Can You Take the Hunter Safety Course Online? Yes (Here's How)

Yes, most states now let students take a hunter safety course online. Each state’s wildlife agency approves its online courses, which fulfill the hunter education classroom requirement needed to purchase a hunting license.

Because requirements vary by state and age, you should understand who needs hunter education before choosing a course. But gone are the days when new hunters took a hunter education or hunter safety course in a classroom.

Currently, ilearntohunt offers state-approved online hunter safety courses in 31 states, with more on the way. The course enables you to study at your own pace on a computer, tablet, or mobile phone, on a schedule you set, instead of changing your life to match a traditional classroom course.

Once the online portion of the class is done, several states require students to attend an in-person field day to complete the certification process. The field day requirements may also vary by age, so confirm the requirements with your state.

Most students can complete the online coursework in a few hours or in a single weekend. Once you pass the online final exam and complete any required field day, you’ll receive a hunter education certificate that you can use to purchase a hunting license.

How to Take the Hunter Safety Course Online: Step by Step

Although taking a hunter safety course online is fairly straightforward, there are a few fundamental steps to ensure you select the right course and complete your state’s hunter education requirements.

1. Verify that your state accepts online hunter education. Before signing up for a course, check whether hunter education is required to buy a hunting license in your state based on your age or date of birth. Then, go to the ilearntohunt state course directory to confirm the online course is approved. Each state’s page will also detail any in-person field day requirements.
2. Create your account and start the course. Create your free online account and register for your state’s course. There are no scheduled class times, so you can start whenever you’re ready. Since your progress is automatically saved, you can stop and come back at your convenience.
3. Finish the lessons and pass the final exam. Work through each required module before you take the final exam. While many students can complete the course in three to eight hours, take your time. Feel free to divide the lessons across multiple sessions.
4. Schedule a field day (if required). If your state requires an in-person field day, schedule it immediately after you pass the online exam. Field days can fill up quickly, especially as hunting season approaches. 
5. Receive your certification. You’ll receive your hunter education certificate after you’ve completed your online and in-person requirements. You can then print or save the electronic version of the certificate and use it to purchase your hunting license.
6. Get ready to hunt. Once you've purchased a hunting license and any necessary tags or permits, you're ready to prepare for your first season.

Since each state sets its own hunter education requirements before purchasing a hunting license, always double-check your state’s fish and wildlife or department of natural resources agency to confirm the details.

What to Expect from the Online Course

ilearntohunt hunter education courses aren’t boring slideshows or an excruciatingly long collection of PDFs. Courses are designed to be interactive and taught in a game-like style with a character-driven format that puts students in realistic hunting scenarios.

Each student can choose a character to work through various hunting scenarios to reinforce safe and ethical decision-making. Rather than memorize and recall facts, students can apply what they’ve learned to common situations they will likely encounter during a hunt.  

Course topics include:

• Safe weapon (firearm and bow) handling
• Wildlife identification
• Your state’s hunting regulations
• Tree stand safety
• Blaze orange requirements
• Hunting ethics and fair chase
• Wildlife conservation
• Outdoor preparedness

Once you start the course, you can pause and resume without losing your place, since your progress is saved automatically. You can also complete your coursework on compatible devices, such as a computer, mobile phone, or tablet, to make your studies more convenient while traveling.

Another feature of the ilearntohunt course is that there are no minimum time requirements. You advance to the next lesson when you’re ready, rather than waiting for a timer to expire.

You must score at least 80% on the final exam to pass the online course. However, if you score below 80%, you can review the material and take the tests as many times as you’d like. The course offers unlimited retakes.  

Once you’ve passed the final exam,  you can go to your online dashboard and access your hunter education certificate or field day voucher. Which one you get is based on your state’s requirements for additional in-person training at a mandatory field day.

Online vs. In-Person Hunter Safety Course Comparison

Check out the table below to compare the flexibility and requirements of the ilearntohunt course with a traditional classroom course.

Online vs. In-Person Hunter Safety Course
Feature	Online	Traditional Classroom
Scheduling	Study anytime	Fixed class dates
Device	Phone, tablet, computer	In-person only
Speed	Self-paced	Multi-day commitment
Field day	Required in some states	Usually included
State approved	Yes	Yes
Certificate	Valid for life	Valid for life

Online vs. In-Person: Which Is Right for You?

Both state-approved online and traditional classroom hunter education courses teach the same fundamentals and safety principles required by state wildlife agencies and the IHEA-USA. Upon completing either class format, you’ll earn a hunter education certificate that can be used to buy a hunting license.

• Online courses are often preferred by those who need flexibility. You can work at your own pace (many ilearntohunt students finish in a few hours) and complete the lessons around work, family, or school schedules.
• Online courses can also be accessed on multiple platforms from almost anywhere you have internet access. Taking an online course may also be the best option for those who don’t live close to in-person classroom locations.

Rather than spending hours commuting to classes, you can complete the online portion in the comfort of your home and save your drive for the field day (if required).

Traditional classroom courses may be a better fit for students who prefer face-to-face and direct instruction. This is also the only option for those living in states that have not yet approved a fully online course option.

