What do I need to do before I take my road test? 
Once you have a learner permit , you must obey the learner permit restrictions [1] on where and when you may drive [1 ] complete a 5-hour Pre - licensing Course or a high school or college Driver Education Course get an appropriate amount of supervised driving practice 1 if you are under age 18 , you must wait at least six months from the date you received your learner permit to schedule your road test [1 ] 

What is the Pre-licensing Course and how do I find one? 
It is a DMV - approved, standardized classroom course that provides knowledge you will need as a new driver. The course covers many important topics, including driving within the highway transportation system driver habits and skills feelings , attitudes and risk taking alcohol , other drugs and driving You can find the course curriculum and other information in the Pre - Licensing Course Instructor s Manual MV-277 [2]. The Pre - licensing Course is available through high schools, colleges, and many driving schools. To find providers in your area , look online or in your telephone directory for Driving Instruction. When you successfully complete the course , you will be given a Pre - licensing Course Certificate MV-278. If you complete a high school or college driver education course, you will receive a Student Certificate of Completion MV-285 , and you do not need a Pre - licensing Course Certificate. You must have one of these certificates to schedule your road test. You must bring the original certificate to your road test to turn in to the license examiner. 

For how long will my Pre-licensing Course Certificate be valid? 
Your Pre - licensing Course Certificate is valid for one year from the date it is issued. A Student Certificate of Completion is valid for two years. If your Pre - licensing Course Certificate expires , you must complete the course again to receive the certificate required to schedule a road test. Your certificate must be valid on 

user: Yeah, hi, i went  through pre-licensing course and got my certificate, but i wanted to know how much time is it valid before expiring?

assistant: Sure, no problem. Your certificate will be valid for one year period, starting on the date it was issued to you. In case you have a certificate of completion, that will be valid for a two years period.

user: Great, thanks. Another question, please. What do i need to know for doing the road test? Need to practice something specific?

assistant: Certainly. It's a road test, so you'll need to practice some basics moves, so they know you are ready, for example you must focus on steering and acceleration, basic stuff.

user: Oh, i see, thanks. Sorry, but again about the certificate, did you mention a different one from pre-licensing, and that being valid for a greater period?

assistant: That would be Student Completion Certificate, and that will be valid for a two years period, unlike your Pre-licensing that only is valid for one year.

user: Ok then i heard well. Going back for the road test stuff, you told me about things i need to focus, but i was wondering how much i need to go with supervised driving before going for the real thing?

user: I'm under 18, by the way.

assistant: Very well, that's important. Well, as you are under 18, the minimum hour requirement would be 50 hours of supervised practice driving.

user: Wow, that much, huh?. Well, thanks. Oh, please, could you tell if i would need to have a pre-licensing certificate in case i need to change my license class sometime?

assistant: That would be a no. If you are in possesion of an valid NY State driver license, you don't need to own a pre-licensing course certificate in order to change form one class to another. Just go with your valid NY State license and apply to amend it to another class.