Can somebody tell me where I'm going wrong with "callback_" ?

[eluser]bretticus[/eluser]
Actually, it appears you may be new enough that "drinking the proverbial Kool Aid" of OOP is a just bit too foreign for you. That's all. I suggest learning the basics of OOP. All PHP coders eventually head in that direction sooner or later. Once you get that under your belt, this framework won't seem too daunting.

2 things about your _age_check method.

Code:

function _age_check() {            
            $d = $this->input->post('dob_d');
            $m = $this->input->post('dob_m');
            $y = $this->input->post('dob_y');
            if($d != "" && $m != "" && $y != "") { // If date fields are not empty, then proceed
                // PREP DATE
                $dob = date("M", $m)." ".$d.", ".$y;

                // PROCEED WITH VALIDATION
                $then = strtotime($dob); // Timestamp from DOB
                $min = strtotime('+16 years', $then); // DOB Timestamp + 16 years
                if(time() < $min) {
                    $this->validation->set_message('age_check', 'The %s field can not be the word "test"');
                    return FALSE; // Under 16;
                } else {
                    $this->validation->set_message('age_check', 'The %s field can not be the word "test"');
                    return TRUE; // Over 16;
                }    
            } else {
                //return "Date of Birth is incomplete"; //must return TRUE or FALSE (not text)
                return FALSE;
            }
        }

See comments in code above.

Also, in your view I see no call to actually print out the errors that the validation lib may find.

Good luck!

P.S. This is a good series (Allbeit a little boring to watch.)