I think you have to have a valid permit in order to get a licenses.
You do not need to have a "valid" permit to take a driver's test; you must have a valid Knowledge Test on file. If you are under 18, you must have completed Driver's Education and passed both Knowledge and Skill Tests, be 16 years of age, or older, and had a permit for at least 6 months.
If u r over 18 years old I don't believe u have to have a permit but I could be wrong it's been along time since I got my license. I'd call and ask the dmv
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