If you are learning to drive in Canberra, there are two ways to get your provisional (P) licence: the ACT logbook pathway, officially called Competency Based Training and Assessment (CBT&A), or a one-off practical driving assessment with an ACT Government licence examiner. Both lead to the same P licence. This guide explains how each one works so you can choose the right path for you.

What both pathways have in common

Whichever way you go, the basic ACT requirements are the same. According to Access Canberra, you must:

• be at least 17 years old
• hold your ACT learner licence for at least 12 months (or 6 months if you were 25 or older when you got your learner licence)
• pass the online Hazard Perception Test, which you can take after holding your learner licence for 3 months
• log your supervised driving: 100 hours including 10 at night if you were under 25 when your learner licence was issued, or 50 hours including 5 at night if you were 25 or older

Requirements can change, so always check the official Access Canberra provisional licence page before you book anything.

Option 1: The ACT logbook pathway (CBT&A)

With the logbook pathway, an ACT accredited driving instructor teaches and assesses you across 23 competencies during your lessons. Instead of one big test on one day, each skill is signed off once you can perform it consistently. There is no separate government driving test.

Access Canberra states that the minimum is 7 lessons, but most people need between 10 and 15 lessons, depending on experience and how much supervised practice they do between lessons.

Why many Canberra learners choose the logbook

• Less pressure. You are assessed over several lessons instead of one high-stakes drive.
• Feedback as you go. Your instructor tells you exactly which competencies are signed off and what still needs work.
• Hours credit. Each hour with an ACT accredited driving instructor counts as 3 hours in your logbook, up to 10 actual hours (30 credited hours).
• Great for nervous drivers. If test-day nerves are your biggest worry, spreading assessment across lessons often helps.

Things to know

• If you complete the logbook in an automatic car, your licence has an “A” condition (automatic only) until you remove it. Access Canberra explains the options for removing it.
• You will pay for each lesson, so the total cost depends on how many lessons you need.

Option 2: The one-off practical driving assessment

With this option you book a single practical assessment through Access Canberra (13 22 81) and drive with a government licence examiner. You need to bring your learner licence or proof of identity, your completed logbook of supervised hours, and your Hazard Perception Test certificate.

You also supply your own car, and it must meet strict requirements: registered, clean, roadworthy, with working seatbelts, a centre-mounted park brake the examiner can reach, L plates front and back, and at least a quarter tank of fuel. If the car does not meet the requirements, you cannot sit the assessment and must rebook and pay again.

If you are marked “not yet competent”, you must wait 48 hours before another attempt. Access Canberra lists common mistakes as not following speed signs and changes, missing head checks and mirror checks before changing lanes or merging, and overrunning stop or give way lines.

Read the full details on the Access Canberra one-off practical driving assessment page.

Who the one-off assessment suits

• Learners who already drive confidently and have lots of supervised practice
• People who are comfortable performing under test conditions
• Learners who want to minimise the number of professional lessons

Logbook vs one-off assessment at a glance

Which one should you choose?

If you are a new learner, feel nervous, or want structured feedback, the logbook pathway is usually the better fit. If you are already a confident driver with plenty of supervised hours, the one-off assessment plus a couple of focused test preparation lessons can be the faster route.

Not sure? Book a lesson and your instructor will assess your current skills and recommend the pathway that suits you.

Learn with Progressive ACT Driving School

We are an ACT accredited driving school teaching Canberra learners since 2017. We offer ACT logbook (CBT&A) lessons, driving test preparation and calm lessons for nervous drivers, with pickup across Canberra 7 days a week. New logbook learners can start with a first lesson for $75, and logbook packages start from $78 a lesson.

Book your lesson online or call 0412 246 846.

Information checked against Access Canberra in October 2026. Always confirm current requirements with Access Canberra.