Preparing for Your First EDT Session
The RSA Checklist

Session 1 is the only EDT session with a fixed position — it must always be first, and the RSA is specific about what you should have done before you arrive. Most learners turn up underprepared, which means the ADI spends valuable session time on things that should have been covered already. This guide gives you the complete RSA preparation checklist so your first lesson starts at the right level.

Why Session 1 Preparation Matters

Session 1 — Car Controls and Safety Checks — is the only EDT session with a fixed position in the programme. It must always be first. The RSA mandates this because Session 1 establishes the baseline: before your ADI can take you anywhere near public roads, they need to confirm you have a safe, functional understanding of the vehicle you will be driving.

The RSA’s approach to Session 1 preparation is deliberate. The booklet states: “When you contact an ADI, ask them for advice on how to prepare for the EDT course. They may suggest you do some reading, sessions or practice before you begin EDT.” The RSA is not suggesting that Session 1 is the starting point for everything — it is designed as a consolidation and formalisation of knowledge and experience you should already have when you arrive.

Learners who arrive at Session 1 completely unprepared — no reading done, no time in a car, no idea what a primary control is — put their ADI in a difficult position. The session has a fixed set of objectives to cover. If the ADI spends the whole lesson explaining what the clutch does, the session cannot advance to its required outcomes. The learner wastes money and the programme loses momentum before it has started.

Documents Checklist — What Your ADI Will Check

Before Session 1 can proceed, your ADI must check that you hold the correct documentation. Arriving without these means the session may not be able to go ahead.

RSA Reading — What to Study Before Session 1

The RSA recommends three specific publications as preparation resources before your first EDT session. These are not suggested reading — they are identified in the official EDT booklet as preparation materials you should have engaged with before arriving at Session 1.

Practice Hours — The RSA’s 3-Hour Requirement

This is the preparation requirement most learners skip — and the one that has the most impact on Session 1. The RSA EDT booklet states explicitly: “You should practise for at least three hours before your first EDT session.”

This is not a recommendation to practise eventually — it is a specific preparation requirement for Session 1. Three hours before your first professional lesson. The RSA specifies what those three hours should include:

Vehicle Familiarisation — Controls to Know Before You Arrive

The RSA is explicit that you should have familiarised yourself with the vehicle you will be using before Session 1. This means the specific car — not just cars in general. Different vehicles have controls in different positions, with different behaviour. Knowing the family car is the one you will be driving with your ADI? Spend time in the driver’s seat before Session 1 identifying every control.

Primary Controls — Know These Before Session 1

According to the RSA EDT syllabus, the primary controls you must know are:

Secondary Controls — Know These Before Session 1

The secondary controls you must be able to locate and operate:

The full breakdown of every primary and secondary control — with explanations of each — is in our dedicated EDT Session 1 guide.

Your Sponsor — Have One Ready Before Session 1

You do not need your Sponsor to be present at Session 1 — but you should have identified who your Sponsor will be before you arrive. The reason is practical: at the end of Session 1, your ADI will advise you on exactly what to practise with your Sponsor before Session 2. If you have not yet identified a Sponsor, you cannot act on that advice.

The RSA is clear that the Sponsor is a central part of the EDT programme — not an optional extra. The practice between sessions is what consolidates the skills taught by the ADI. Without a Sponsor, your EDT progress will be significantly slower and your readiness for the driving test will be lower.

Before Session 1, confirm:

• Who your Sponsor will be — name them specifically
• That they hold a full Irish driving licence held for at least 2 years
• That they are at least 21 years old
• That they are available and willing to accompany you for practice between sessions
• That you have briefed them on their role and the RSA’s expectations

For the full Sponsor requirements and what they need to know, see our complete Sponsor’s guide.

If You’re Providing the Car — Vehicle Document and Safety Checks

Not all learners provide their own vehicle for EDT — many use the ADI’s training car. If you are providing the vehicle, your ADI will carry out checks before Session 1 can proceed. They will also ask you to sign a declaration confirming these are in order before every session.

What Happens at Session 1 — Step by Step

Knowing what to expect removes anxiety and lets you focus on learning rather than wondering what comes next. Here is exactly what happens at Session 1, based on the RSA EDT booklet:

Common First-Session Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Based on experience preparing learners across North Dublin for EDT, these are the most common Session 1 mistakes — and exactly how to avoid them:

The Complete Pre-Session 1 Checklist

Here is everything you need to have done before your first EDT session, in one place:

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to bring to my first EDT session?

A valid Irish learner permit (Category B) is the essential document. If you are providing the vehicle, you must also be able to confirm and sign a declaration for: valid motor insurance covering you as a learner driver, valid motor tax, valid NCT (if applicable), and vehicle roadworthiness. Your ADI will check all of these before Session 1 proceeds.

How much practice should I do before my first EDT session?

The RSA recommends at least 3 hours of supervised practice before Session 1. This should include practising primary and secondary controls, driving in quiet conditions with your Sponsor, and covering basic manoeuvres like starting and stopping. This is an explicit RSA requirement, not optional guidance.

What reading should I do before Session 1?

The RSA recommends three resources: the Rules of the Road (essential — focus on road signs, junctions, and speed limits), the RSA Learning to Drive Manual (practical guide to vehicle controls and driving procedures), and the LDT Syllabus (available at rsa.ie — context for the training framework). The Rules of the Road is the most important to read before Session 1.

What happens at your first EDT session?

Your ADI registers you and issues your EDT logbook, checks your permit and vehicle documents, sets out the EDT course structure and ground rules, and then covers all primary and secondary vehicle controls and pre-drive safety checks. Session 1 does not involve driving in traffic — it is entirely focused on vehicle familiarisation and safety. It ends with feedback and logbook sign-off.

Does my car need to pass a check before Session 1?

If you are providing the vehicle, yes — your ADI will check tyre condition, lights, mirrors, and windscreen, as well as insurance, tax, and NCT documents. If the ADI is not satisfied with any of these, they may decline to conduct the session. Check the vehicle yourself beforehand using the same criteria.

Can I start EDT without a Sponsor?

You can attend Session 1 without a Sponsor present, but you should have identified your Sponsor before you start EDT. The Sponsor’s role — supervised practice between sessions — is central to how the programme is designed to work. Without a Sponsor, you cannot complete the RSA-recommended practice and your progress will be significantly slower.