How to Get Your 2025 Hunter Education Course TN in 3 Easy Steps
The State of Tennessee requires all hunters (residents and nonresidents) born on or after January 1, 1969, to pass a hunter education course.
Hunter education teaches valuable safety essentials, including proper firearm handling, wearing blaze orange for visibility, and understanding the hunting laws for the state. The good news for hunters in Tennessee is that you can now get your certification online!
So, if you're planning a hunt in 2025 (and looking ahead to 2026), keep reading to learn how to take the hunter education course TN requires and get your hunting license.
How Do I Get My Hunter Education Card in Tennessee?
All hunters born on or after January 1, 1969, must complete a hunter safety course to earn a hunter education card in Tennessee.
You must have this certification to purchase a hunting license. The state offers two options to get certified for the basic hunter education requirement.
1. Take a Hunter Education Course Online
Hunters can now take the online course to get certified in Tennessee. You can take the course at home at your convenience. Hunter-Ed is an approved provider for this course. However, you must be at least ten years old to take the course.
After completing the course, you'll print your hunter education certificate—then go hunting! The online course is the most convenient way to meet Tennessee's hunter education requirements.
2. Take a Hunter Education Course In-Person
Hunters can also take an in-person, instructor-led course covering the knowledge and skills needed to be a safe hunter in Tennessee. Courses also teach hunter ethics and firearm safety.
This course is provided free of charge. To complete this course and earn your certification, you must:
- Complete a minimum of 8 hours of classroom participation (most classes are 8-14 hours long).
- Attend all classes for the session you choose.
- Pass the written test.
- Attend a live-fire session or firearm handling demonstration.
Choose an in-person course on the dates and at a location that's most convenient to you. Again, you must be at least nine years old to take the course and get certified. Hunters under the age of ten do not need a safety certification, but they can only hunt with an adult 21 years or older who can take immediate control of a hunting device.
Plan your timing wisely to sign up for an available course and complete it ahead of the hunting season, with plenty of time to get your hunting license before your hunt.
3 Easy Steps to Get Your 2025 Tennessee Hunting License
With your hunter certification, you're ready to get your license and hunt! Here are three easy steps to get your TN hunting license.
- Meet the Requirements (and Complete a Hunter Education Course)
Remember: all hunters born on or after January 1, 1969, must complete a hunter education course before hunting in Tennessee. This applies to residents and nonresidents.
Hunter-Ed makes it easy to do that with our online course, approved by the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA)! - Choose the Right License Type and Purchase It
Determine which license you need. Choose from resident, non-resident, junior, sportsman, wheelchair, and other types of licenses. Then, purchase your license online via the GoOutdoorsTennessee website, a TWRA Licensed Agent, or from an approved license agent (e.g., regional office, county clerk, sporting goods stores, and other designated locations). - Carry Proof of Your License When Hunting
Always carry your license when hunting. Additionally, if supplemental licenses, tags, or permits are required for the animal you plan to hunt, don't forget those when you pack your gear and head out into the field.
Let's look at these steps in more detail.
Step 1: How to Take the Tennessee Hunter Education Course
The easiest way to get your hunter safety certification in Tennessee is to take the Hunter-Ed Online course!
Your Hunter-Ed course:
- Can be taken from anywhere you can connect to the internet using a phone, tablet, or computer.
- Can be completed in about 3 hours.
- Is approved by the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) and TWRA.
- Includes illustrations, games, animations, videos, and quizzes to help you learn the required material. You'll need to score at least 80% on the quizzes and final exam to pass.
- Saves your progress! Work at your own pace, or start and stop as needed.
- Gives you free access to the course study guide to help you learn the material and pass the final exam.
- Is available in Spanish.
- Gives you free access to Hunter Perks!
Hunter-Ed delivers everything you need to meet Tennessee's requirements for hunter education, plus a lifetime of ongoing support and educational opportunities to help you become a better hunter.
Step 2: Get Your Hunter Education Certification Card
After completing the course through Hunter-Ed, you can print your hunter education card. This is your permanent certificate showing you've completed the state's hunter education requirements.
Your Hunter Education Card is Your Proof of Certification
Your card is an important document!
Always carry it when you hunt as proof that you completed the hunter education course TN requires. When you're in the field, wildlife officials can ask you to show your hunting license and safety certification, and you must comply or face penalties.
Don't worry if you lose your card! You can print a new one by logging into your Hunter-Ed student dashboard.
Step 3: Where to Get Your State of TN Hunting License in 2025
Your Tennessee hunter safety course is now behind you. You're ready to get your hunting license and hunt!
