The closest driver's license centre is situated at
812 West College Avenue, Pleasant Gap, PA 16823
This is about 5 minutes drive down College Avenue past Nittany Mall. The CATA bus X stops here.
If you have a license from another state, you can trade it in here for a Pennsylvanian one. Likewise, if you have a German or French license, you can trade it in without doing the driving or knowledge test (you still have to do the eye test).
If you have an International driver's license, you are legally allowed to use it for one year after you arrive. Be aware, however, that driving without a local license makes some things more difficult (buying a car) and expensive (getting car insurance).
If you don't have a license from another state, or a German or French license, regardless of whether or not you have a foreign license, you must first get a learner's permit, and then get your full license (yes, it is ridiculous).
Getting a learner's permit is described in full at http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/teenDriversCenter/obtainingLearnersPermit.shtml
Some comments that are not included in the above page, for foreigners:
- You need to first get your social security number, not just apply for it. If you are not eligible for a social security number (such as a J-2 visa holder without a work authorization), then you need to bring a letter from the social security saying that you are not eligible to receive one.
- You are supposed have authorization to be in the USA for at least one year when you apply for your learner's permit. Now this is usually a problem for Penn State postdocs who are on yearly contracts and so have only permission on their DS-2019 to be here for one year. If you have nearly one year remaining, they will usually agree to do it (if at first they refuse, try talking to a supervisor). If they do not agree, you will probably need to get a letter from your Professor saying that he or she intends to hire you for at least another year. Note that regardless, your driver's license will only be valid as long as your DS-2019 is valid, and so you will need to renew it if you extend your contract.
- For you or your spouse to get a license, you need a letter from your employer. International Scholar and Faculty visa services in the James M. Elliot building (formerly Rider Building I) on Burrowes St are the ones to provide it to you, they require you to fill out a form, and it will take them some time to get you the letter (they say up to 5 working days).
After you get your learner's permit, you can apply to do the practical test. Even if you have your own car, you need to do the test in someone else's car, who has a valid PA license with the correct insurance papers. Sometimes, on the page where you book the times for the test there can be a very long wait (for example a month or more) to do the test at Pleasant Gap. It is a good idea to check often because people cancel and then you can take their spot. Another alternative is to do the test in a less popular location, such as Huntington, Lewistown, Altoona or Clearfield.
Good luck!
