Maryland Alcohol Education Program

What the AEP Is and When It's Required

Maryland's Alcohol Education Program is a 12-hour education course mandated by the MVA after a first alcohol- or drug-related driving incident. If you've been convicted of DUI, DWI, or received a Probation Before Judgment for an impaired driving offense, the AEP is one of the conditions you'll need to complete before the MVA will process your reinstatement application.

The AEP is administered through MVA-approved treatment providers, not by the MVA itself. The course covers alcohol's effects on driving ability, risk factors for impaired driving, and strategies for preventing future incidents. The provider submits your Certificate of Completion electronically to the MVA once you finish.

This 12-hour program applies specifically to a first incident. If your record shows multiple alcohol-related events, the requirements escalate significantly.

The Escalation Ladder

Maryland uses a tiered treatment requirement that increases with repeat incidents within a five-year window:

One incident: The standard 12-hour Alcohol Education Program. This is the baseline requirement for any first-time DUI/DWI conviction or PBJ.

Two incidents within five years: A mandatory six-month treatment program. This isn't a classroom course — it's clinical treatment with monthly urine testing and ethyl glucuronide (EtG) screening to verify sustained sobriety. The treatment must be provided by a certified facility.

Three or more incidents: A mandatory six-month treatment program with twice-monthly testing, plus a comprehensive fitness investigation by the MVA's Driver Wellness and Safety Division under Transportation Article § 16-208(b)(6). The fitness investigation evaluates whether you're medically and psychologically fit to safely operate a motor vehicle. The division can impose additional conditions or deny reinstatement entirely based on the investigation findings.

Each tier must be completed in full before the MVA will accept your reinstatement application. Partial completion doesn't satisfy the program requirement, and the provider must submit the standardized completion certificate electronically to the MVA.

AEP vs. Driver Improvement Program

These are separate programs that address different issues:

The Driver Improvement Program is a 4-to-8-hour defensive driving course ordered when your points reach the 5-to-7 range. It covers general driving safety and applies to any type of traffic violation.

The Alcohol Education Program is a 12-hour course specifically for alcohol- or drug-related driving offenses. It addresses substance abuse, not general driving skills.

If your point total includes both standard violations and an alcohol-related conviction, you may be required to complete both programs. Completing one doesn't satisfy the other — the MVA tracks them as independent requirements on your record.

Cost and Finding a Provider

The MVA maintains a list of approved education and treatment providers. Program costs vary by provider and type:

• 12-hour AEP: Costs vary by provider and location
• Six-month clinical treatment: Significantly more expensive, with costs varying by facility, insurance coverage, and testing frequency

Program costs vary by provider, so shopping around is worthwhile. Some providers offer evening and weekend sessions for people who can't take time off work.

If you're also enrolled in the Ignition Interlock Program, AEP attendance is an approved driving purpose under a standard restricted license. Your interlock-restricted license (Code J) has no purpose restrictions, so program attendance is automatically covered.

What Happens If You Don't Complete It

Failing to complete the mandated AEP within the MVA's deadline triggers a compliance suspension — a separate hold from whatever suspension prompted the program requirement in the first place. You'll now have two active suspensions: the original one and the non-compliance hold.

The compliance suspension won't lift until you actually complete the program. And when you do finally complete it, you'll still need to clear the original suspension through its own resolution path (waiting period, fees, interlock program, etc.).

Delaying the AEP doesn't save you anything — it creates additional holds that must be resolved before reinstatement.

The AEP as Part of the Full Reinstatement Sequence

The AEP is typically one piece of a larger reinstatement process. A first-offense DUI in Maryland involves:

1. The administrative suspension through the MVA
2. The criminal proceeding through the courts
3. Potential FTC holds if fines go unpaid
4. Ignition Interlock Program enrollment (mandatory under Noah's Law / HB 105)
5. AEP completion
6. Payment of the $150 drug/alcohol reinstatement fee
7. New license credential

Each item follows its own timeline and involves a different agency or provider. Confirm with the MVA and the program provider when you can begin the AEP relative to your other requirements, including interlock participation.

The Maryland Driver's License Reinstatement Guide covers how the AEP fits into the broader reinstatement sequence and the optimal timing for starting the program relative to your other requirements.

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