Remember that unless you already have a lifetime license in Tennessee, you'll need a new hunting license every year. Annual licenses and permits are only valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. However, some existing licenses can be renewed within ten days of expiration.
Research carefully and purchase the correct license to hunt legally this season.
Buy Online
The easiest way to get your license is to buy it online. This can be especially convenient if you don't live close to an in-person agent location or you plan to hunt in Tennessee as a resident of another state
Buy In Person from a TWRA Licensed Agent
If you prefer to pick up a license in person, the State of Tennessee offers plenty of locations that offer hunting licenses.
Use the GoOutdoorsTennessee website to find an agent location near you. You can also buy hunting licenses at TWRA regional offices.
In general, county clerk offices, sporting goods stores, boat docks, and hardware stores offer hunting licenses in Tennessee.
Why Hunter Education Is Important
Hunter education is a crucial part of responsible hunting (for new hunters and seasoned hunters). The information you'll learn in one of these courses saves lives!
Hunter safety courses prepare hunters to understand and comply with hunting laws before they obtain a license or head into the field. By emphasizing firearm safety and responsible conduct, these courses play a key role in reducing hunting-related accidents.
In addition, hunter safety courses build essential skills such as navigation, first aid, and basic survival, while encouraging respect for landowners, other hunters, and wildlife.
Above all, hunter education supports ethical and sustainable hunting practices that help protect and conserve game populations for generations to come.
Why are a State-Specific Hunter Education Courses Important?
Some states offer hunter safety certification reciprocity. This means that a hunter safety certification from another state is accepted.
For example, taking a Texas hunter safety course could leave you without valuable information you need to hunt in Tennessee. State-specific information can include important rules and regulations that can be critical to hunting safely and legally in that state.
So, before you assume a course from another state prepares you for hunting in any state, take a few hours to complete the Hunter-Ed hunter safety course for Tennessee and get certified! It's worth it.
Why Choose Hunter-Ed
Choosing Hunter-Ed means you get more.
Not only do you get a learn-at-your-pace online course that covers everything you need to know (while meeting the TWRA's requirements), but you also get access to Hunter Perks.
Hunter Perks is an exclusive offering from the team at Hunter-Ed, and it's completely free for students. No other hunter education provider offers this kind of ongoing support for hunters.
As soon as you purchase your course, you will have full access to:
- Hunting Tools: Hunter-proven resources (like free app subscriptions) to help you hunt more confidently and successfully.
- Curated Blog and Video Content: Links to informational blogs and videos to help you keep learning and exploring how to be a better hunter.
- Easy Access to Hunting Regulations: With just a few clicks, you can learn about the hunting regs for Tennessee (and other states) each year.
- Ongoing Education Opportunities: Additional discounted course options to help you learn more skills, like archery and saddle hunting.
Plus, your Hunter Perks include gear discounts to gather what you need for great hunts (while saving money) and contests to win free stuff.
These Perks never expire. You'll always have access to your Hunter-Ed dashboard and Hunter Perks to support you through your lifelong pursuit of hunting!
Get Hunter Safety Certified in Tennessee with Hunter-Ed
Don't wait for the hunting season to get here before you take the Tennessee hunter safety course. You won't be able to hunt without it!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We have answers to your questions about taking the hunter education course TN requires!
Q: Do I need a hunter education course to hunt in Tennessee?
Yes, you need hunter education in Tennessee to hunt legally if you were born on or after January 1, 1969, and are at least 10 years old.
Q: Can you take the Tennessee Hunter Safety course online?
Yes, you can take the Tennessee hunter safety course online as part of the state's requirements. The State of Tennessee has approved Hunter-Ed as an online course that you can complete to meet the requirements.
Q: How Soon Should I Sign Up for a Hunter Education Course?
We recommend signing up and completing your course at least a few weeks before the season begins.
Q: Do I Need a Certification for Every Season?
No, you don't need to recertify every season. Your Tennessee hunter education course covers the only certification you'll need to hunt in TN after completing the course and passing the final exam. Your certification is good for life!
Q: How Much Does it Cost to Get My Hunter Education Certification?
When taking the course through Hunter-Ed, the course fee is $39.95. This cost includes the course, study guide, unlimited tries to pass the final exam, your hunter education card, and Hunter Perks.
Q: What happens if you hunt without hunter ed?
Hunting without the required Hunter Education certification can result in fines and other penalties. Your hunting license may also be invalid until you complete the course.
