How to Get Your 2025 Hunter Education Course VA in 3 Easy Steps
Hunter in Virginia can enjoy diverse hunting opportunities across the state's forests, mountains, and coastal regions. The state is well-known for white-tailed deer, wild turkey, black bear, and waterfowl hunting.
Managed by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR), the hunting seasons and regulations are designed to promote safety, conservation, and sustainable use of natural resources. All Virginia hunters (new or seasoned) must practice good hunter safety, like proper firearm handling, wearing blaze orange for visibility, and understanding the hunting laws for the state.
The State of Virginia requires hunter education for hunters ages 12–15 years old or for all first-time hunters. So, if you're planning a hunt in 2025 (and looking ahead to 2026), keep reading to learn how to take your hunter education course VA and get your hunting license.
How Do I Get My Hunter Education Card in Virginia?
All first-time hunters or any hunter between the ages of 12–15 years old must complete a hunter safety course to earn a hunter education card in Virginia.
You must have this certification to purchase a hunting license. The state offers two options to get certified.
1. Take the Approved Hunter Education Course Fully Online Through Hunter-Ed
Virginia residents can take the only approved hunter education course for Virginia hunters through Hunter-Ed. The VDWR has not approved any other online courses to meet the hunter education requirements.
Hunters must be at least 12 years old to take the online course. Nonresidents are not eligible for the online-only course. There is no classroom requirement for this course.
The online-only course is the most convenient way to take your hunter safety course and meet the state's requirements!
2. Take a Self-Study + Classroom In-Person Course
This class is for first-time adult or youth hunters. The class runs for two separate evenings. When you choose the course location, dates, and times that work best for you, you must attend both sessions and pass the final exam to complete the class and earn your certification successfully.
The Self-Study plus classroom course requires hunters to read and complete the self-study material before the in-person class. You'll need to submit the self-study chapter review exercises to the instructor before your class begins.
Note that some questions on the final test will only be covered in the self-study material.
If you prefer this option to get your certification, make sure you sign up for an available course and complete it (along with the final exam) ahead of the hunting season, with plenty of time to get your hunting license and plan your hunt.
3 Easy Steps to Get Your 2025 VA Hunting License
With your hunter certification, you're ready to get your license and hunt! Here are three easy steps to get your Virginia hunting license.
- Meet the Requirements (and Complete a Hunter Education Course)
Remember: all hunters ages 12–15 years old or any first-time hunter must complete a VA hunter education course before purchasing their license.
Hunter-Ed makes it easy to do that with our online course — the only online course approved by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR). - Choose the Right License Type and Purchase It
Determine which license you need. Choose from resident, nonresident, apprentice, legacy, lifetime, species-specific, and other types of licenses. Then, purchase your license online via the Go Outdoors Virginia website or from an approved license agent (e.g., Department of Motor Vehicles offices, sporting goods stores, and other designated locations). - Carry Proof of Your License When Hunting
Along with your hunter education card, you must always carry your license when hunting. Additionally, if tags are required for the animal you plan to hunt, don't forget those when you pack your gear and head out into the field.
Let's look at these steps in more detail.
Take the Hunter Education Course VA Online!
Step 1: How to Take the Hunter Education Course VA
The easiest way to get your hunter safety certification is to take the Hunter-Ed Online course!
Our course:
- Can be completed in about 3 hours.
- Allows unlimited attempts to pass the final exam. You'll need to score at least 80% on the exam to pass.
- Saves your progress! Start and stop as needed to fit your schedule and work at your own pace.
- Is approved by the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) and VDWR as the only online hunter safety course VA offers.
- Includes animations, videos, games, illustrations, and quizzes to help you learn the required material.
- Can be taken from anywhere you can connect to the internet using a computer, tablet, or phone.
- Provides free access to the course study guide to help you learn the material and pass the final exam.
- Gives you free access to Hunter Perks!
Hunter-Ed delivers a lot of bang for your buck, plus a lifetime of ongoing support and educational opportunities to help you become a better hunter.
Step 2: Get Your Hunter Education Certification Card
After completing the course through Hunter-Ed and passing your final exam, you can immediately print out your Hunter Education Certificate. This is your proof of completion of the online course.
It's also your permanent certificate to carry with you for every hunt. When you're in the field, wildlife officials can ask you to show your hunting license and safety certification.
But, don't worry if you lose your card! You can request a replacement (or order a plastic wallet card) through the ilostmycard website.
Step 3: Where to Get Your Virginia Hunting License in 2025
Your Virginia hunter safety course is now behind you. You're ready to get your hunting license and hunt!
