The instructor-led Zoom class happens live at a set time and lets participants aged 16+ engage directly with a certified teacher. In contrast, the self-paced online course is restricted to those 18 and older and lets you work through the modules yourself, with identity checks built in, whenever you like. Both versions are recognized by the DMV, teach the same mandatory content, and qualify you for a road test. Keep in mind, though: the live Zoom format grants a physical MV-278 certificate, while self-paced completion is submitted to the DMV online, so no paper MV-278 is issued.