Mandatory training class B – all hours and courses

Getting a class B driving licence in Norway involves far more than practice driving and the practical test. The mandatory training for class B is built around four stages, where each stage contains courses and guidance lessons you must complete no matter how good a driver you already are. Below you get a complete overview of all the mandatory hours, how much time they take, and the order you have to follow.

Table of contents

• Why the training is mandatory
• Stage 1: Basic traffic course
• Stages 2 and 3: Guidance lessons
• Safety course on track and on the road
• Full hours overview
• How to prepare for the theory test

Why the training is mandatory

Driver training in Norway follows a fixed curriculum with four stages. The idea is that you build skills step by step: from basic vehicle handling, through traffic driving, to independent and safe driving in every situation. The mandatory hours cannot be skipped, and a driving school or examiner cannot approve you unless they have been completed and registered.

Much of the actual driving practice can be done privately once you have passed the basic traffic course. But the mandatory courses and guidance lessons must be carried out at an approved driving school.

Stage 1: Basic traffic course

Everything starts with the basic traffic course , which is the entry ticket to all further training. The course allows you to start practice driving and includes a theory part, a first-aid section and a mandatory night driving demonstration .

• You must be 15 years old to take the course.
• The course is mandatory for everyone under 25; if you are older you skip parts of it.
• After passing, you receive proof that lets you practice drive privately.

If you want to know more about the age requirements, see the article on the minimum age for a class B licence .

Stages 2 and 3: Guidance lessons

In stage 2 you learn basic vehicle handling : moving off, gear changing, positioning and using the mirrors. The stage ends with a mandatory guidance lesson where the instructor assesses whether you are ready to drive in traffic.

Stage 3 is about traffic driving. Here too there is a mandatory guidance lesson, which sits within stage 3 – assessment and maintenance. The guidance lessons are not tests – they are a pause where you and the instructor assess your skill level together before moving on.

Safety course on track and on the road

Two of the heaviest mandatory elements are the safety courses.

The safety course on track, often called skid training on a practice track , takes place in the transition between stage 3 and 4. Here you practise on a slippery surface, braking, the car’s weight transfer and how speed affects the stopping distance. The course lasts around four hours.

The safety course on the road is the concluding mandatory course in stage 4. This is the longest single course in the training, totalling 13 lessons, and includes rural road driving, reflection and a concluding part. Read more in the article on stage 4 – safety course on the road.

Full hours overview

The table shows the mandatory elements in order. The number of lessons can vary slightly between schools, but the courses below are mandatory for everyone.

In addition come the theory and practical tests at the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, which are not part of the training itself, but which you must pass to get the licence. If you want a full walkthrough of the whole process, see how to get a class B licence .

How to prepare for the theory test

While you complete the mandatory training, it pays to start early with the theory. That way you avoid cramming everything just before the theory test, where the number of questions and the pass mark decide whether you move on. It is also smart to know in advance whether you will drive automatic or manual on the practical test .

The best preparation is to practise regularly and often. Take a free theory test to see where you stand, and use the Eteo app to drill questions until you are confident with the material and ready for the theory test.