Tennessee Hunting Safety Course—3 Easy Steps to Get Yours in 2026

February 16, 2026

Image of Tennessee on blue background, take the Tennesee hunting safety course concept.

In Tennessee, all hunters born after January 1, 1969, must pass a hunter safety course before getting a hunting license.

Hunter education in Tennessee helps hunters understand the ethics of hunting and how to stay safe in the field. The safety essentials you'll learn in a hunter safety course include tree stand safety, handling firearms and bows safely, outdoor safety, animal identification, why hunters wear blaze orange, and more.

So if you want to hunt in Tennessee in 2026, keep reading to learn how to take the required Tennessee hunting safety course. We'll also cover how to get your hunting license in three easy steps!

Illustration of the Tennessee hunter education card.

How to Get Your Tennessee Hunter Education Card in 2026

The first step toward getting your Tennessee hunting license is to show proof that you've passed a hunter education course (i.e., your hunter education card). The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) requires this card to get your hunting license.

The State of Tennessee offers two options for taking the course and getting certified.

Option 1: Take an Online Course

Hunters can take an online course to get hunter safety certified in Tennessee. ilearntohunt is an approved provider for this course, and you can take the course at home at your convenience. However, you must be at least nine years old to take the online course.

After completing the course and final exam, print your hunter education certificate. You're ready to go hunting!

Our online course is the most convenient, fast, and fun way to meet Tennessee's hunter education requirements.

Option 2: Take an In-Person Course

Prefer an in-person learning environment? Hunters can also take an in-person, instructor-led course covering everything you need to know to be a safe hunter in Tennessee.

This course is free. To earn your certification, you must:

Complete a minimum of 8 hours of classroom participation. Classes can run from 8 to14 hours long.
Attend all classes for the session you choose.
Pass the written test.
Attend a live-fire session or firearm handling demonstration.

Choose an in-person course with your hunting season dates in mind so can complete it ahead of the hunting season.

Boy and man smiling with turkey after hunt, take the Tennessee hunting education course concept.

How to Get Your Tennessee Hunting License in 3 Easy Steps

With your ilearntohunt hunting education course complete, you're ready to get your hunting license.

Note: You'll only need to take and pass the hunter safety course once. Your certification is good for life!

Here are three easy steps for getting your hunting license in Tennessee.

Meet the TWRA Requirements for Hunter Education
Again, all hunters born after January 1, 1969, must complete a state-approved hunter education course before purchasing a Tennessee hunting license.

ilearntohunt makes it easy to meet this requirement! Our course is approved by the TWRA.
Choose and Purchase the License You Need
Make sure you buy the right license based on what you plan to hunt. Tennessee offers resident, non-resident, sportsman, junior, wheelchair, and other types of licenses.

Then, purchase your license online through the GoOutdoorsTennessee website or in person through a License Agent. These locations include sporting goods stores, county clerk offices, boat docks, hardware stores, and other locations.
Carry Proof of Your License When Hunting
Don't forget to carry a valid hunting license when in the field (along with your hunter education card). If a wildlife official asks for your hunter education card or license, you'll need to show it.

If you also need tags for a legal hunt, make sure you also have those in the field with you.

Tennessee hunting safety course page through ilearntohunt.

How to Take the Tennessee Hunting Safety Course Online

The easiest (and fastest) way to get your Tennessee hunter safety course certification is to start with the ilearntohunt online course!

The ilearntohunt course:

Is approved by the TWRA and the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA).
Is a game-style format. It's fun and educational for hunters of any age!
Can be completed (quickly) in under 3 hours.
Saves your progress (you can start and stop as needed).
Is available anywhere you can connect to the internet using a phone, tablet, or computer.
Is 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. Score at least 80% on the exam to pass.

Why Hunter Safety Education is Important

Why should hunters in Tennessee take a hunter education course? And why is it required?

Hunter climbs into tree stand, get a TN hunting license concept.

Hunter education is about more than checking a box for a license. It’s about making sure you come home safe, your hunting partners stay safe, and the tradition of hunting stays strong across Tennessee.

This course isn’t just for brand-new hunters or young folks getting their first tag. It’s for anyone stepping into Tennessee’s woods, fields, swamps, or ridges with a firearm, bow, or crossbow in hand.

