DOL Approved Exams at NorthStar

 VALID PHOTO ID REQUIRED AT ANY EXAMINATION (E.g. Passport, State ID Card, Gov. ID) 

If you do not currently possess a Washington State Identification Card, Instructional Permit, or License Number, you must create a License Express account through the Department of Licensing homepage. This is the only way we can upload your test scores to the State database in order for you to obtain your license.

Go to www.Dol.Wa.Gov to create your License Express account.  Have your personal information, Social Security Number, and email address ready so you can confirm your account.  Any of our customer service reps will be happy to assist you if needed. 

The best way to study for the Knowledge Exam is to read through the WA Driver's Guide! As of July 2025, there are now up to 14 languages availale for the Driver's Guide. We usually reccomend you read through it in full at least 3 times prior to testing to be best prepared. If you show up to your exam early, we do have physical books at both locations you can read and study before your test. As of right now, the DOL is in the middle of printing NEW Driver's Guides Books, so as soon as those are out later this year, we will have some for students to take home. 

While there is no short-cut to reading the Driver Guide, there are some helpful websites where you may take some Practice Tests.  But remember, your best preparation will be studying a current copy of the Washington Driver Guide--cover to cover!   

We often see nearly 70% of people taking the test for the first time, failing it, especially due to lack of study.

Skills Exams are offered 5-6 days a week, and are only conducted during daylight hours. We offer Skills Exams in English and translated Spanish.

These exams will be by APPOINTMENT ONLY. 

You may purchase and schedule an Auburn Skills test below, however at the moment Federal Way exams will only be avalable via email/phone.  After purchasing the test, please fill out the contact form below to be scheduled. One of our operators will get back to you with details and confirmation of the appointment within 1-2 business days. 

Federal Way has exams on Mondays and every other Saturday. 

If you submit a Contact Form after purchasing, please ensure you have a confirmation email from one of our staff members prior to your test. At times, students may submit a date and time that is no longer available, so please ensure you have a confirmation! 

In the state of Washington, a NorthStar staff member must be able to confirm your passed knowledge exam prior to scheduling a skills exam.  If you are under 18, you must also have passed Drivers ED. 

A driver does not need a permit to take this exam.  See the bottom of the page for YouTube video clips of the main testing exercises. 

 *People who accompany you to your exam will not be allowed in the vehicle during it. If our office lobby is closed, they will have to wait outside. 

When showing up for your Exam, whether it is a Knowledge Test or a Skills test, make sure to bring the proper documentation with you to avoid either losing your spot OR forfeiting your payment. 

All testers are required to bring a VALID Form of Photo ID. This can be a WA ID, a WA Permit, an ID from a different state, a foreign or local Passport/Passport Card, or a GOV ID. If you are unsure if your Photo ID qualifies for the exams, you may ask us here! 

If you are bringing anything besides a WA ID/Permit, then ensure you are ALSO bringing your WDL# with you. A WDL# is required as that is how exams are entered, if you do not have a WDL#, see here. 

If a tester shows up without proper documentation, they will not be allowed to test. For a Knowledge Exam, they will be turned away and asked to come back with proper documentation. Depending on the time you have scheduled, it is possible you may need to reschedule for a different day. For a Skills Exam, they will be turned away completely and as part of our Exam Policy, this will be treated as a No Show meaning a new exam must be repurchased and scheduled.

If you are a NorthStar Driver's Ed student, there is a chance you may have pre-paid for a test! Our Bundled courses include 1 Knowledge and 1 Skills test which means they will not need to pay for their first attempts at both exams. 

NorthStar Driver's Ed students who are not sure what package they paid for when enrolling may email us here to ask! Students who are not bundled may purchase the exams below to schedule.

All of our exams below will be payment-only, so to schedule your pre-paid Bundled Knowledge or Skills Exam please call or email us as soon as possible. 

Students are able to schedule their Knowledge Exams as long as they are  over 15 1/2 years old (aka 15 and 6 months). We do reccomend students take their Knowledge Exam after passing their Class 15 Driver's Ed Final to be best prepared, however as long as you are old enough- if you are ready, you may take the Knowledge test! 

The Skills Test may only be scheduled once you have completed all of Driver's Ed AND passed the Knowledge Exam. One of our staff members must confirm you have completed your entire course and verified that you have passed your Knowledge test prior to scheduling any Skills Exams. 

Check out the video links below for some insight on the Skills Exam:
 

Pre-Test
 

Backing Maneuver
 

Parallel Parking
 

Lane change and turning