CO Hunter Safety Course - 3 Steps for Online Only Lifetime Certification for Colorado Hunters

David Harrison  ·  Updated on July 16, 2025

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CO Hunter Safety Course

Hunter safety is important because it's proven to prevent accidents, promote ethical and legal hunting, support wildlife conservation, enhance skills and responsibility among hunters, and maintain positive public perception, a concept often introduced in basic hunter-trapper education and reinforced through safety classes.

In Colorado, due to state regulations and hunting laws, anyone born on or after January 1, 1949 must complete a hunter education course before buying a hunting license.

 

How do I get my Hunter Education Certificate (Card)

You have 3 options to complete your hunter education requirements to hunt in Colorado.

  1. Complete an in-person course through the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife (CPW). This course requires a minimum of 10 hours that may be split over 2 or more days.
  2. A hybrid course through a CPW exclusive partner. In this course, students complete 4 hours of an online course and attend a concluding in-person class, which requires 4 to 6 hours of class time that may be split over two days.
  3. Or complete our 3-hour online-only, all-video-based Hunter Education Course (Adults 17 and older only). We are an International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) and Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPWD) approved provider. The IHEA & TPWD Hunter Education Card you will receive after our course is valid for life and is accepted in all 50 US States and any additional territories or countries that share reciprocity with the IHEA. No in-person requirements are required for our course.

The CPW Website states that "Acceptable proof of hunter education consists of one of the following...an original, duplicate or replacement hunter education card issued by any U.S. or Mexican state or Canadian provincial wildlife agency. Temporary hunter education cards issued by a U.S. state or Canadian province wildlife agency will be honored only for the year when the card was issued."

 

3 Easy Steps to Get Your CO Hunting License with HunterSafetyUSA

  • Step 1: Complete our online-only, IHEA-approved hunter safety education course (Adults 17 and older only). No in-person field day is required for adults when taken through HunterSafetyUSA.
  • Step 2: Print or save your temporary certificate for immediate use. Your permanent TPWD hunter education certificate (card) will be emailed to you within 3-5 business days and is valid for life, allowing you to use it when hunting in Colorado, as well as in all other 49 US States, Mexico, and Canada. 
  • Step 3: You can now go buy your hunting license in CO or any other US State and hunt legally for life.

We explain the steps in more detail below, but if you're ready to get started, head over to our online Hunter Education Course and complete it today! It's 3 hours of self-paced videos, no reading required. We are the only 100% video based course on the market.

 

Step 1: Hunter Safety Course for Colorado Hunters

HunterSafetyUSA is:

  • Online-only, no in-person course required.
  • All video-based, so there's no requirement to read anything. It includes closed captions, and you can search the video by keyword.
  • Self-paced, meaning you can come and go as needed. Your progress is automatically saved.
  • 3 hours long, covering essential hunter safety education topics, including archery, making it one of the fastest ways to complete your requirements.
  • You can do it from your phone, computer, or tablet, or switch between them if you like.
  • Unlimited exam attempts.
  • Valid in all 50 US States as well as Mexico and Canada.
  • We offer a 100% money-back guarantee.

 

Signing up for your Colorado Hunter Safety Course

Sign up for the course, pay, & provide your information for your hunter education certificate. Ensure it matches your certified driver's license or state ID, if applicable.

 

Taking the Hunter Education Course online

This is an overview of our course landing page, showing the 5 units you must complete to take the final exam:

Here is an example of a unit section. You have the choice to watch the video or read the material for each section:

Here is an example of the video content found throughout our course for each section found within the 5 units:

 

The Hunter Safety course CO Final Exam

The final exam is 60 multiple-choice questions, and your scores are provided immediately.

To pass, you need a score of 80% or higher.

Tips for passing your final exam:

Every answer is covered during the safety training course.

Our course allows unlimited retake attempts if you fail the first time.

Here are a few example questions you might encounter:

  • What is the safest direction to point a firearm?
  • Which of the following is an ethical hunting or trapping practice?
  • What should you do first if you become lost in the woods? Review the provided study materials and quiz yourself at home. Repetition and real-world application (even dry-firing a toy gun or role-playing scenarios) help solidify learning.

We provide study materials, and you can quiz yourself at home. Repetition and real-world application (even dry-firing a toy gun or role-playing scenarios) help solidify learning.

 

Step 2: Getting your Hunter Education Certification

After completing the course and passing the final exam, you’ll receive your Hunter Education Certificate. You're now ready to purchase your first Colorado hunting license!

Once you have completed the course, you can see your exam pass rate and temporary certificate here:

You can click the certificate page to see, save & print your temporary certificate:

You will receive a final certificate of completion upon completing our course and passing the final exam. We encourage users to print this certificate, as it will serve as your temporary Hunter Education Certificate until your permanent certificate (card) is ready for download from TPWD, approximately 3-4 business days after completing your course. You will receive an email from "TPWD Element LMS” with your permanent Hunter Ed Card.

 

Receiving your state-issued hunter education card

Once you complete the certification, we submit your course results to TPWD. They will issue and email you your permanent Hunter Education Certificate (card). This is valid for use in all 50 U.S. states (including Colorado), Mexico, Canada, and any other country or U.S. territory that has reciprocity with IHEA-USA & State Issued Hunter Education Certificates.

