Hunting in Virginia: Are Safety Courses Required to Hunt in Virginia? How Do I Pass Classes?

Like many other states, Virginia requires completion of a hunter education safety course prior to allowing an individual to obtain a hunting license. Hunters who are ages 12 to 15 or who have not previously possessed a Virginia hunting license are required to complete the course. Failure to provide certification of the education requirement will result in no hunting license being issued, according to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

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Hunters have two options to complete the hunter education course: self-study and classroom course or online course. In the classroom environment, potential hunters will be given materials to study at their own pace. The study manual is provided free of charge if picked up at a state Game and Inland Fisheries office. A cost is allocated to those who opt to have the guide mailed. The study guide is used in conjunction with state-sponsored traditional classroom instruction. This class typically requires six to eight hours of time. Students must complete the self-study portion prior to taking the class as some questions in the self-study part will be covered in the final test, but not in the class.

During the class, hunters will learn safety, sportsmanship and conservation principles. If the course is taken through the state, it is provided free of charge to the hunter. Once the course is complete, the hunter will receive a certification card that will be required to obtain a state hunting license.

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In October 2013 the state of Virginia expanded educational opportunities for new hunters, allowing them to complete the hunter education requirement in an all-online format. Participants must be Virginia residents to take the course and be age 18 or older.

These courses are not provided by the state, but are state-approved courses offered by commercial vendors. As a result, a fee applies to take this version of the course. The course has the same content makeup as the traditional classroom course and is comprised of quizzes and exercises before taking the final test. Hunters using this option must have a 90 percent or better grade to receive their certification online. Websites authorized by Virginia that provide this service include HUNTERcourse.com, Hunter-ed.com and beasafehunter.org.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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