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How to Log In

Updated

Quick answer

The course uses WA.gov (the state of Washington’s single sign-on system) to sign you in. 

If you already have a WA.gov account (for example, from using DOL or other state services), you can use it here.

If you don’t have a WA.gov account yet, you’ll create one for free as part of the sign-in flow. It only takes a few minutes.

In this article

  • What you’ll need
  • Signing in for the first time
  • Creating a WA.gov account (if you don’t have one)
  • Signing in on return visits
  • Common sign-in problems
  • Checklist: browser settings to keep on

What you’ll need

Before you start, have these ready:

  • Your WA.gov username and password (or be ready to create them, it’s free).
  • Access to the email address on your WA.gov account, in case you need to verify or reset something.
  • Your physical Washington driver license, for the identity verification step that follows sign-in.
  • A supported browser on a desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone — see Which browsers are supported? if you’re not sure.

Signing in for the first time

If this is your first time opening the course, follow these steps.

  1. From the official course URL (https://washington-dol.mydrivingcourses.com) or DOL page, click the Sign in button.
  2. Your browser sends you to the WA.gov sign-in page. Check that the address bar shows that URL and a lock icon.
  3. Enter your WA.gov username and password on the WA.gov page. If you don’t have an account yet, skip to “Creating a WA.gov account” below.
  4. If your WA.gov account has multi-factor authentication turned on, you’ll be asked for a code. Enter it.
  5. WA.gov confirms your identity and sends you back to the course automatically. You’ll see a brief loading screen.
  6. On your first visit, the course will ask you to verify your driver identity by entering your Driver License Number, last name, and date of birth (see the related article).
  7. Once verification succeeds, you’re signed in. Click Start course to begin.

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Figure 1 — The WA.gov sign-in page. Sample Secure Access Washington sign-in page with the URL bar, the lock icon, and the username and password fields highlighted.

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Figure 2 — Returning to the course after sign-in. Short loading screen showing the course logo and the “Signing you in…” message, immediately followed by the My Courses page.

Creating a WA.gov account (if you don’t have one)

Many people already have a WA.gov account from earlier interactions with state agencies. If you don’t, the sign-up takes just a few minutes:

  1. On the WA.gov sign-in page, click Sign Up.
  2. Enter your first and last name, an email address you actively use, and create a strong password.
  3. Confirm your email (WA.gov sends you a verification message). Click the link in that message.
  4. Choose a username (or accept the one WA.gov suggests).
  5. Optional but recommended: turn on multi-factor authentication when prompted.
  6. Return to the course URL (https://washington-dol.mydrivingcourses.com) and click Sign in again. This time, use your new WA.gov credentials.

Use an email you can actually receive

WA.gov uses your email address for verification, password resets, and security notices. If you use a school or family email, make sure you’ll still have access to it later when you might need to reset your password.

We don’t see or create your WA.gov account

Creating and managing your WA.gov account happens entirely on the WA.gov side. The course never sees or stores your password. For full details, see Does the course platform have access to my WA.gov password?

Signing in on return visits

Once you’ve signed in once and verified your driver identity, future visits are quicker. You don’t need to repeat the identity verification step.

  1. Open the course from the URL (https://washington-dol.mydrivingcourses.com) or any bookmarked link.
  2. Click Sign in.
  3. If you’re still signed in to WA.gov in your browser, you’ll be taken straight to My Courses. If not, enter your credentials on the WA.gov page as before.
  4. Click Resume on the Work Zone and First Responder course to pick up where you left off.

Sign out completely on shared devices

If you’re using a library, school, or family computer, sign out of the course and then sign out of WA.gov before walking away. Otherwise the next person could pick up where you left off. Your course progress is tied to your driver record.

Common sign-in problems

If you're having trouble signing in, the table below covers the issues we see most often. WA.gov handles passwords and account security, so most fixes happen on the WA.gov side rather than in the course.

Problem How to fix it
Forgot your WA.gov password On the WA.gov sign-in page, click “Forgot your password?” WA.gov will email you a reset link. Don’t try to reset your password through the course — only WA.gov can do that.
Forgot your WA.gov username Click “Forgot your username?” on the WA.gov sign-in page. WA.gov will email it to the address on file.
“Username and password do not match” after several tries WA.gov locks accounts temporarily after several failed sign-in attempts. Wait 15–30 minutes and try again, or reset your password to clear the lock.
You keep getting sent back to the sign-in page (a “loop”) Your browser may be blocking cookies for WA.gov. See the cookie-and-pop-up checklist below, then try again.
The course says you’re signed in but doesn’t open Refresh the page once. If it still doesn’t open, sign out of WA.gov completely, close your browser, and sign back in.
You see a security warning about the WA.gov page Make sure the URL is correct. If it isn’t, you’re not on the real WA.gov sign-in page. Close it and start again.

⚠ If a page asks for your driver license details before WA.gov sign-in

The real flow is always WA.gov sign-in first, then driver identity verification — never the other way around. If you’re asked for your Driver License Number, last name, or date of birth before reaching the WA.gov page, close the page. You may be on a phishing site.

Checklist: browser settings to keep on

Sign-in relies on a couple of standard browser features. If any of these are turned off, you may get sent in a loop or never reach the course.

  • Cookies must be enabled — at least for wa.gov and the course domain.
  • JavaScript must be enabled.
  • Pop-ups for secureaccess.wa.gov and dol.wa.gov must be allowed (some browsers block the sign-in window otherwise).
  • Your browser must be on a recent version.

Step-by-step instructions for browser settings are in Which browsers are supported?

Need more help?

If your WA.gov account itself isn’t working — for example, you can’t reset your password — your best contact is WA.gov support, not the course team. The sign-in page has a “Need help signing in?” link that goes directly to WA.gov.

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