Getting your provisional licence in the ACT does not have to be stressful. The ACT logbook training system — officially called Competency Based Training and Assessment (CBT&A) is a structured, step-by-step pathway that builds real driving skills under the guidance of an accredited driving instructor, rather than testing you in a single high-pressure moment.
This complete guide covers everything you need to know: how many hours you need based on your age, how the 23 competencies work, what the Hazard Perception Test involves, how to earn bonus logbook credit, and exactly what happens after you complete your logbook. Whether you are just starting your learner licence journey or looking for accredited logbook driving lessons in Canberra, this guide has you covered.
What is ACT Logbook Training (CBT&A)?
The ACT logbook system uses a Competency Based Training and Assessment (CBT&A) approach. Instead of being judged on a single test day, you are assessed progressively as you build each driving skill to the required government standard. Your ACT accredited driving instructor teaches and assesses each competency during your lessons, then signs off on each one when you reach the required standard.
The CBT&A method is commonly called the logbook method because every supervised driving hour, competency sign-off, and assessment is recorded in your official ACT learner driver logbook — issued by Access Canberra when you receive your learner licence.
To complete the logbook, you must: pass all 23 driving competencies, complete 2 formal revision point assessments (Review 1 and Review 2), and successfully complete the Final Drive (Competency 23). Once all three are done, your instructor issues you a Certificate of Competency, and you take your logbook to Access Canberra to receive your provisional licence.
ACT Logbook Driving Hours: Under 25 vs 25 and Over
The number of supervised driving hours required for the ACT logbook depends on your age when your learner’s licence was issued. This is one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of the ACT system — and one of the most important to get right.
| Requirement | Under 25 at licence issue | 25 or over at licence issue |
| Total supervised hours | 100 hours | 50 hours |
| Night driving hours | 10 hours | 5 hours |
| Minimum licence hold | 12 months | 6 months |
| P licence issued | P1 red plates | P2 green plates |
Important: The ACT requires 100 hours for learners under 25, not 120 hours. The 120-hour figure applies to New South Wales. Many learners confuse the two, so always confirm requirements directly with Access Canberra or your accredited driving instructor.
How to Reduce Your Required Logbook Hours
The ACT logbook system allows you to earn bonus credit hours through accredited lessons and approved road safety courses, reducing the total supervised driving hours you need to record with a family member or friend.
| Credit Program | Credit Earned | Applies To |
| Accredited instructor lessons (first 10 hrs) | 1 hr = 3 logbook hrs (max 30 hrs total) | All learners |
| Safer Driver Course | +20 logbook hours | All learners |
| Vulnerable Road User Program | +10 logbook hours | All learners |
The instructor credit is the most impactful: your first 10 lessons with an accredited driving instructor each count as 3 logbook hours instead of 1. That means 10 lessons with Steer Smart gives you 30 hours of credit — a significant head start toward your required total. After the first 10 instructor hours, each additional lesson counts as 1 hour only.
How the ACT Logbook System Works: The 5 Stages
The ACT logbook is structured across five clear stages. Your accredited driving instructor guides you through each stage and can only sign off on a competency after you have demonstrated it to the required standard. Importantly, an instructor cannot teach and assess the same competency within a single lesson — they must be separated.
| Stage | What Happens | Key Requirement |
| Stage 1 | Competencies 1 to 17 | Completed across lessons at your own pace |
| Stage 2 | Review 1 (Revision Point Assessment) | Minimum 36-hour gap after completing Competency 17 |
| Stage 3 | Competencies 18 to 22 | Completed across lessons |
| Stage 4 | Review 2 (Revision Point Assessment) | Minimum 36-hour gap after completing Competency 22 |
| Stage 5 | Competency 23 — Final Drive | Min 36-hr gap after Review 2. Notified to regulator 1 working day prior |
The minimum number of lessons required to complete the ACT logbook is 7. However, most learners need 10 to 15 lessons, depending on their starting ability, how much supervised practice they do between lessons, and whether they are learning in an automatic or manual vehicle.
ACT Logbook Competencies Explained
The 23 ACT logbook competencies cover every essential driving skill needed to operate a vehicle safely on public roads. They are detailed in the official ACT Government resource: Road Ready Towards Your Ps, available from Access Canberra. All 23 competencies must be signed off by your accredited driving instructor before you can complete your logbook.
What the 23 Competencies Cover
- Vehicle controls and pre-drive checks
- Moving off, stopping, and basic speed control
- Steering, turning left and right at intersections
- Merging, changing lanes, and roundabouts
- Parking: parallel, reverse, angle, and right-angle
- Driving in traffic, on arterial roads, and on multi-lane roads
- Hazard awareness and observation skills
- Driving in unfamiliar areas and on country roads
- Night driving
- Freeway and highway driving
It is possible to have competencies signed off on across the first few lessons if you demonstrate the required standard quickly. There is no fixed number of lessons per competency — progress is based on demonstrated ability, not hours spent.
