How do I get hunter education in Florida?
In Florida, anyone 16 or older born on or after June 1, 1975 must pass hunter safety before buying a license to hunt unsupervised: the course is for ages 12 and up, done as an approved online course (free to $49.50) plus a virtual or in-person FWC field day or as a traditional class, or you can buy a license with a deferral and hunt under a qualified adult 21 or older.
Data updated October 27, 2026. Every answer below is from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's own pages, with the date each was checked.
Florida hunter education at a glance
| Question | What the agency says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who has to take hunter education in Florida? | Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975 who is 16 or older must pass a hunter safety course and show the card before buying a license to hunt with a firearm, muzzleloader, bow or crossbow (lifetime licenses excluded). People exempt from the hunting license are also exempt from hunter safety, except holders of the Resident Disabled Person license and anyone hunting on military bases. Law enforcement and military personnel are not exempt. | Florida FWC, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How old do you have to be to take hunter education in Florida? | The hunter safety course is designed for students 12 and older. Students under 18 need a signed Parental Release Form for the live fire exercises, and children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at classes not held at a Department of Corrections facility. | Florida FWC, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Can you take Florida hunter education online? | Most students complete an approved online course (about 8 hours) and then an FWC field day, held either virtually over Microsoft Teams or in person. A traditional instructor-led classroom course with a hands-on field day is also offered. Adult Florida residents with qualifying prior firearms training can certify with the online course plus an application, and Florida students ages 12 to 18 can certify through a free Florida Virtual School outdoor education course. | Florida FWC, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Is there a field day in Florida? | Online students must bring their completion certificate or voucher to an FWC field day, which can be virtual or in person; some last two days and both must be attended. The in-person field day covers safe handling, loading and unloading, shot placement and shoot or don't shoot scenarios, with safety gear provided. Adult residents using the prior firearms training route skip the field day. | Florida FWC, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How much does Florida hunter education cost? | The agency lists several approved online courses priced from free to $49.50, paid to the provider (a 50 percent military and first responder discount is listed for one). The Florida Virtual School route is free to Florida students. | Florida FWC, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Does Florida offer a hunter education deferral? | Anyone 16 or older born on or after June 1, 1975 can check a deferral box when buying a hunting license and hunt without certification while supervised by an adult 21 or older who holds a valid license (or is exempt) and has met the hunter safety requirement (or is exempt). The license is printed 'Must hunt under supervision of qualified hunter age 21 or older.' Passing the course while that license is active lets the holder hunt alone by carrying the license and card. | Florida FWC, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How do you replace a lost Florida hunter education card? | Florida hunter safety card details can be looked up and a duplicate card obtained through the FWC's online Duplicate Hunter Safety Cards and Class Registration Lookup, which requires signing in to or registering an FWC Hunter Safety account. | Florida FWC, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Does Florida accept hunter education cards from other states? | Florida accepts a hunter safety card or certificate from a course completed in another state; all Florida hunting license requirements still apply. | Florida FWC, checked October 27, 2026 |
Who has to take hunter education in Florida?
Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975 who is 16 or older must pass a hunter safety course and show the card before buying a license to hunt with a firearm, muzzleloader, bow or crossbow (lifetime licenses excluded). People exempt from the hunting license are also exempt from hunter safety, except holders of the Resident Disabled Person license and anyone hunting on military bases. Law enforcement and military personnel are not exempt.
Source: Florida FWC, checked October 27, 2026.
How old do you have to be to take hunter education in Florida?
The hunter safety course is designed for students 12 and older. Students under 18 need a signed Parental Release Form for the live fire exercises, and children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at classes not held at a Department of Corrections facility.
Source: Florida FWC, checked October 27, 2026.
Can you take Florida hunter education online?
Most students complete an approved online course (about 8 hours) and then an FWC field day, held either virtually over Microsoft Teams or in person. A traditional instructor-led classroom course with a hands-on field day is also offered. Adult Florida residents with qualifying prior firearms training can certify with the online course plus an application, and Florida students ages 12 to 18 can certify through a free Florida Virtual School outdoor education course.
Source: Florida FWC, checked October 27, 2026.
Is there a field day in Florida?
Online students must bring their completion certificate or voucher to an FWC field day, which can be virtual or in person; some last two days and both must be attended. The in-person field day covers safe handling, loading and unloading, shot placement and shoot or don't shoot scenarios, with safety gear provided. Adult residents using the prior firearms training route skip the field day.