Whichever course format you choose, you should only need to complete a hunter education course once because your certification is typically valid for life. However, keep proof of your certification. Many states only require proof of certification for your first license, but you may need it when buying a non-resident license.

Do You Need an In-Person Field Day?

Many states require students to complete an in-person field day before granting a hunter safety or hunter education certificate. The field day is designed to allow students to practice and demonstrate safe firearms handling and for the state to confirm that students can apply what they learned online.

Field days are organized through your state’s wildlife agency and are taught by volunteer instructors. Fees and availability do vary, so some sessions may be offered at no additional cost.

A typical field day lasts between four and eight hours and may require the student to:

• Demonstrate safe firearm handling.
• Trail walk and cross obstacles safely.
• Demonstrate proper muzzle awareness.
• Identify safe and unsafe shots.
• Complete a hunting trail or skills course.
• Review wildlife identification and ethics.

Your state mandates whether or not you need to attend a field day. Some states, like Texas, require younger hunters under age 17 to participate while waiving the requirement for adults. Other states, like California and Maryland, require every student to attend a field day, regardless of age.

Field day attendance requirements can change, so always verify the current rules through ilearntohunt before you enroll.

Remember, a field day doesn’t replace the required online lessons or final exam. After completing your online course, the field day is the final step to earning your certificate.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Although taking an online hunter education course is convenient, fun, and flexible, there are a few potential stumbling blocks to watch out for.

1. Assuming the online course is all you need: Check if your state requires a field day. If it does, passing the online course exam may only provide a field day voucher instead of your final certificate.
2. Waiting until the last minute: Even though you might complete the online course in a few hours, you still need to schedule your field day, and those dates can fill up quickly. Start early to have more scheduling options.
3. Failing to save your certificate: Once you’ve earned your certificate, it’s yours to keep for life. Make sure to download, print, or save a digital copy. Create multiple copies to keep in a secure location in case the original is lost.
4. Choosing a course not approved by your state: As a new hunter, you have many options when choosing an online hunter safety course. Unfortunately, not all online courses meet state licensing requirements, so confirm that your state approves the course before signing up with the provider.
5. Enrolling in the course for the wrong state: Even though many states will recognize hunter education certificates issued by other states, taking another state’s course could delay your certification or cause you to miss certain required steps. Make sure to contact your state’s wildlife agency to confirm if an out-of-state course will fulfill your state’s requirements.
6. Not understanding apprentice opportunities: Some states allow first-time hunters without a hunter safety certificate to hunt under the direct supervision of a licensed adult. These apprentice hunting licenses are only temporary licenses and not a replacement for a hunter education course.

Next Steps: Take Your Hunter Safety Course Online

Taking a hunter safety course online is often the preferred choice for many newer hunters. The course can be completed at a pace you set, working around your schedule while still meeting your state’s hunter education requirements.

To get started, visit ilearntohunt to select the approved course for your state, confirm whether a field day is required, and start as early as possible so that you can get your certificate before the season starts.

Once you have your hunter education certificate, purchase your state’s resident hunting license and any necessary tags, permits, or validations. Then you’re ready to head into the field with the knowledge and confidence to enjoy a full season of safe and responsible hunting.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is an online hunter safety course accepted in every state?

A: No. Many states accept state-approved online hunter safety courses, but not every state offers the same options. Some require an in-person field day after the online portion, while others may not offer a fully online course. Always confirm your state's current requirements before enrolling.

Q: How long does an online hunter safety course take?

A: Most students finish the online course in about three to eight hours, though you can complete it at your own pace. Since your progress is saved automatically with a provider like ilearntohunt, you can spread the lessons over multiple sessions if needed.

Q: Is ilearntohunt a legitimate and state-approved course?

A: Yes. ilearntohunt offers state-approved hunter education courses in participating states. Each course meets the standards established by the state's wildlife agency and the International Hunter Education Association-USA (IHEA-USA).

Q: Do I need to go in person for an online hunter safety course?

A: It depends on your state. Some states require students to attend an in-person field day after completing the online lessons, while others allow certification through the online course alone. Check your state's requirements before you begin.

Q: Can I take the hunter safety course on my phone?

A: Yes. The ilearntohunt course is compatible with mobile phones, tablets, and computers. You can switch between devices, and your progress will be saved automatically.

Q: What score do you need to pass the online hunter safety exam?

A: You must earn a score of at least 80% on the final exam to pass. If you don't pass on your first attempt, you can review the course material and retake the exam as many times as needed.

Q: Is my hunter safety certificate valid in other states?

A: In most cases, yes. Hunter education certificates issued by a state-approved course are generally recognized by other states through reciprocal agreements. However, you should always check the hunting license requirements in the state where you plan to hunt before purchasing a license.

Q: How soon can I get my certificate after finishing the online course?

A: If your state doesn’t require a field day, you can typically access your hunter education certificate from your online dashboard after passing the final exam. If a field day is required, you'll receive your certificate after successfully completing both the online course and the in-person requirement.

Q: Does the hunter safety certificate ever expire?

A: Hunter education certificates are typically valid for life and don’t expire. Keep a digital or printed copy of your certificate, as you may need to provide proof of completion when purchasing hunting licenses, especially in another state.