course tests.
Cost
There is no state-set price for the 12-hour DWI class. TDLR rule 16 TAC § 90.50 requires providers to set "definite and reasonable" course fees, not charge class by class, and give you a written schedule of dates, times, locations, and fees on request. Get the full price, including any materials, before you register.
Your certificate, and what happens if DPS never gets it
Within 10 working days of completion, your instructor must notify your community supervision department and send a copy of your certificate to DPS. If your deadline is sooner, the instructor must do both before it. If DPS records don't show completion within the period the judge set, DPS revokes your license or bars you from getting one. Reinstating a license revoked this way means applying to DPS and paying a $100 reinstatement fee (Art. 42A.406). Keep your copy of the certificate, and confirm with your probation officer that it was received.
Find a TDLR-licensed 12-hour DWI provider
Only a TDLR-licensed provider with a DWI Education endorsement can issue a certificate that counts. TDLR's course search can be filtered to DWI Education classes:
Source & accuracy: who must take the class, the 181st-day deadline, extensions and waivers come from Tex. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 42A.403 and 42A.4045. Certificate reporting, license revocation and the $100 reinstatement fee come from art. 42A.406. Online delivery and the court's power to specify format come from Tex. Gov't Code §§ 171.0055 and 171.0002. The 12-hour minimum, 4-hour daily cap, class size and 10-working-day certificate rule come from 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 90.45. Fee rules come from § 90.50. Course topics come from TDLR's "Court-Ordered Programs At a Glance" (Oct. 2025). Texas does not publish a statewide price. Rules, provider licenses and deadlines change, so confirm the exact program, format and deadline with the court or probation department handling your case before you enroll or pay. We are an independent directory. We do not run classes, we cannot enroll you, and none of these links are affiliate links. This is general information, not legal advice. Sources: Tex. Code Crim. Proc. ch. 42A, Tex. Gov't Code ch. 171, 16 TAC § 90.45, 16 TAC § 90.50, TDLR Court-Ordered Programs At a Glance (PDF), TDLR drug & alcohol programs.