The live Zoom class is an instructor-led experience held at a set time, where students age 16 and up participate and can engage directly with a certified teacher. The self-paced online course, restricted to students 18 and older, lets you work through modules independently on your own timeline, with identity verification steps included. Both formats carry DMV approval, cover identical mandatory material, and qualify you to book a road test. The key distinction is that live classes, including Zoom, give you an MV-278 certificate, whereas online course completion is submitted to the DMV electronically and does not produce an MV-278 certificate.