Remember that you'll need a new hunting license every year. Last year's VA hunting license isn't valid for the current or upcoming hunting seasons. As you plan what you want to hunt this year, make sure you research carefully and purchase the correct license to hunt legally this season.
Buy Online
The easiest way to get your license is to buy it online. This can be especially convenient if you don't live close to a retailer or you plan to hunt in Virginia as a resident of another state
Buy from a License Agent
If you prefer to pick up a license in person, the state of Virginia offers plenty of sales outlet locations that offer hunting licenses.
Search by your city, zip code, or "near me" through the Go Outdoors Virginia website to find a location near you. In general, many sporting goods stores, DMV offices, bait and tackle shops, supply stores, gas stations, and Wal-Mart stores offices offer hunting licenses in Virginia.
Why Hunter Education Is Important
Hunter safety courses save lives! Education is a crucial part of responsible hunting (for new hunters and seasoned hunters).
Hunter safety courses help:
Promote Legal Understanding: In many states, like Virginia, hunters must complete an approved education course before getting a license. This helps them learn and follow hunting laws.
Prevent and Reduce Accidents: Training in gun safety, shooting, and responsible hunting lowers the chances of accidents and injuries.
Build Skills and Knowledge: Hunter education teaches key skills such as navigation, first aid, firearm and tree stand safety, and basic survival. It also encourages respect for others and the outdoors.
Encourage Ethical Hunting: These courses promote respect for wildlife, following the law, and practicing sustainable hunting to protect animals for the future.
Take the Hunter Education Course VA Online!
Why are a State-Specific Hunter Education Courses Important?
Some states indeed accept hunter safety certifications from other states. This type of reciprocity can be convenient, but you could be unprepared for a hunt in a specific state.
Hunter education courses are not one-size-fits-all, and a course for one state may not prepare you for hunting in another state. You could miss out on important rules and regulations that can be critical to hunting safely and legally in that state.
So, before you assume a course from another state prepares you for hunting in any state, take a few hours to complete the Hunter-Ed hunter safety course for Virginia and get certified!
Why Choose Hunter-Ed
When you choose Hunter-Ed, you get more than what other providers offer.
Not only do you get the only online course approved by the VDWR and a learn-at-your-pace online course that covers everything you need to know and meets your state's requirements, you get access to Hunter Perks — something no other hunter education provider offers!
Hunter Perks is an exclusive, free offering from the team at Hunter-Ed.
As soon as you purchase your course, you will have full access to:
- Hunting Regulations for Your State: With just a few clicks, you can learn about the hunting rules and regs for your state each year.
- Curated Blog and Video Content: Informational blogs and videos to help you keep learning and exploring how to be a better hunter.
- Hunting Tools: Hunter-tested resources (like apps) to help you hunt with confidence and success.
- Ongoing Education Opportunities: Additional courses you can take to help you learn more skills, like archery and saddle hunting — available to you at a discount!
Plus, Hunter Perks include contests to win free stuff and gear discounts to gather what you need for great hunts (while saving money).
These Perks never expire. You'll never lose access to your Hunter-Ed dashboard and Hunter Perks to support you through your lifelong pursuit of hunting!
Get Hunter Safety Certified in Virginia with Hunter-Ed
Don't wait for the hunting season to get here before you take the Virginia hunter safety course. You won't be able to hunt without it!
It's easy to sign up for the Virginia Hunter-Ed course, finish every unit and quiz, then pass the final exam so you're ready to hunt safely and legally in VA.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We have answers to your questions about taking the hunter education course VA!
Q: Do I need a hunter education course to hunt in Virginia?
Yes! All first-time hunters and hunters ages 12–15 years old must complete a hunter education course to hunt legally in Virginia.
Q: Can you take the Virginia Hunter Safety course online?
Yes! The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources approved the Hunter-Ed online course for Virginia as the only online course that meets the state's requirements.
Q: How Soon Should I Sign Up for a Hunter Education Course?
We recommend signing up and completing your course at least a few weeks before the season begins.
Q: Do I Need a Certification for Every Season?
No! Your hunter education course VA covers the only certification you'll need to hunt in Virginia after completing the course and passing the final exam. Your certification is good for life!
Q: How Much Does it Cost to Get My Hunter Education Certification?
When taking the course through Hunter-Ed, the course fee is $34.95. This cost includes the course, study guide, unlimited tries to pass the final exam, your hunter education card, and Hunter Perks.
Q: What happens if you hunt without hunter ed?
Hunting without the required Hunter Education certification can result in fines. Your hunting license may also be invalid until you complete the course.
