Provisional License Exam

Lore & Background

Following the intense training camp at the Forest Training Grounds, the students of Class 1-A faced a new challenge demanding maturity beyond raw strength. The Public Safety Commission established this exam to ensure young heroes understand the legal framework surrounding their actions. Unlike the Sports Festival which celebrated spectacle, this test emphasized practicalities of hero work: saving civilians while neutralizing threats without causing unnecessary collateral damage or breaking regulations. The examination was split into two distinct phases. The first phase involved a written test on hero law and ethics, followed by an obstacle course requiring speed and quirk control. The second phase was a chaotic, free-for-all battle royale where students had to capture specific targets while protecting civilian actors from villainous actors, all under the watchful eyes of pro heroes acting as examiners. Students learned that being a hero is not just about winning fights, but about making split-second decisions balancing safety, justice, and efficiency.

In Their Own Story

The air on the training grounds hummed with static electricity and nervous energy. Dust kicked up by a hundred running feet mingled with the scent of ozone from unleashed quirks. A student from Ketsubutsu Academy lunged forward, their steel-hard skin deflecting a blast meant for a civilian actor, while nearby, a U.A. student scrambled to recalibrate their strategy after realizing brute force wouldn't solve this puzzle. The voice of an examiner crackled over the loudspeakers, reminding everyone that time was running out and that every second wasted on a failed move could cost them their license. In the chaos of flying debris and shouting names, the true test wasn't who could punch hardest, but who could think clearest when the world seemed to be falling apart.

Reader's Guide

The arc begins with the announcement that all first-year students must pass the exam to gain provisional licenses. The first phase combines a written examination on hero laws and regulations with an obstacle course test of physical agility and quirk control. Many students struggle with the legal nuances, realizing their power is useless without understanding the rules. The second phase transforms into a massive battle royale across a simulated cityscape. Students are divided into teams or act individually to capture designated targets while protecting civilian actors from villainous NPCs. The environment is dynamic, with obstacles and surprise attacks forcing students to adapt instantly. Key moments include Izuku Midoriya's strategic use of his new mobility techniques, Katsuki Bakugo's aggressive pursuit of high-value targets, and Shoto Todoroki's balance between offense and defense. The impact is profound: most U.A. students pass, earning the right to seek internships with professional heroes. Those who fail must undergo remedial training during their summer break, creating a divide in class dynamics but ultimately strengthening the resolve of everyone involved to become better heroes.

Did You Know?

• The exam was infiltrated by Himiko Toga in disguise, who attacked students during the second phase.
• Katsuki Bakugo and Shoto Todoroki both failed the exam and had to take remedial courses as a make-up.
• The exam was split into two phases: a written test on hero law and ethics, followed by an obstacle course, then a battle royale.
• The Public Safety Commission organized the exam to ensure young heroes understood the legal framework surrounding their actions.
• Success in the exam grants a provisional license, allowing students to act as heroes independently before graduation.