Hunter Education
Cancellation of upcoming Hunter Education Courses in Western NC
Due to the ongoing fallout from Hurricane Helene, in-person Boating Education and Hunter Education courses for October have been cancelled in many North Carolina counties. Scroll down for online hunter education options.
The Hunter Education Program of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission provides free hunter education courses throughout the year in all 100 counties. More than a firearm safety course, instruction includes ethics and responsibility, conservation and wildlife management, wildlife identification, survival and first aid, specialty hunting and tree stand safety.
There are no minimum age requirements, however, classes are taught at a sixth grade level and tests must be completed without assistance. Courses are a minimum of 6 hours, taught by wildlife officers, hunter education specialists and certified volunteer instructors, and certification is accepted in every state and province in North America.
Due to hunter education, hunting accidents have decreased significantly over the last twenty years making hunting one of the safest recreational activities.
- Hunter & Boater Education Replacement Cards
Log In, Create An Account and Reprint Your Certification Card or call 833-950-0575
Instructor Led Courses
Register for an instructor led Hunter Education Certification course near you.
If you do not wish to complete certification using the in-person course option, the virtual course option and online-only option are still available.
Please note that some course locations may have guidelines and restriction in place. Make sure to check facility information when registering for a course.
If you need any accommodations to attend this program or event, please contact the Wildlife Education Division.
NCWRC Virtual Courses
Register for a virtual Hunter Education Certification course.
All courses listed as NCWRC Virtual Classroom will be conducted virtually using Microsoft Teams. All other courses with a specific location are in-person courses. All virtual course participants will be required to:
- Use a computer or mobile device with a working microphone AND camera. Participants will be required to check-in with the instructor throughout the course using the camera and microphone.
- Have registered for the course with an active and valid email address and phone number. This is essential information needed by the instructor(s) in the event that the participants need to be contacted with additional instructions or there is a technical issue that occurs.
- Confirm that the participant’s internet bandwidth speed meets the minimal requirement (1-2 Mbsp) in order to effectively participate in the course. To check bandwidth speed, visit speedtest.net.
- The course is a multi-day course and participants must attend all 6 hours of the course to be eligible to take the state certification exam. The exam will be administered at the end of the course in a digital format. If a participant needs testing accommodations, such as read-aloud, the participant must contact the instructor individually prior to the test.
Online Courses
Currently, there are four online hunter education courses (with varying fees) that provide a convenient alternative to the classroom course. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has moved to temporarily waive the field day requirement for our online courses. Once the online hunter education course is completed, you can print your temporary hunter education card to purchase your NC hunting license.
The Hunter Education Program of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission provides free hunter education courses throughout the year in all 100 counties. More than a firearm safety course, instruction includes ethics and responsibility, conservation and wildlife management, wildlife identification, survival and first aid, specialty hunting and tree stand safety.
There are no minimum age requirements, however, classes are taught at a sixth grade level and tests must be completed without assistance. Courses are a minimum of 6 hours, taught by wildlife officers, hunter education specialists and certified volunteer instructors, and certification is accepted in every state and province in North America.
Due to hunter education, hunting accidents have decreased significantly over the last twenty years making hunting one of the safest recreational activities.
Instructor Led Courses
Register for an instructor led Hunter Education Certification course near you.
If you do not wish to complete certification using the in-person course option, the virtual course option and online-only option are still available.
Please note that some course locations may have guidelines and restriction in place. Make sure to check facility information when registering for a course.
If you need any accommodations to attend this program or event, please contact the Wildlife Education Division.
NCWRC Virtual Courses
Register for a virtual Hunter Education Certification course.
All courses listed as NCWRC Virtual Classroom will be conducted virtually using Microsoft Teams. All other courses with a specific location are in-person courses. All virtual course participants will be required to:
- Use a computer or mobile device with a working microphone AND camera. Participants will be required to check-in with the instructor throughout the course using the camera and microphone.
- Have registered for the course with an active and valid email address and phone number. This is essential information needed by the instructor(s) in the event that the participants need to be contacted with additional instructions or there is a technical issue that occurs.
- Confirm that the participant’s internet bandwidth speed meets the minimal requirement (1-2 Mbsp) in order to effectively participate in the course. To check bandwidth speed, visit speedtest.net.
- The course is a multi-day course and participants must attend all 6 hours of the course to be eligible to take the state certification exam. The exam will be administered at the end of the course in a digital format. If a participant needs testing accommodations, such as read-aloud, the participant must contact the instructor individually prior to the test.
Online Courses
Currently, there are four online hunter education courses (with varying fees) that provide a convenient alternative to the classroom course. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has moved to temporarily waive the field day requirement for our online courses. Once the online hunter education course is completed, you can print your temporary hunter education card to purchase your NC hunting license.