What if I lose my Hunter Education Certificate?

The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) allows you to reprint your certificate from their online portal anytime for free. It’s smart to make a backup digital copy.

Hunter Education Course CT (Connecticut) - A

In this quick guide, we will show you how to complete your Hunter Education Course for Connecticut online.

First, Who Needs Hunter Education?

Connecticut law is clear: due to state regulations, all first‐time hunters, or those who have not held a hunting license in the past five years, must complete hunter education 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 Connecticut.

Complete an in-person course through the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. This in-person course combines classroom instruction with field exercises. The course is two full days of instruction, but may be broken down into smaller sessions over more than two days.
An hybrid course through a Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection exclusive partner. This option requires completion of online hunter education at one of two approved websites, followed by an in-person portion that is approximately 8 hours long.
Or complete our 3-hour online-only, all-video-based Hunter Education Course (Nonresidents of Connecticut, 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 & would grant you the ability to get a nonresident Connecticut hunting license. Please note that if you're a resident of Connecticut, you can still take our course & use our TPWD Hunter Education Certificate; however, you will also need to complete their in-person course above to obtain a Resident Connecticut Hunting License.

Since our Hunter Education Card/Certificate is from TPWD, you will need to verify with the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. Their website states that if you took your hunter education out of state and would like to submit it for approval in Connecticut, please submit the following in a single email to [email protected]:

A copy of your hunter safety certificate issued from our course
A picture of your current driver’s license,
Your CT Conservation ID number. Conservation IDs can be created by navigating to the Online Outdoor Licensing System and clicking the “Create An Account” button under New Customer.

Emails that are received with missing information will not be processed. All hunter safety certificates will be verified with the issuing state to ensure the class meets Connecticut requirements. The verification process can take several weeks. Please do not wait until the hunting season begins to get your information verified.

What makes our course the best?

First and foremost, we offer the best technology experience among all the courses on the market. We have students who opt to take our course even though they already have their Hunter Education Card; they simply love it that much.

We break down the guide into more detail below, but if you're short on time and ready to get started, head over to our online Hunter Education Course and complete it today!

An Overview of the Hunter Education Course for CT Hunters

Our hunter safety course 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, ideal for self-study, 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 Connecticut Hunter Education Course

Sign up for the course, pay, & provide your information for your hunter education certificate. Make sure it matches your driver's license or state ID, if you have one.

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 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. If you’re nervous about the exam, remember:

Every answer is covered during the course, which aligns with NRA guidelines on gun safety and education.

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 firearms?
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.

Getting your Hunter Education Certification

After completing the course and passing the final exam, you’ll receive your Hunter Education Certificate. This is your ticket to purchasing your first Connecticut 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 act as your temporary Hunter Education Certificate until your permanent certificate is ready for download from the State, approximately 7-10 business days following the completion of your course.

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 Connecticut), Mexico, Canada, and any other country or U.S. territory that has reciprocity with IHEA-USA & State (TPWD) Issued Hunter Education Certificates (TPWD).

You will receive this email from "TPWD Element LMS" when your permanent certificate is ready for download in approximately 7-10 business days.

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.

Where to buy your Connecticut 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, and the NRA provides additional resources on responsible hunting practices.

To hunt in Connecticut, you can buy your license either online through the licensing platform Connecticut DEEP Online Outdoor Licensing System or in person through a licensing agent, all listed here on the Connecticut DEEP Licensing Agents Directory.

Below are some suggested authorized in-person hunting license agents for registration in the state of Connecticut:

DEEP License and Revenue Office – Hartford, CT Address: 450 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT 06103 Phone: (860) 297-5962
Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area – Burlington, CT Address: 341 Milford Street (Route 69), Burlington, CT 06013 Phone: (860) 424-3011
Franklin Swamp Wildlife Management Area – North Franklin, CT Address: CT-32, North Franklin, CT 06254 Phone: (860) 424-3011
DEEP Eastern District Headquarters – Marlborough, CT Address: 209 Hebron Road, Marlborough, CT 06447 Phone: (860) 295-9523
DEEP Western District Headquarters – Harwinton, CT Address: 230 Plymouth Rd, Harwinton, CT 06791 Phone: (860) 485-0226

Remember, as previously mentioned, if you're a Connecticut resident, you will still need to complete the 8-hour field day here to obtain a resident license. There is no need for the field day part if you're registering for a non-resident license; make sure to verify, following the instructions. Please submit the following in a single email to [email protected]:

A copy of your hunter safety certificate granted from our course
A picture of your current driver’s license,
Your CT Conservation ID number. Conservation IDs can be created by navigating to the Online Outdoor Licensing System and clicking the “Create An Account” button under New Customer.

The verification process can take several weeks to complete. Please do not wait until the hunting season begins to get your information verified.

For more information, you can contact:

Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP)

Contact Information: Email: [email protected] (regional office) Website: portal.ct.gov/DEEP

What's Beyond the Hunter Education Course CT? Advanced Tips and Resources

Having a Hunter Education Certificate opens many doors outside of simply purchasing a hunting license, including opportunities with the NRA, firearms hunting, and wildlife conservation.

All states accept our online-only Hunter Education Course if you're an adult and 17 or older.

Some insurance companies, including those that offer ATV insurance, provide discounts to graduates of hunter safety education programs.

Additional training courses—like advanced archery, bowhunting, basic hunter-trapper education, or advanced hunter-trapper education—are available if you are interested in expanding your skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

How early should I sign up for the 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.

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

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

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

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

If you're a Connecticut resident, you will still need to complete the 8-hour field day here to obtain a resident license. There is no need for the field day part if you're registering for a non-resident license; make sure to verify, following the instructions. Please submit the following in a single email to [email protected]:

A copy of your hunter safety certificate granted from our course
A picture of your current driver’s license,
Your CT Conservation ID number. Conservation IDs can be created by navigating to the Online Outdoor Licensing System and clicking the “Create An Account” button under New Customer.