The driver licensing program in Alberta, which has been in effect for 19 years, is undergoing a comprehensive reform. The licensing program was introduced in 2003. New drivers are not allowed to drive between midnight and 5 a.m., and their licenses can be suspended if they accumulate eight or more demerit points. There is also zero tolerance for the use of alcohol or drugs while driving. Additionally, after successfully passing the test for two years, drivers are required to take a more advanced second road test in order to obtain a full license.

Alberta says it will no longer require the road test for Class 5 (passenger vehicles) and Class 6 (motorcycle) driver's licenses, saving these drivers $150. Alberta's Minister of Transportation, Prasad Panda, said in an interview: "The goal of the changes is to reduce bureaucracy, as well as cut costs for Albertans and businesses without compromising any safety aspects of the program." Also, since the start of the program, drivers who have passed the two-year testing period without a second test have been allowed to continue driving with their graduated licenses. Panda said that an estimated 700,000 Albertans drive with graduated licenses. In the past five years, 65 percent of graduated license holders did not take the second advanced road test. Prasad added: "Some of them are no longer young, they are in their forties, but they simply did not take the test because they are already driving (with a graduated license), perhaps many thought that spending an additional $150 for the advanced test does not give them any added benefits or comfort other than getting a full license." The additional road test will also not be mandatory to obtain a Class 4 driver's license, which is required for transporting passengers in taxis, ride-sharing vehicles, limousines, minibuses, and ambulances.

The removal of the road test had been proposed by many Albertans in a 2019 government survey about reducing bureaucracy. Panda said about 500,000 graduated license holders are likely eligible to move to full Class 5 licenses. Panda added: "This makes sense; it reduces costs for drivers and also, in a way, for businesses without compromising safety in any way. This does not reduce safety; they must be under supervision for two years to determine if there are any problems with these drivers, whether it be traffic violations or drugs and alcohol."

Under the change, the testing period for drivers who display poor driving behavior and have defects or are issued other unsafe driving violations during the last year of their testing period will be extended by an additional year.