{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-186.578","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 186.578","heading":"Visual acuity requirements for certified driver training program -- Testing","body":"of knowledge of motor vehicle laws -- Daytime and nighttime operator's license\nexaminations -- Out-of-state drivers establishing residence in Kentucky --\nRestriction on t aking of operator's license examination after three failings --\nConsequence of failure to pass examination.\n(1) Applicants accepted to participate in a certified driver training program shall meet\nthe following minimum vision requirements:\n(a) A dist ance visual acuity of 20/200 or better, with corrective lenses, in the\napplicant's better eye;\n(b) A visual field of at least one hundred twenty (120) degrees horizontally and\neighty (80) degrees vertically in the same eye as used in paragraph (a) of this\nsubsection;\n(c) A distance visual acuity of 20/60 or better using a bioptic telescopic device;\nand\n(d) No ocular diagnosis or prognosis that indicates a likelihood that significant\ndeterioration of visual acuity or visual field to levels below the minimum\nstandards outlined in this subsection will occur.\n(2) Upon acceptance into a certified driver training program, an applicant shall be given\nan examination to test his or her knowledge of the motor vehicle laws of the\nCommonwealth. This examination may be t aken orally. Upon successful\ncompletion of this examination, the applicant shall be issued a temporary\ninstruction permit, that shall be valid only when the applicant is accompanied by an\nemployee of a certified driver training program. Temporary instructi on permits\nissued under this section shall be valid for one (1) year from the date of issue.\n(3) An applicant who successfully completes a certified driver training program shall be\nreexamined by a vision specialist upon completion of the program. The examination\nshall certify that the applicant continues to meet the visual acuity and visual field\nstandards set forth in subsection (1) of this section.\n(4) (a) An applicant who successfully completes a certified driving training program\nand passes the visual reexamination required by subsection (3) of this section\nshall be eligible to take a comprehensive operator's license examination\nadministered by the Department of Kentucky State Police.\n(b) The operator's license examination shall include testing of the a pplicant's\ndriving skills over a route specifically designed to test the applicant's\ncompetency using a bioptic telescopic device.\n(c) If the applicant is a new driver, the applicant shall take a daytime and\nnighttime operator's license examination, which may be given on the same\nday.\n(d) If the applicant is a currently licensed driver, the applicant may take either a\ndaytime or a nighttime operator's license examination, but if the applicant\nchooses a daytime operator's license examination, any license gra nted shall be\nsubject to a daytime restriction.\n(5) (a) An applicant who is a restricted out -of-state driver establishing residence in\nKentucky shall be required to take and pass a knowledge examination before\nbeing eligible to take the operator's license examination.\n(b) An applicant who is a restricted out -of-state driver establishing residence in\nKentucky shall not be required to complete a certified driver training program\nbut shall be required to take and pass the visual examination outlined in\nsubsection (3) of this section before taking the operator's license examination.\n(c) If an applicant moving to Kentucky from another state possesses a valid\nbioptic operator's license from the applicant's previous state:\n1. Without a daytime -only restriction, the applicant may tak e a daytime\noperator's license examination, and upon passage of the examination, be\ngranted a license without a daytime-only restriction;\n2. With a daytime -only restriction and wishes to have it removed, the\napplicant shall take a nighttime operator's license examination, and upon\npassage of the examination, be granted a license without a daytime -only\nrestriction; or\n3. With a daytime -only restriction and does not wish to have it removed,\nthe applicant shall take a daytime operator's license examination, an d\nupon passage of the examination, be granted a license with a daytime -\nonly restriction.\n(6) If an applicant or restricted out -of-state driver fails the operator's license\nexamination three (3) times, he or she shall not be eligible to retake the examination\nuntil successfully completing additional training from a certified driver training\nprogram and obtaining an affidavit from the program director or bioptic driving\ninstructor recommending that the applicant or restricted out -of-state driver be\nallowed to retake the examination.\n(7) The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation in the Education and Labor Cabinet shall\npromulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to set\nstandards for a certified driver training program and to otherwise  carry out the\nprovisions of this section.","path":["KRS Chapter 186"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=52799","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:51:38Z","sha256":"7fe178d1709551560af1302f3ac13af2fd56d57f6121376871f0f17f3d070a66","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-186.577","next":"us-ky/krs-186.579"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}