CDE Exam 101: The basics of Comprehensive Driver's Education

The Land Transportation Office started issuing driver’s licenses with 10-year validity in October 2021, and as discussed in our previous story, this move attracted mixed reactions. However, the end users, aka drivers, appreciated the LTO for introducing this license—it would save them a lot of time and money, which otherwise would be spent at LTO branches for license renewal.

However, to acquire a 10-year license, LTO required all the applicants to undergo -

• Periodic Medical Examination (PME)
• Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE) Exam

While our focus today is on the CDE Exam, it is good to have a little idea about the matters it is closely related to. So, let us first briefly discuss PME and then move on to all there is to know about the CDE exam.

Periodic Medical Examination (PME)

The PME, as the name suggests, was a periodic medical exam mandated by LTO for all drivers with licenses with five or ten-year validity. Carried at any LTO-accredited medical clinic or government health facility, PME aimed to ensure the physical and mental well-being of the driver during the extended period of license validity.

However, in April 2023, PME was scrapped by the LTO. As per the agency’s chief, there is no data to back the claim that the periodic medical examination could prevent road crashes. Further, by removing PME from the list of prerequisites the drivers will save money, time, and the trouble of going for these unnecessary examinations. With these arguing points the decision to amend the Memorandum Circular 2021-2025 was taken by the LTO Chief.

Under the amended circular, the LTO observed the following guidelines for the applicants -

• Applicants for a new driver’s license and renewal of an existing license are required to take a medical examination.
• Applicants for renewal will be required to take just one medical exam that can be administered either 60 days before or on the specified date of license renewal.
• For applicants living abroad, renewal applicants are required to take a medical exam within 30 days of arrival in the Philippines before being allowed to drive.

Now, let us move on to the Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE), the one requirement of driver’s license renewal in the Philippines that is very much alive and active.

Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE)

After the LTO began issuing driver’s licenses with 10-year validity, the agency soon added a mandatory refresher course called the Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE). It was part of the requirements that an applicant must fulfill to get his/her license renewed.

Did you know? A few lawmakers in the Philippines have called for the abolition of Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE), questioning its usefulness.

Key pointers about the CDE -

• It is a 5-hour mandatory course for license renewal which is designed by the provisions of the Republic Act 10930.
• This ensures that only drivers with adequate driving skills, road safety, and knowledge of road safety rules and regulations get their license renewed for 10 years.
• It culminates into a Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE) online validation exam consisting of 25 multiple-type questions.
• There is no time limit for completing the exam, the applicant is expected to get at least 50% or 13 correct answers.
• The passing of the CDE exam leads to the issuance of the Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE) certificate.
• The CDE certificate has no expiry and is proof of the applicant attending the CDE course and passing the CDE exam.
• The CDE exam is free for candidates and if failed, can be retaken immediately.
• The CDE exam can be taken either in person at the LTO Driver’s Education
• Centre (LTO DEC) or online via the LTMS Portal.

Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE) Topics covered

In the 5-hour mandatory course, the license renewal applicant is briefed on several topics concerning road safety, traffic rules & regulations, land transportation-related laws, and special laws on driving.

The table below is a detailed list of chapters covered under each of the above-mentioned topics:

Road Safety	Driver’s duties, responsibilities, and legal rights Road etiquette (especially when dealing with stress & road rage) How to respond and act to roadside emergencies Cause and how to avoid engine breakdown
Traffic Rules & Regulations	Proper usage of highways and expressways Road discipline  Identifying traffic signs, traffic signals, and road marking
Land Transportation-Related Laws	RA 4136 which talks about the following Traffic & administrative rules Policies & Regulations Fines, penalties, demerit system
Special laws on driving	Anti-Drunk and Drugged Act (RA 10586) Child Safety in Motor Vehicle Act (RA 11229) Sealtbelt Law (RA 8750) Anti-Distraction Driving Law (RA 10913)

CDE course & CDE certificate Benefits

There are several benefits of completing the Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE) course and acquiring a CDE certificate -

• It fulfills LTO driver’s license renewal requirements.
• Provides free lifetime access to CDE Certificate of Completion.
• Acts as a refresher course on the basics of road safety, driving, and associated law.
• The CDE exam can be retaken multiple times at the applicant’s convenience.
• The CDE certificate is proof that the applicant is a well-equipped driver.
• CDE certificate proves the applicant deserves an LTO driver’s license with a 10-year validity.

