North Carolina DWI Education Program Requirements

North Carolina DUI/DWI Education Programs and Requirements

North Carolina treats Driving While Impaired (DWI) offenses with a focus on identifying and treating substance use disorders to reduce repeat offenses. Unlike some states, North Carolina mandates a clinical model, not just a punitive or administrative one. The cornerstone of this system is the Substance Abuse Assessment, required by N.C.G.S. 20-179. This assessment determines whether an offender attends Alcohol and Drug Education Traffic School (ADETS) or one of four levels of substance abuse treatment.

When is DUI/DWI School Required?

Every person convicted of impaired driving in North Carolina must undergo a substance abuse assessment and complete the recommended education or treatment. This requirement applies regardless of the severity of the offense or the time elapsed since the conviction. Completion is a prerequisite for driver's license restoration. The completion of a Substance Abuse Assessment prior to sentencing is identified as a statutory mitigating factor.

State-Approved Programs: Types and Curriculum

North Carolina utilizes a tiered system of intervention based on the substance abuse assessment. Placement is determined by the criteria in 10A NCAC 27G.3813.

• Level I: Alcohol and Drug Education Traffic School (ADETS): This is a prevention and education program for first-time offenders with low BACs and no signs of substance use disorder. The curriculum used is Prime for Life.
• Level II: Short-Term Outpatient Treatment: A clinical treatment/counseling program assigned to offenders who show potential warning signs of substance abuse or who committed a more severe infraction.
• Level III: Longer-Term Outpatient Treatment: A moderate-intensity treatment for offenders diagnosed with Moderate Substance Use Disorder or those with multiple DWI convictions.
• Level IV: Intensive Outpatient Treatment (IOP): A high-intensity program for individuals with severe Substance Use Disorder, high relapse potential, or failure to succeed in lower levels.
• Level V: Inpatient/Residential Treatment: Institutional care for individuals with profound chemical dependency requiring medical detoxification or 24-hour supervision.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Victim Impact Panels (VIPs) are also frequently utilized as a condition of probation, or pre-trial demonstrations of remorse.

Program Duration: Hours Required by Offense Level

Program duration is determined by the level of intervention assigned after the Substance Abuse Assessment.

• ADETS (Level I): Requires a minimum of 16 contact hours delivered over at least 5 sessions.
• Short-Term Outpatient Treatment (Level II): Requires a minimum of 20 contact hours and a minimum duration of 30 days.
• Longer-Term Outpatient Treatment (Level III): Requires a minimum of 40 contact hours and a minimum duration of 60 days.
• Intensive Outpatient Treatment (Level IV): Requires a minimum of 90 contact hours and a minimum duration of 90 days.

Costs: Typical Program Fees Statewide

The fees for assessment and ADETS are set by statute. Treatment fees are not capped, although a minimum of $75 is mandated.

• Substance Abuse Assessment: $100.00 (statutory maximum). There are Ancillary Costs: Providers are permitted to pass on the direct costs of obtaining driving records, so the total charge at the time of the appointment is often around $112.75 to $116.00 ($100 fee + ~$12-16 for the MVR).
• ADETS (Level I): $160.00 (set by statute).
• Short-Term Outpatient Treatment (Level II): Market rates typically average $20 to $25 per hour, leading to a total cost of approximately $400 to $500.
• Longer-Term Outpatient Treatment (Level III): Estimated between $600 and $1,000, depending on the provider's hourly rate.
• Intensive Outpatient Treatment (Level IV): Often exceeding $1,500, though insurance may cover portions of this medical treatment.

A BAC of 0.15 represents a financial cliff: it disqualifies the offender from the $160 flat-rate ADETS class and mandates a minimum $400 treatment regimen, in addition to triggering the requirement for an Ignition Interlock Device, which carries its own installation and monthly monitoring fees. Victim Impact Panels typically cost $50.00.

Completion Deadlines: When Must It Be Completed?

An offender subject to a 30-day civil revocation immediately following arrest may need to obtain the assessment within the first 10 days to regain driving privileges for work or school. The assessment is valid for only six months. If the recommended education or treatment is not started within this timeframe, a new assessment is required. Providers cannot submit the final Form 508 without the official conviction date. If a class is finished before the court date, the provider will hold the form until they are notified of the trial outcome.

Consequences of Non-Completion

The administrative hold on a driver's license persists indefinitely until the clinical requirements are met, registered, and processed through the e-508 system. State law prohibits the issuance of a Limited Driving Privilege (LDP) without a completed assessment.

The Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services (DMH/DD/SAS) manages the e-508 database, the central electronic repository that tracks every DWI assessment and completion in the state.