Hunter safety is important because its proven to prevent accidents, promotes ethical and legal hunting, supports wildlife conservation, enhances skills and responsibility among hunters, and maintains positive public perception, a concept often introduced in basic hunter-trapper education and reinforced through safety classes.
In Virginia, due to state regulations and hunting laws, hunters age 12–15 and all first-time hunters must complete hunter education before buying a hunting license.
3 Easy Steps to Get Your VA Hunting License
- Step 1: Complete our online-only, IHEA-approved and VA-accepted hunter safety education course (Adults 17 and older only). No in-person field day required for adults when taken through HunterSafetyUSA.
- Step 2: Print or save your temporary certificate for immediate use. Your state-issued hunter education certificate will be emailed to you within 7-10 business days and is valid for life and for use in Virginia, as well as all other 49 US States, Mexico, and Canada.
- Step 3: You can now go buy your hunting license in VA 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! Its 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 Virginia 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.
What to expect in the Hunter Safety Course VA
Skip having to attend an in-person field-day course with our interactive course. We provide all the resources to get you fully certified online, and your hunter education certificate is accepted by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) for use in Virginia for VA residents and non-residents alike.
Signing up for your Virginia Hunter Safety 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 course VA 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 course to ensure that students gain a comprehensive understanding.
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 self-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 Virginia 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. You will receive an email from "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 the state. The state will issue and email you your permanent Hunter Education Certificate (card). This is valid for use in all 50 USA States (including Virginia), Mexico, Canada, and any other country or US Territory that has reciprocity with IHEA-USA & State Issued Hunter Education Certificates.
You will receive this email from "Element LMS TPWD" when your permanent certificate is ready for download in approximately 7-10 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. Just reach out to us via email and we will help you.
Step 3: Where to buy your Virginia Hunting License
Once you've received your temporary Hunter Safety Certificate upon completing our course, you're eligible to purchase a hunting license in any state, including Florida, where you plan to hunt legally.
To hunt in Virginia, you can purchase your license either online through the official licensing platform Go Outdoors Virginia or in person at an authorized licensing agent. A comprehensive list of in-person agents is available here: Locate a Virginia Hunt & Fish Licensing Agent.
Below are some suggested authorized in-person hunting license agents in the state of Virginia:
- Green Top Sporting Goods – Ashland, VA Address: 10150 Lakeridge Pkwy, Ashland, VA 23005 Phone: (804) 550-2188
- Bass Pro Shops – Ashland, VA Address: 11550 Lakeridge Pkwy, Ashland, VA 23005
Phone: (804) 496-4700 - Walmart Supercenter – Richmond, VA Address: 2410 Sheila Ln, Richmond, VA 23225 Phone: (804) 320-6991
- Dick's Sporting Goods – Virginia Beach, VA Address: 701 Lynnhaven Pkwy, Virginia Beach, VA 23452 Phone: (757) 463-2000
- Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Office – Henrico, VA Address: 7870 Villa Park Dr, Suite 400, Henrico, VA 23228 Phone: (804) 367-1000
- Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) Contact Information:
Phone: (804) 367-1000 Email: [email protected] Website: dwr.virginia.gov
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 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 understand the importance of conservation and manage wildlife populations sustainably, helping preserve biodiversity and ecosystem balance.
- Builds Responsible and 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: Most regions require completion of hunter safety courses, which can be completed through self-study, to obtain hunting licenses, emphasizing legal and regulatory adherence.
- Enhances Public Perception: Safe and ethical hunting practices improve the public's perception of hunters, demonstrating responsible stewardship of natural resources.
Hunter safety training, along with basic hunter-trapper education, archery, and bowhunter education referenced in the student manual, includes educating students, and 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 VA?
$29. We accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, all major credit cards, and signature debit cards. We also offer a 100% money-back guarantee.
What if I lose my VA Hunter Education Certificate?
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) allows you to reprint your certificate from their online portal anytime for free. It’s smart to make a backup digital copy.
How early should I sign up for the Virginia 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.