Automatic vs Manual Logbook Lessons
You can complete the ACT logbook in either an automatic or a manual vehicle. If you complete your logbook and final assessment in an automatic vehicle, an A condition will be applied to your provisional licence — meaning you are not licensed to drive a manual vehicle until you pass a further assessment. Most learners in Canberra choose automatic lessons.
Manual learners typically need more lessons — averaging 10 to 15 sessions — compared to automatic learners who average around 8, due to the additional skill required to manage clutch and gear changes while building all other road competencies simultaneously.
ACT Hazard Perception Test (HPT): What You Need to Know
The Hazard Perception Test (HPT) is a mandatory requirement for all learners issued an ACT licence on or after 1 January 2020. It is a separate step from the CBT&A logbook process and must be completed before you can apply for your provisional licence at Access Canberra.
What is the Hazard Perception Test?
The Hazard Perception Test is an online assessment that tests your ability to identify and respond to developing hazards in real road situations. It uses video-based scenarios to measure how quickly and accurately you detect dangerous situations, a skill that is critical for safe driving but cannot be fully assessed during practical lessons.
The HPT is taken online and can be completed from home. It is available through the Access Canberra website and tests the hazard perception skills covered in the ACT Road Rules Handbook and the Road Ready Towards Your Ps learner guide.
When Can You Sit the Hazard Perception Test?
- You must have held your ACT learner’s licence for a minimum of 3 months before sitting the HPT
- Your first attempt is free
- If you fail, you must wait 24 hours before reattempting — and a fee applies for subsequent attempts
- You must pass the HPT before you can apply for your provisional licence
- The test applies to all learners issued after 1 January 2020 under the Graduated Licensing Scheme (GLS)
At Steer Smart Driving School Canberra, our instructors prepare you for the Hazard Perception Test as part of your structured logbook lessons — building the observation and hazard awareness skills you need to pass with confidence.
Who Can Supervise a Learner Driver in the ACT?
In the ACT, your supervising driver can be any friend or family member — they do not need to be a professional instructor. However, they must meet the following requirements set by Access Canberra:
- Hold a full Australian driver’s licence (not a provisional or learner licence)
- Sit in the front passenger seat at all times while supervising
- Have a zero blood alcohol concentration while supervising
- Not using a mobile phone while supervising
- Ensure the learner driver complies with all road rules at all times
Choosing a calm, experienced supervising driver for your practice sessions makes a significant difference to the quality of your logbook hours. Consistent practice in a variety of conditions — daytime, night, wet weather, busy roads, and quiet streets — builds the broad competency that your logbook requires.
What Happens After You Complete the ACT Logbook?
Completing your ACT logbook is a major milestone — but there are a few important steps between your Final Drive and holding your provisional licence in your hands.
Step-by-Step: From Certificate to P Plates
- Step 1: Your accredited driving instructor issues you a Certificate of Competency
- Step 2: Ensure you have passed the Hazard Perception Test (if not already completed)
- Step 3: Visit an Access Canberra Service Centre with your logbook, Certificate of Competency, learner licence, and any credit course certificates
- Step 4: Access Canberra issues a temporary licence on the spot for immediate use
- Step 5: Your physical provisional licence card is posted to you — allow up to 21 business days
P1 and P2 Provisional Licence: Understanding the Difference
The provisional licence you receive depends on your age at the time Access Canberra issues your licence — not the age you were when you started learning.
| Licence Type | Under 25 at Issue | 25 or Over at Issue |
| Plates | Red P1 plates | Green P2 plates |
| Hold period | 12 months P1, then P2 | Go directly to P2 |
| Total provisional period | 3 years before full licence | 3 years before full licence |
| Night restrictions (P1) | 1 peer passenger 11pm-5am | No P1 restrictions |
| Auto condition | A condition if auto logbook | A condition if auto logbook |
Once issued, an ACT Provisional Licence must be held for 3 years in total before you can apply for a full driver’s licence. Your full ACT licence is then valid for up to 10 years and can be renewed online through Access Canberra.
ACT Logbook vs One-Off Government Driving Test: Which is Right for You?
The ACT offers two pathways to a provisional licence: the CBT&A logbook method with an accredited instructor, or a one-off practical driving assessment with an ACT Government Licence Examiner. Both pathways assess you against the same driving standard — the difference is in how and when you are assessed.
| Factor | Logbook (CBT&A) | One-Off Test |
| Assessment style | Progressive, over multiple lessons | Single test day |
| Assessed by | Your accredited instructor | ACT Government examiner |
| Vehicle used | Instructor vehicle | Your own vehicle |
| Best for | Most learners, nervous drivers | Experienced or confident drivers |
| Can switch? | Yes, at any time | Yes, at any time |
Most learners choose the logbook method because progressive assessment reduces test-day anxiety, builds real driving skills, and gives continuous feedback from a qualified instructor. You can also switch between the two methods at any time — and even attempt the government test after completing your logbook if you choose.
