A family member of mine is 21 years old and without a license or a permit. Do they still need to take the written test? How does that process work once they are 21?

You have to take the written test to get the instructional permit. You have to have the permit to take the drive test. The difference between being 16-18 and being 21 is when you are a teen you have to have 50 hours (40 day & 10 night) documented and take a certified driver's ED course before you can take a drive test. At 21, you just have to have a permit and you can take the drive test.

Because the applicant is over 18, they do not have to physically have an instruction permit, just have a passing written exam to take the behind the wheel test. The applicant can make an appt for the behind the wheel test on dmvnv.com or walk in and go on standby which is not guaranteed.

Written and drive

Yes written and a drive.