CDE online validation exam Qualification & fee

No particular qualification is required when it comes to the CDE online validation exam. Anyone who holds or wants to get a Philippines driver’s license can take this particular exam.

As for the fee, if the applicant is willing to pay they can take the exam at an LTO-accredited driving school. Otherwise, the CDE exam can be taken for free via the applicant's LTMS account.

Here’s a list of individuals that benefit the most from the CDE course and CDE certification -

• Car driver’s license holders.
• Motorcycle riders with driver’s licenses.
• Driver’s license holders who want to renew their license, regardless of the demerit points.
• Foreign nationals who want to renew their driver’s license, regardless of the demerit points accumulated.
• New car owners who wish to procure an LTO driver’s license.
• Anyone who wants to learn or brush up their knowledge about road safety measures, driving-related laws, and driving in general.

CDE online validation exam Requirements

As mentioned, anyone can take the CDE Online Validation Exam, be it a new car owner or a driver’s license holder looking for renewal. To take the CDE online validation exam, a candidate needs the following -

• An LTMS Portal online account
• A stable internet connection
• A computer device - a desktop, tablet, and smartphone

In case you do not have an LTMS account, create one by following the steps we have covered in detail here. The general requirements for creating an LTMS account include -

• A valid & active email address
• Active mobile number
• Following information for license holder -

Driver’s license number
Expiry date
Official receipt number
Full name
Birth date
Mother’s maiden name
Emergency Contact
Complete address
Medical information

• Following information for alien residents
  Nationality
  ACR expiry date
  Alien certificate of registration number

Step-by-step guide to taking the CDE online validation exam

Did you know? The CDE seminar is quite long and there is a lot of material to go through to prepare for the CDE Online Validation Exam.

While the process of giving the exam is simple, however, it isn't easy to give. Why? There are just 25 questions out of the lengthy syllabus. However, the good news is that you just have to get 13 correct answers to pass the exam and obtain a certificate.

Here’s the step-by-step process you need to follow to take the CDE exam -

Step 1: Visit the LTMS portal.
Step 2: On the home page, click on the E-Learning tab on the top bar.
Step 3: Select CDE Online Validation Exam from the dropdown menu.
Step 4: Login by entering your LTMS account credentials. In case you don’t have an account, first register.
Step 5: When ready to take the CDE exam, click on the Start Exam tab.
Step 6: Next, you need to choose the language you want to take the exam in, i.e., English or Filipino.
Step 7: You’ll be redirected to the 25 multiple-choice exam.

At the end of the exam, the result will be declared immediately. If it’s a pass, you’ll be prompted to print the CDE certificate right away. A copy of the certificate will also be sent to you, on your official and active email address.

More information on CDE course, exam, and certificate

• All the CDE review material can be obtained at any LTO office and LTO-accredited driving schools.
• You need to have an active email account as your CDE certificate along with other things will be sent there.
• There are no trick questions, just read all the questions carefully before answering.
• As per the LTO Memorandum dated Oct 14,2021, there is no expiry date on the CDE certificate.
• The CDE is free if taken via the LTMS portal that is however not the case if the exam is taken at any of the LTO-accredited driving schools.
• LTMS through its e-Learning portal gives drivers access to a bulk of information on various topics including licensing, road courtesy, safety, MV registration, and much more.
• One of the most convenient ways to take the CDE exam is via the LTMS portal.

Bottom line

That is all the information you need on the Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE) exam and CDE certification. It is one of the essential initiatives by the LTO to keep the Philippines road safe as it ensures only the most qualified and responsible drivers are on the road.

Also Read: Stay road-ready: Why you must have your OR/CR in the Philippines