Official Maryland Hunter Education Course

About the Course and Hunting License Requirements

Welcome to Maryland's official online hunting course. To purchase a hunting license or to hunt in Maryland, state law requires presentation of a Certificate of Competency in Firearms and Hunter Safety (required for junior licensees), or certification that you held a hunting license issued prior to July 1, 1977. The Maryland DNR website has more detail about hunter education requirements.

This online course is for self-motivated students age 16 and older with good reading and comprehension skills who have some firearm and hunting knowledge or experience.

Upon successfully passing the online Field Day Qualifier Exam, you will be eligible to attend a Maryland Hunter Education Field Day. To complete your hunter education certification requirements, you must attend a field day and successfully complete the remaining course requirements, which include several hours of classroom and field instruction, a live firing exercise, and the written Maryland Hunter Education exam.

Begin the online Maryland hunter safety course.

Online Hunter Education Home Study Steps

1. Study the Maryland hunter education course material.
2. Take the Practice Test as many times as you like—free of charge—to ensure you've mastered the course material.
3. Take the Field Day Qualifier Exam for $15, collected online. A score of 80% is required for passing the exam.
4. Upon passing Field Day Qualifier Exam, you can print out your official Maryland Field Day Qualifier Voucher, which is accepted by the state as proof of home study.
5. You may not register for the field day until you have obtained the voucher and provide the voucher number during registration. Visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Hunter Education Program website for information about Field Days and other program requirements.
6. Be sure to bring your Field Day Qualifier Voucher to the field day—you will not be admitted without it.

Go to the next page to begin the independent study course!