Tips to Complete Your ACT Logbook Faster
Common Mistakes That Slow Learners Down
- Recording hours incorrectly or forgetting to log practice drives — missing hours can delay your application
- Rushing through competencies without genuine mastery — instructors cannot sign off until the standard is met
- Long gaps between lessons — skills regress quickly without regular practice
- Not preparing for Review 1 and Review 2 — treating them as practice rather than formal assessments
- Skipping the Hazard Perception Test until the very end — it can be done from 3 months in
What Actually Speeds Up Your Logbook Progress
- Take your first 10 lessons with an accredited instructor like Steer Smart — earn 30 hours of logbook credit
- Complete the Safer Driver Course early to add 20 credit hours
- Practice with a supervising driver at least 3 to 4 times per week between lessons
- Drive in a wide variety of conditions: wet weather, night, busy roads, quiet streets, and unfamiliar areas
- Focus on your weak areas during lessons rather than repeating skills you have already mastered
- Book lessons consistently — weekly lessons with regular practice between them produce the fastest progress
How Long Does the ACT Logbook Take to Complete?
The time it takes to complete your ACT logbook depends on your practice frequency, lesson consistency, and how much credit you earn through instructor lessons and optional courses.
| Learner Type | Typical Timeframe | Key Factor |
| Fast learner with frequent practice | 6 to 8 weeks | Regular lessons + daily practice |
| Average learner | 3 to 6 months | Weekly lessons + moderate practice |
| Slower pace or limited availability | 6 to 12 months+ | Infrequent lessons or practice |
Remember that the minimum hold periods also apply: 12 months for under-25 learners and 6 months for those 25 and over. Even if you complete all competencies and hours quickly, you cannot apply for your provisional licence until the minimum hold period has been met.
Book ACT Logbook Driving Lessons with Steer Smart Driving School Canberra
If you are looking for accredited logbook driving lessons in Canberra, Steer Smart Driving School offers structured, professional lessons designed to take you from your first drive through to your Certificate of Competency with confidence.
Our accredited driving instructors know the ACT CBT&A system inside out. Every lesson is structured to progress your competencies efficiently, build genuine driving skills across all ACT road conditions, and prepare you thoroughly for Review 1, Review 2, and the Final Drive. Your first 10 lessons with Steer Smart each count as 3 logbook hours — giving you 30 hours of credit toward your required total from the start.
We teach in automatic and manual vehicles across Canberra — including Belconnen, Gungahlin, Woden, Tuggeranong, Dickson, and surrounding ACT suburbs. Whether you are just starting your learner journey or need a few final lessons to complete your logbook, the Steer Smart team is here to help.
Frequently Asked Questions About ACT Logbook Training
How many hours are required for the ACT logbook?
Under 25: 100 supervised hours, including 10 hours at night. Age 25 and over: 50 supervised hours, including 5 hours at night. Bonus credit from instructor lessons and approved courses can reduce your required practice hours significantly.
Do driving lessons count towards ACT logbook hours?
Yes. Your first 10 hours of lessons with an accredited instructor each count as 3 logbook hours, giving you up to 30 hours of credit. Lessons beyond 10 hours count as 1 hour each.
What is the Hazard Perception Test in the ACT?
The Hazard Perception Test (HPT) is an online assessment mandatory for all ACT learners issued after 1 January 2020. It can be sat after 3 months on your learner licence, the first attempt is free, and it must be passed before applying for your provisional licence.
Can you fail the ACT logbook?
Yes. If you do not meet the required standard during Review 1, Review 2, or the Final Drive, your instructor may require additional lessons before reattempting. This ensures every driver who completes the logbook is genuinely ready for unsupervised driving.
How long does the ACT logbook take to complete?
Most learners complete their logbook in 3 to 6 months. Fast learners with frequent practice can finish in 6 to 8 weeks. The minimum hold period (12 months under 25, 6 months for 25+) also applies regardless of when you finish.
What is the difference between P1 and P2 in the ACT?
Under-25 learners receive red P1 plates for 12 months before progressing to green P2. Learners aged 25 and over skip P1 and go directly to P2. The full provisional period before a full licence is 3 years for everyone.
Can I switch from the logbook to the government driving test?
Yes. You can switch between the logbook method and the one-off government driving assessment at any time. Both test the same ACT driving standard. Contact Access Canberra on 13 22 81 for booking details.
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