PA Hunter Safety Course—3 Easy Steps to Get Yours in 2026
If you plan to hunt in Pennsylvania, the state requires all first-time hunters or trappers) regardless of age, to complete a hunter education course before purchasing a season hunting license.
Hunters in Pennsylvania must understand the ethics of hunting and the essentials of staying safe in the field. These essentials include handling firearms and bows safely, animal identification, tree stand safety, outdoor safety, why hunters wear blaze orange, and more.
So if you want to hunt in Pennsylvania in 2026, keep reading to learn how to take the PA hunter safety course to get certified and get your hunting license in three easy steps!
How to Get Your Pennsylvania Hunter Education Card in 2026
Remember: All first-time hunters or trappers (no matter their age) must complete a hunter education course approved by the Pennsylvania Game Commission before hunting.
The State of Pennyslvania offers four options for taking the course and getting certified.
Option 1: Take the Basic Hunter-Trapper Course In-Person
The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) offers a free 6-hour hunter education course. Choose a course on a date and time that allows you to complete the course to earn your certification before hunting season begins.
This game-style course is an excellent option for young students to help them complete and retain the course material about how to hunt safely. It's also a fun and fast way for adults to learn!
Option 2: Take the Online Interactive Course
ilearntohunt is pleased to offer the interactive online option for the PA hunter safety course! This course is available for hunters ages 11 and older.
An online course is the most convenient way to earn your hunter safety certification in Pennsylvania! Choose an approved course (like ilearntohunt), then study and take the final exam from home on your own time.
After completing the course and passing the final exam, you can print a temporary hunter education certificate. Then, within a few weeks, your permanent hunter education card will arrive by mail.
3. Take the Basic Hunter-Trapper Education Course (Online)
If a game-style course isn't ideal for you, the PGC also offers a traditional learning-style, online course for Pennsylvania residents ages 16 and older. This course is offered only through Hunter-Ed, and covers all required material plus the final exam.
4. Take the Online NRA Hunter Education Course
Pennsylvania residents can take the free NRA (National Rifle Association) hunter education course. You must be at least 11 years old and have a Pennsylvania Customer ID to take this course.
How to Get Your Pennsylvania Hunting License in 3 Easy Steps
With your ilearntohunt hunter education course complete, you're ready to get your hunting license!
Note: You'll only need to take and pass the hunter safety course one time. Your certification is valid for life!
Here are three easy steps for getting your PA hunting license:
- Meet the PGC Requirements for Hunter Education
Again, all first-time hunters and trappers must meet the state's requirements for completing a state-approved hunter education course before purchasing their license.
ilearntohunt makes it easy to meet this requirement! Our course is approved by the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC). - Choose and Purchase the License You Need
Make sure you buy the right license based on what you plan to hunt. Pennsylvania offers resident adult, junior, senior, landowner, military, hunting heritage, hunting heritage, National Guard, and other licenses. The State also offers nonresident adult, junior, and senior licenses.
If you plan to trap live animals, you'll need a Furtaker license.
Then, purchase your license online, through the HuntFishPA website, or in-person through an approved license agent location (like many outfitters, sporting goods stores, and other approved locations in PA). - Carry Proof of Your License When Hunting
Hunters and trappers must always carry a valid hunting or trapping license in the field! You'll need to present it if a wildlife official asks you for your hunter education card and hunting license.
If tags are required for a legal hunt (for deer, turkey, etc.), make sure you tag your harvest properly.
How to Take the PA Hunter Safety Course Online
The easiest (and fastest) way to get your Pennsylvania hunter safety course certification is to start with the ilearntohunt online course!
The ilearntohunt course:
- Is approved by the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) and the PGC.
- Can be completed in under 3 hours.
- Is a game-style format, making it fun and educational for anyone! There is no age requirement to take this course.
- Can be taken from anywhere you can connect to the internet using a computer, tablet, or phone.
- Saves your progress so you can start and stop as needed.
- Includes a character-driven story with real-life scenarios and quizzes to help you learn the required material.
- Allows unlimited attempts to pass the final exam. You'll need to score at least 80% on the exam to pass.
