If you were convicted of an impaired driving offense in New Hampshire on or after January 1, 2026, there is one new step you need to plan for as part of the IDCMP process: a court-approved online Victim Impact Panel, often called a VIP.
Just as important, completing the panel is not the final step by itself. You need to keep your completion certificate, and you must turn your own copy in to the New Hampshire DMV / Department of Safety along with SR-22 proof of financial responsibility before your license can be reinstated.
This can feel like one more detail in an already structured process. Clear guidance helps. When you understand what the VIP is for, what documentation to keep, and what the DMV requires from you directly, it becomes easier to move forward with confidence.
The new requirement is simple to identify
The requirement applies if:
- You were convicted of an impaired driving offense in New Hampshire on or after January 1, 2026.
- You must complete an Impaired Driver Education Program.
- You are working through the steps required for IDCMP and eventual license reinstatement.
The program you choose must meet the standards defined in RSA 265-A:1, VII. Not every online program will necessarily meet the requirement.
Chrysalis recommends that clients take only one of these two online Victim Impact Panel programs:
Any other program may not count. The VIP fee is paid directly to the provider, not to Chrysalis, and the two approved providers may charge different amounts. Check current pricing before you enroll.
This is an important distinction. Completing an online program is not enough by itself. You need a qualifying program, documentation showing that you completed it successfully, and you need to submit your copy to the DMV with your SR-22 proof when you are seeking reinstatement.
What the online Victim Impact Panel involves
Approved Victim Impact Panel programs are self-paced. They take approximately 3.5 hours to complete and require payment of a fee.
A qualifying online VIP must generally:
- Offer access 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Be available in English and Spanish.
- Provide direct client support needed to complete the program.
- Require the participant to pay the program fee.
- Include at least eight personal, true stories from victims and offenders describing the effects of impaired driving.
- Require at least three and one-half hours to complete.
- Use comprehension and attention checks at multiple points.
- Use an individualized security process to verify the participant's identity.
- Provide follow-up communication six months after completion to reinforce the program's lessons and encourage responsible behavior.
- Issue a certificate of completion after all participation and payment requirements are met.
The panel focuses on the real-life effects of impaired driving. It is intended to help participants consider how impaired driving can affect individuals, families, and communities. The purpose is not to shame or humiliate participants.
You can complete the panel online at your own pace. That flexibility may make it easier to fit this step around work, family responsibilities, transportation concerns, or other appointments.
Some of the stories may be difficult to hear. Some participants feel sadness, discomfort, anger, regret, or emotional fatigue while working through the material. Take reasonable breaks when the program allows, and consider speaking with a counselor if the material brings up something that feels hard to manage alone.
After successful completion, you receive a certificate. Keep that certificate in a safe place. You will need it for your IDCMP records, and you will also need to turn in your own copy to the New Hampshire DMV / Department of Safety along with your SR-22 proof of financial responsibility before your license can be reinstated.
The certificate should include the provider's business identification number, and you should be able to obtain additional copies if a probation officer, court, IDCMP, or the DMV needs one later.
Your completion certificate is an important part of moving forward. Save an electronic copy and, if possible, keep a backup copy with your other case documents.
Why this step matters in practice
The most important practical point is this: do not assume that completing the VIP is enough on its own.
A simple way to think about the process is:
- Sign up for one approved program: Court Solutions Online or YouImpact.
- Complete the full online class, including all required sections, identity checks, and participation steps.
- Submit proof to Chrysalis. Chrysalis does not administer the VIP itself, but confirms that you completed it as part of the overall process.
- Submit proof to the New Hampshire DMV / Department of Safety when you are seeking reinstatement.
- Expect DMV verification. The DMV verifies with the program provider that the class was actually completed.
Both the VIP completion documentation and the SR-22 proof are part of what you submit to the DMV before your license can be reinstated.
This requirement is separate from the IDCMP process. Completing an IDEP does not automatically complete the Victim Impact Panel requirement, and completing a Victim Impact Panel does not replace IDCMP screening, evaluation, education, or treatment requirements.
At Chrysalis, we also choose to make sure the VIP has been completed before a client completes the IDCMP program. That is our provider practice to help support a clear and complete process. It is not the same thing as saying the state requires the VIP before you can schedule or attend the 20-hour class.
The goal is not to rush you. It is to help you understand which steps belong to the provider, which steps belong to the DMV, and what you need to keep track of personally. Waiting until the end of the process can create unnecessary stress, so it is wise to ask early how the VIP fits into your timeline.
Your VIP certificate is part of the intake paperwork
Proof of a qualifying Victim Impact Panel is one of the documents an IDCMP requires at intake. Your provider may also ask for other records connected to your case.
Commonly required documents include:
- A certified DMV driving record or records.
- Your court order or case summary.
- Chemical test documentation or a refusal form.
- The arrest report and narrative.
- Your criminal record.
- Your Victim Impact Panel completion certificate.