Source: Florida FWC, checked October 27, 2026.
How much does Florida hunter education cost?
The agency lists several approved online courses priced from free to $49.50, paid to the provider (a 50 percent military and first responder discount is listed for one). The Florida Virtual School route is free to Florida students.
Source: Florida FWC, checked October 27, 2026.
Does Florida offer a hunter education deferral?
Anyone 16 or older born on or after June 1, 1975 can check a deferral box when buying a hunting license and hunt without certification while supervised by an adult 21 or older who holds a valid license (or is exempt) and has met the hunter safety requirement (or is exempt). The license is printed 'Must hunt under supervision of qualified hunter age 21 or older.' Passing the course while that license is active lets the holder hunt alone by carrying the license and card.
Source: Florida FWC, checked October 27, 2026.
How do you replace a lost Florida hunter education card?
Florida hunter safety card details can be looked up and a duplicate card obtained through the FWC's online Duplicate Hunter Safety Cards and Class Registration Lookup, which requires signing in to or registering an FWC Hunter Safety account.
Source: Florida FWC, checked October 27, 2026.
Does Florida accept hunter education cards from other states?
Florida accepts a hunter safety card or certificate from a course completed in another state; all Florida hunting license requirements still apply.
Source: Florida FWC, checked October 27, 2026.
What this page leaves out
These could not be confirmed on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's pages when this page was checked, so they are left out rather than guessed:
- Apprentice or mentor license (FWC describes the deferral, not a separate apprentice license). Check myfwc.com.
- Whether the field day and traditional classroom course carry a fee (not stated on the course page). Check myfwc.com.
- How long the deferral can be used and whether a duplicate card has a fee (not stated). Check myfwc.com.
Hunting in Florida by the numbers
In 2024, 265,018 people held a paid Florida hunting license, up 21% from 219,074 in 2022, the 27th most of the 50 states. They bought 350,350 licenses, tags, permits and stamps (314,389 resident, 35,961 nonresident) for a gross cost of $7,834,175, 25.4% of it paid by nonresidents. Against Florida's 23,372,215 residents in 2024 that is 1.1 license holders per 100 people, though license holders include nonresidents.
| Licenses sold in | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid hunting license holders | 219,074 | 223,820 | 265,018 |
| Resident licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 288,342 | 292,249 | 314,389 |
| Nonresident licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 29,638 | 34,719 | 35,961 |
| All licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 317,980 | 326,968 | 350,350 |
| Gross cost paid by residents | $6,404,354 | $11,855,091 | $5,845,380 |
| Gross cost paid by nonresidents | $1,708,530 | $1,939,775 | $1,988,795 |
| Gross cost, all buyers | $8,112,884 | $13,794,866 | $7,834,175 |
| Rank among the 50 states by license holders | 33rd | 31st | 27th |
Source: USFWS license data, checked October 27, 2026. USFWS counts each license year in the apportionment year two years later (licenses sold in 2024 are apportionment year 2026). License holders are not a count of hunters: hunters exempt from buying a license are left out, and some hunters buy licenses in more than one state. Population: Census Bureau 2024 estimate.
How much Florida land has public access?
PAD-US 4.0 lists 10,128,637 acres of Florida with public access, 22.2% of the state's 45,698,263 acres: 5,339,043 acres open access and 4,789,594 acres restricted access (a permit, draw, season or other limit).
| Public access land, PAD-US 4.0 | Acres | Share of the state |
|---|---|---|
| Open access | 5,339,043 acres | 11.7% |
| Restricted access | 4,789,594 acres | 10.5% |
| Managed by federal agencies | 5,033,703 acres | 11.0% |
| Managed by state agencies | 3,683,582 acres | 8.1% |
| Managed by local, private, tribal and other managers | 1,411,352 acres | 3.1% |
| All public access land | 10,128,637 acres | 22.2% |
Source: PAD-US 4.0 (USGS), 2024 release, checked October 27, 2026. PAD-US does not record whether hunting is allowed: some of this land is closed to hunting, so check each property's rules with its manager.
What to do next
- Start the course on the agency's page: myfwc.com. Rules change each season, so read the current page before you buy a license.
- Getting ready for deer season? Hunt Ready's 8-week whitetail track puts the course in week 1, with fitness, shooting practice and field skills after it.
- Hunting data for the state: Florida hunting, and Florida deer harvest by county.
- Hunter education in other states