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Virginia Hunting Laws and Regulations

Who is required to complete hunter education in Virginia?

According to Virginia law, all first-time hunters and hunters who are 12 through 15 years old must complete hunter education certification in order to hunt in Virginia.

Is completion of the Virginia state agency-approved course required in order to buy a license?

Yes. In order to buy a license, Virginia requires that first-time hunters and all hunters 12 through 15 years old must first complete a course approved by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and IHEA-USA.

Elsewhere

Hunting education is currently required in several U.S. states and Canadian provinces.

Reciprocity

All U.S. states, provinces, and other countries that have mandatory hunter education requirements will accept the Virginia Hunter Education Certificate. Likewise, Virginia will accept Hunter Education certifications that are issued by other jurisdictions that meet official IHEA-USA requirements. (This is known as “reciprocity.”)

What Makes a Course Approved?

To be approved by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, a course must teach hunters to become:

  • Safe (by following all hunting safety rules)
  • Responsible (about hunting, wildlife, conservation, and hunting laws)
  • Knowledgeable (by knowing and demonstrating acceptable behavior and attitudes while hunting)
  • Involved (in joining and participating in hunting and conservation organizations)

Meets IHEA-USA Standards

This Virginia Hunter Ed online hunting education course was developed in accordance with the standards set forth by IHEA-USA and meets the requirements of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources hunter safety mandate.

About the Standards

In 1999 the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) adopted a set of performance guidelines for basic hunter education courses. These standards have been used internationally by hunter education administrators to evaluate minimum core content in hunter education courses. Industry partners, including the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and Hunter Ed, have used the revised standards to develop new student manuals and alternative delivery methods for hunter education.

Our Commitment to Hunter Education

Hunter Ed is committed to making sure Virginia hunter education students learn the skills and information needed to have a safe, successful, and fun hunt. We strive to ensure this Virginia online hunter safety course helps you become a more knowledgeable and ethical hunter. Educated hunters play an important role in making Virginia a leader in conservation and wildlife management.

We accomplish that goal by working with Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and IHEA-USA to produce a course that’s accurate, interesting, and easy to understand.

As a new hunter, you can be proud of your contributions to wildlife conservation and your role as a steward of our natural resources.

Get Certified Online!

Take this Virginia–approved course to complete your online hunter safety education. Hunter-ed.com is a delegated provider for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

Virginia Hunting hunter safety education card Lifetime Card
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International Hunter Education Association USA logo

We’re people, not robots.

Your Hunter Ed course comes with a dedicated customer service team made up of real people, not robots. We’re here to provide assistance to you through all channels—phone, email, and chat.

We’re available to help you:

Mon-Fri 8am to 8pm CST
Sat-Sun 8am to 5pm CST
1-800-830-2268 (toll free)

Members of the Kalkomey Support Team