After completing the ilearntohunt course for Pennsylvania, you'll print a temporary hunter education certificate, allowing you to hunt right away!
Why Hunter Safety Education is Important
Why take a hunter safety course? Why is it required?
Short answer: Hunter education keeps you alive, keeps your buddies safe, and keeps hunting around for the next generation.
Hunter education isn’t just for new hunters. It’s for anyone who steps into the woods with a rifle, bow, or crossbow. If you hunt, this matters.
When every hunter in Pennsylvania completes an approved hunter education course, we’re all operating by the same rules. We know how to handle our weapons safely, stay aware of what’s beyond the target, respect private and public land, and watch out for each other in the field. That shared responsibility protects access, reputation, and the future of hunting itself.
Hunter education matters because it:
Cuts down on accidents and injuries.
Safe gun handling, proper shooting practices, and solid situational awareness save lives. The goal is simple: everyone goes home at the end of the day.Builds capable, confident hunters.
It’s more than safety basics. You learn navigation, first aid, survival skills, and how to use your gear the right way. You also learn how to hunt around others and treat landowners, fellow hunters, and the land itself with respect.Promotes ethical, responsible hunting.
Doing things right matters. Hunter education reinforces fair chase, respect for wildlife, and following the law so game stays healthy, and traditions stay strong.Keeps you legal.
In PA (and most states) you need hunter education certification to buy a hunting license. Knowing the rules keeps you out of trouble and keeps the playing field level.
Hunter education protects hunters, supports conservation, and passes down the skills and values that define the sport. Whether you’re new to the woods or heading back out after a break, hunter education sets you up for safer, smarter, better hunts for life.
Why is it Important to Take a State-Specific Hunter Education Course?
Many states recognize hunter education certifications from other states. That’s called reciprocity. It’s convenient, but convenience doesn’t always cover everything.
Before you assume an out-of-state course has you fully covered, make sure you’re actually prepared to hunt here. The ilearntohunt PA hunter education course gives you the Pennsylvania-specific knowledge you need to hunt safely, legally, and responsibly.
It only takes a few hours, and it’s time well spent for safer hunts, fewer headaches, and better days in the field.
Why Choose ilearntohunt?
When you choose our course for your PA hunter education certification so you can get a hunting or trapping license, you learn everything required by the state in a fun, interactive, online format.
Choosing ilearntohunt means:
- PGC-Approved Hunter Safety Education: Our interactive course satisfies the online component of your hunter education requirements established by IHEA-USA and the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
- No Minimum Time Requirements: Complete our interactive courses faster than other "traditional" online courses since there are no timers throughout the course!
- You Learn from Real-Life Situations: Choose a character as you start the course, then make choices in different scenarios to earn awards and move through levels by applying what you’ve learned!
- Better Information Retention: Instruction that engages the brain with words and images has been shown to significantly increase student retention and comprehension.
Work through all the levels and pass the final exam, and you've met the online course requirement for your hunter education certificate in Pennsylvania!
Get Your PA Hunter Safety Certification with ilearntohunt!
Make sure you're ready for hunting season in Pennsylvania! Take the ilearntohunt PA hunter safety course to get certified. You can't get your hunting or furtaking license without it!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We have answers to the top questions about the PA hunter safety course!
Q: Can you take a hunter safety course online in Pennsylvania?
A: Yes, you can take a hunter safety course online in PA! The most convenient way to take the course is through PGC-approved providers like ilearntohunt.
Q: Can you get a hunting license in Pennsylvania without taking the safety course?
A: No, you must have proof of hunter education to buy a PA hunting license.
Q: How much is the hunter safety course in Pennsylvania?
A: If you take the online, game-style hunter safety course for PA through ilearntohunt, the cost is $49.95.
Q: How long does the PA Hunter Safety course take?
A: The online PA hunter education course through ilearntohunt typically takes three hours or less to complete.
Q: When should I sign up for the PA Hunter Safety course before hunting season?
A: We recommend registering and completing the course several weeks before your planned hunt so you have time to receive your certification and avoid last-minute issues.