Gathering these items can take time. Some documents may need to be requested from a court, police department, DMV, or another agency. Starting early can make the overall process more manageable.
It is also important to understand what your provider can and cannot do for you. Giving your VIP certificate to your IDCMP provider does not replace the separate DMV submission you must make yourself when you are seeking license reinstatement.
You can review Chrysalis’s required document library for additional information about the records commonly requested for an IDCMP intake.
What happens after you complete the panel
Once you have completed the VIP, send your certificate to your IDCMP provider and keep your own copy. If you are beginning services with Chrysalis, our team can help you understand what is still needed for intake, what belongs in your provider file, and what still must be submitted by you to the DMV.
Chrysalis has provided counseling since April 2009 and has been an approved IDCMP and aftercare provider since February 2013. Our role is to provide clear guidance and respectful support while you work through the required process.
IDCMP participation includes structure and accountability. It should also include understandable information, steady communication, and practical support. We work with you to identify what has been completed, what remains, and how to move forward.
The Victim Impact Panel is not a state prerequisite for scheduling or attending the 20-hour IDEP class. At Chrysalis, we do require clients to complete the VIP before they complete the IDCMP program. That is our practice to help make sure this requirement is not missed before the DMV review stage.
You can learn more about the New Hampshire IDCMP process, including intake, education, evaluations, counseling, and aftercare.
Scheduling the 20-hour class at Chrysalis
If you are unsure how your individual timeline fits together, Chrysalis can explain what documentation is needed for intake, class planning, program completion, and DMV reinstatement.
At Chrysalis:
- The class is conducted on Zoom.
- A hybrid in-person option is offered quarterly in Concord.
- The class costs $400.
- The cost is $200 when hardship has been pre-approved.
- The class should be booked at least two weeks ahead if you need the workbook mailed to you.
There are two class formats:
Night Class over two weeks
The Night Class meets for four evenings:
- Weeknights vary by session — see our current class dates at https://www.chrysalisrecovery.com/schedule-groups.
- 4:00–9:00 PM.
- Two consecutive weeks.
Weekend Class
The Weekend Class meets over three days:
- Friday: 4:00–9:00 PM.
- Saturday: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM.
- Sunday: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM.
The 20-hour class is a required part of the IDEP process. Scheduling the right format may depend on your work schedule, family responsibilities, transportation, and other obligations. Our team can explain the available options and help you identify a practical next step.
You can review current information and begin the process through the Chrysalis 20-hour class page.
If you completed a program outside New Hampshire
Some people begin a program in one state and need to satisfy requirements in another. Others may have already completed part of a program elsewhere.
If your case involves another state, tell your IDCMP provider what you have completed and where you completed it. Chrysalis can review the information and explain what may still be required.
For some Vermont and Maine cases, an NH Out of State Program Review may be part of the process. The other state may need to review and approve the New Hampshire program before you can be credited appropriately. Requirements vary by state, so your individual instructions matter.
The important step is to provide complete information. Do not assume that you need to repeat a program, and do not assume that an out-of-state program automatically satisfies New Hampshire requirements. Your provider can help clarify what remains.
Chrysalis staff are licensed in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine. Telehealth is available when appropriate.
A practical checklist for your next step
If your conviction was on or after January 1, 2026, use this checklist:
- Confirm that you need a Victim Impact Panel.
- Choose one approved online program: Court Solutions Online or YouImpact.
- Confirm that it meets the standards defined in RSA 265-A:1, VII.
- Check the current provider fee and pay the program directly to the VIP provider.
- Complete the self-paced panel, including all required sections, identity checks, and participation steps.
- Save your completion certificate.
- Send the certificate to your IDCMP provider.
- Keep your own copy of the certificate for DMV submission.
- Gather your driving record, court documents, chemical test or refusal documentation, arrest report, and criminal record.
- Complete your IDCMP intake.
- Obtain SR-22 proof of financial responsibility.
- Turn in your VIP completion documentation and SR-22 proof to the New Hampshire DMV / Department of Safety before reinstatement.
- Keep access to your certificate in case the DMV, court, probation officer, or IDCMP needs another copy later.
This new step is best treated as an early planning item. The most important thing is not only completing the panel, but also keeping proof, submitting your own copy to the DMV, and making sure your SR-22 documentation is ready as well.
We can help you move forward with clarity
The New Hampshire IDCMP process may feel unfamiliar, especially when requirements change. You do not have to understand every step at once.
Start with the Victim Impact Panel. Choose one approved provider. Complete it. Keep your certificate. Provide it to your IDCMP provider, and turn in your own copy to the New Hampshire DMV / Department of Safety with your SR-22 proof before reinstatement.
If you have questions about the IDCMP process, the IDEP Class, required documents, or an NH Out of State Program Review, contact Chrysalis Recovery Center.
Call 603-998-4210, email intake@crc-idcmp.com, or visit us at 112 S. State St., Concord, NH.
You can also contact Chrysalis online or begin a new client intake packet. We are here to provide clear guidance, thoughtful support, and a manageable next step.