When every hunter completes a Tennessee-approved course, we all operate from the same playbook. We learn how to handle equipment safely, positively identify our target and what’s beyond it, respect private property and public land, and watch out for each other in the field.

That shared knowledge helps protect access to the places we hunt, builds trust between hunters and landowners, and supports the long-term future of hunting across the state.

Hunter education in Tennessee does more than meet a requirement. The course helps:

Reduce accidents and close calls: Careful firearm handling, smart shot decisions, and constant awareness of what’s around you are what keep hunts from turning into emergencies. The goal is simple and non-negotiable: everyone leaves the woods in the same condition they arrived.
Build capable, independent hunters: This course goes beyond the basics. You’ll learn navigation, first aid, survival skills, and how to use your gear correctly. Just as important, you’ll learn how to hunt responsibly around others and show respect to landowners, fellow hunters, and Tennessee’s varied landscapes.
Promote ethical, responsible practices: The way you hunt matters. Hunter education emphasizes fair chase, respect for wildlife, and following regulations so healthy game populations and long-standing hunting traditions continue throughout Tennessee.
Hunters stay legal and informed: In Tennessee, hunter education certification is required to purchase a hunting license. Knowing the rules keeps you out of trouble and ensures everyone in the field is playing by the same standards.

In short, hunter education protects hunters, passes down the skills and values that define the tradition, and supports conservation. Whether you’re new to hunting or a seasoned sportsman preparing for the season ahead, this training helps you hunt safer, smarter, and more responsibly year after year.

Why is it Important to Take a State-Specific Hunter Education Course?

Many states accept hunter education certificates earned elsewhere. That’s called reciprocity. It’s convenient—but it doesn’t always cover the finer points that matter when you’re hunting in Tennessee.

Each state handles seasons, land access, regulations, and safety expectations a little differently. Those differences can be bigger than they seem, and they matter when you’re trying to stay within the law and avoid problems in the field. What worked where you hunted before may not line up with how things are done here.

Before assuming an out-of-state course has you fully prepared, take time to learn Tennessee’s specific rules and standards. A Tennessee-approved hunter education course walks you through state laws, access considerations, and safety practices you’ll need to hunt responsibly across the state.

It’s a short investment of time that pays off with safer, smoother, and more confident days in the woods and fields.

Illustration of an ilearntohunt hunter education course, take the Tennessee hunter safety course concept.

Why Choose ilearntohunt?

When you choose ilearntohunt for your Tennessee hunting education, you learn everything required by the state in an online format that's fun and interactive.

Choosing ilearntohunt means:

TWRA-Approved Hunter Safety Education: Our fun, interactive course meets the hunter education requirements set by IHEA-USA and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
Real-Life Scenarios: Choose a character to start the course, then make choices in various scenarios to move through levels by applying what you’ve learned.
No Minimum Time Requirements: There are no timers when working through an ilearntohunt course! Complete it faster than traditional online courses.
Better Information Retention: Studies show that instruction engaging the brain with words and images can significantly increase student comprehension and retention.

When you've worked through all the levels and passed the final exam, you've met the hunter safety education requirement for Tennessee!

Hunter smiles with buck deer after hunt, get your TN hunter safety course certification concept.

Get Your Hunter Safety Certification for Tennessee with ilearntohunt!

Make sure you're ready for hunting season in Tennessee! Take the ilearntohunt hunter safety course to get certified. You can't get hunt without it!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We have answers to the top questions about the Tennessee hunting safety course!

Q: Can you take a hunter safety course online in Tennessee?

A: Yes, you can take a hunter safety course online in Tennessee! The most convenient way to take the course is through TWRA-approved providers like ilearntohunt.

Q: Can you get a hunting license in Tennessee without taking the safety course?

A: No, you must have proof of hunter education to buy a Tennessee hunting license.

Q: How much is the hunter safety course in Tennessee?

A: If you take the online, game-style hunter safety course for Tennessee through ilearntohunt, the cost is $49.95.

Q: How long does the TN hunter safety course take?

A: The online TN hunter education course through ilearntohunt typically takes three hours (or less) to complete.

Q: When should I sign up for the Tennessee hunting education course before hunting season?

A: We highly recommend signing up and completing the course at least several weeks before your planned hunt to receive your certification and avoid last-minute issues.