You will receive this email from "TPWD Element LMS" when your permanent certificate is ready for download in approximately 3-4 business days. If you don't see the email within that time frame please email us asap so we can make sure you get it.

Treat your card like a driver’s license. You can either print it and store it in your wallet or keep a digital copy on your phone. Keep it safe, as you’ll need to show proof of certification when applying for a new hunting license or if requested by a game warden in the field. If you lose it, you can always reprint or re-download it, or contact us for a replacement card. Just reach out to us via email, and we will help you.

 

Step 3: Where to buy your Colorado Hunting License

As soon as you receive your permanent Hunter Education Certificate from completing our course (you will get it via email from "TPWD Element LMS" within a few business days), you are eligible to go and buy your hunting license in whichever states you plan on legally hunting in. 

Next, you can purchase your license either online through the official licensing platform Colorado Parks and Wildlife Online Licensing or in person at an authorized licensing agent. A comprehensive list of in-person agents is available here: CPW Issuer Locations.

Below are some suggested authorized in-person hunting license agents in the state of Colorado:

Please note that it isn't required to verify your TPWD Hunter Education card/certificate with CPW but you may want to if you don't want to carry your card in the field. It is super easy to verify (under an hour via email) by emailing or mailing copies of your card/certificate to one of the below addresses:

Email: [email protected]

Mail: Colorado Parks and Wildlife 
Attn: Hunter Education Section
6060 Broadway
Denver, CO 80216

 

For more information, you can contact:

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW)

Contact Information: Phone: (303) 297-1192 Email: [email protected] Website: cpw.state.co.us

 

Why is Hunter Safety Important?

Hunter safety is important for several reasons, whether you're a bowhunter or using firearms:

  • Prevents Accidents and Injuries: Proper training, including certified basic hunter-trapper education, in firearm handling, safe shooting practices, and hunting techniques significantly reduces the likelihood of accidental shootings and other hunting-related injuries.
  • Ensures Ethical Hunting: Hunter safety education promotes responsible hunting ethics, including respect for wildlife, sustainable hunting practices, and adherence to laws and regulations.
  • Protects Wildlife and Conservation Efforts: Responsible hunters recognize the importance of conservation and manage wildlife populations sustainably, thereby helping to preserve biodiversity and maintain ecosystem balance.
  • Builds Responsible and Certified Skilled Hunters: Safety courses teach proper use, storage, and transportation of firearms, along with navigation, first aid, survival skills, and respectful interactions with other hunters, bowhunters, and landowners.
  • Legal Compliance: In most regions, completion of hunter safety courses is required to obtain a hunting license, emphasizing the importance of adhering to legal and regulatory requirements.
  • Enhances Public Perception: Safe and ethical hunting practices improve the public's perception of hunters, demonstrating responsible stewardship of natural resources.

Hunter safety, along with basic hunter-trapper, archery, and bowhunter education, fosters a culture of responsibility, ethical behavior, and environmental stewardship within the hunting community.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to get your Hunter Education Certificate for CO?


$29. We at HunterSafetyUSA accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, all major credit cards, and signature debit cards. We also offer a 100% money-back guarantee.

 

How early should I sign up for the Colorado Hunter Safety Course before the hunting season?


Ideally, take your course by summer so you don’t miss out during the license purchase rush in late summer and fall.

 

Will the Texas Hunter Education Card (Certificate) be accepted in Colorado?

Yes, the permanent Texas Parks & Wildlife Hunter Education Card (Certification) is recognized by Colorado and all other states and provinces with mandatory hunter education requirements due to reciprocity agreements with the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA).

The CPW Website states that "Acceptable proof of hunter education consists of one of the following...an original, duplicate, or replacement hunter education card issued by any U.S. or Mexican state or Canadian provincial wildlife agency. Temporary hunter education cards issued by a U.S. state or Canadian province wildlife agency will be honored only for the year when the card was issued." Since our Hunter Education Card/Certificate offered through HunterSafetyUSA is from TPWD, you have the option to verify your identity by emailing (under an hour for verification) or mailing copies of your Hunter Education Card/Certificate to the addresses below. If you verify your account, you don't have to carry the card with you in the field; it's on your license. 

Email: [email protected]

Mail: Colorado Parks and Wildlife 
Attn: Hunter Education Section
6060 Broadway
Denver, CO 80216

 

Can you take a hunter safety course online in Colorado?

Yes, you can complete our 3-hour online-only, all-video-based Hunter Education Course as long as you're an adult 17 and older.

We are an International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) and Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPWD) approved provider. The IHEA & TPWD Hunter Education Card you will receive after our course is valid for life and is accepted in all 50 US States and any additional territories or countries that share reciprocity with the IHEA. No in-person requirements are required for our course.

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Website states that "Acceptable proof of hunter education consists of one of the following...an original, duplicate or replacement hunter education card issued by any U.S. or Mexican state or Canadian provincial wildlife agency. Temporary hunter education cards issued by a U.S. state or Canadian province wildlife agency will be honored only for the year when the card was issued." Since our Hunter Education Card/Certificate is from TPWD, you would email or mail a copy of your Hunter Education Card/Certificate to CPW well in advance of your desired hunting season for verification to the following addresses:

Email: [email protected]

Mail: Colorado Parks and Wildlife 
Attn: Hunter Education Section
6060 Broadway
Denver, CO 80216