How do I get hunter education in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania you get hunter education by passing the Game Commission's free in-person basic course (from age 11) or, as a Pennsylvania resident, an approved online course ($34.95 basic from age 16, or $49.95 interactive or the free NRA course from age 11), and every first-time hunter needs it before buying a license.
Data updated October 27, 2026. Every answer below is from the Pennsylvania Game Commission's own pages, with the date each was checked.
Pennsylvania hunter education at a glance
| Question | What the agency says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who has to take hunter education in Pennsylvania? | All first-time hunters must complete a Hunter-Trapper Education course before buying a Pennsylvania hunting license. The 2026-27 digest says anyone who has not held a hunting license in Pennsylvania or another state or nation, and has no training certificate, must be certified first; people currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, or honorably discharged within six months of applying, are exempt. | Pennsylvania Game Commission, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How old do you have to be to take hunter education in Pennsylvania? | The in-person basic course, the interactive online course and the NRA online course are open from age 11. The basic online course with exam is for ages 16 and up. Under the Mentored Hunting Program children can hunt before taking the course; anyone who was a mentored hunter for at least three years before turning 12 must get a license at 12. | Pennsylvania Game Commission, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Can you take Pennsylvania hunter education online? | A free in-person basic course is offered, with some independent study of the manual beforehand. Online options are for Pennsylvania residents only: the agency's approved interactive online course (age 11+), the agency's approved basic online course (age 16+), and a free NRA online course (age 11+). Pre-registration is required for in-person classes. | Pennsylvania Game Commission, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Is there a field day in Pennsylvania? | The agency describes its basic online course as including the exam, after which a temporary certificate is printed and a permanent one is mailed. Pennsylvania Field Days are listed separately as optional hands-on introductions to archery, trapping and hunting, not as a course requirement. | Pennsylvania Game Commission, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How much does Pennsylvania hunter education cost? | The in-person basic course is free and the NRA online course is free. The agency's approved interactive online course is $49.95 and the approved basic online course is $34.95. | Pennsylvania Game Commission, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Can you hunt in Pennsylvania before taking the course? | A Mentored Hunting permit lets unlicensed hunters of any age hunt without first taking Hunter-Trapper Education. Mentees 12 and older may stay in the program for at most three license years. The mentor must be a licensed hunter at least 21 years old. Mentees 16 and under must stay within arm's reach of the mentor and the pair may hold only one hunting device between them; mentees 17 and older must stay within sight and normal speaking distance. Permit fees are $2.97 under 12, $6.97 resident 12 to 16, $41.97 nonresident 12 to 16, $20.97 resident 17 and older, $101.97 nonresident 17 and older. | Pennsylvania Game Commission, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Does Pennsylvania offer a hunter education deferral? | The digest describes no separate deferral. The Mentored Hunting Program is the way to hunt before taking the course, limited to three license years for those 12 and older; after that a license, and so the course, is required. | Pennsylvania Game Commission, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How do you replace a lost Pennsylvania hunter education card? | The 2026-27 digest says information on getting a replacement Hunter Education Training Certificate is online at pa.gov/pgc or ilostmycard.com. | Pennsylvania Game Commission, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Does Pennsylvania accept hunter education cards from other states? | Pennsylvania accepts hunter education certification from other states. The agency notes its basic course may not satisfy states that require archery-specific or trapper-specific certification. | Pennsylvania Game Commission, checked October 27, 2026 |
Who has to take hunter education in Pennsylvania?
All first-time hunters must complete a Hunter-Trapper Education course before buying a Pennsylvania hunting license. The 2026-27 digest says anyone who has not held a hunting license in Pennsylvania or another state or nation, and has no training certificate, must be certified first; people currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, or honorably discharged within six months of applying, are exempt.
Source: Pennsylvania Game Commission, checked October 27, 2026; page dated 2026-27 digest, licenses valid July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How old do you have to be to take hunter education in Pennsylvania?
The in-person basic course, the interactive online course and the NRA online course are open from age 11. The basic online course with exam is for ages 16 and up. Under the Mentored Hunting Program children can hunt before taking the course; anyone who was a mentored hunter for at least three years before turning 12 must get a license at 12.
Source: Pennsylvania Game Commission, checked October 27, 2026.
Can you take Pennsylvania hunter education online?
A free in-person basic course is offered, with some independent study of the manual beforehand. Online options are for Pennsylvania residents only: the agency's approved interactive online course (age 11+), the agency's approved basic online course (age 16+), and a free NRA online course (age 11+). Pre-registration is required for in-person classes.
Source: Pennsylvania Game Commission, checked October 27, 2026.
Is there a field day in Pennsylvania?
The agency describes its basic online course as including the exam, after which a temporary certificate is printed and a permanent one is mailed. Pennsylvania Field Days are listed separately as optional hands-on introductions to archery, trapping and hunting, not as a course requirement.
Source: Pennsylvania Game Commission, checked October 27, 2026.
How much does Pennsylvania hunter education cost?
The in-person basic course is free and the NRA online course is free. The agency's approved interactive online course is $49.95 and the approved basic online course is $34.95.
Source: Pennsylvania Game Commission, checked October 27, 2026.
Can you hunt in Pennsylvania before taking the course?
A Mentored Hunting permit lets unlicensed hunters of any age hunt without first taking Hunter-Trapper Education. Mentees 12 and older may stay in the program for at most three license years. The mentor must be a licensed hunter at least 21 years old. Mentees 16 and under must stay within arm's reach of the mentor and the pair may hold only one hunting device between them; mentees 17 and older must stay within sight and normal speaking distance. Permit fees are $2.97 under 12, $6.97 resident 12 to 16, $41.97 nonresident 12 to 16, $20.97 resident 17 and older, $101.97 nonresident 17 and older.
Source: Pennsylvania Game Commission, checked October 27, 2026; page dated 2026-27 digest.
Does Pennsylvania offer a hunter education deferral?
The digest describes no separate deferral. The Mentored Hunting Program is the way to hunt before taking the course, limited to three license years for those 12 and older; after that a license, and so the course, is required.
Source: Pennsylvania Game Commission, checked October 27, 2026; page dated 2026-27 digest.
How do you replace a lost Pennsylvania hunter education card?
The 2026-27 digest says information on getting a replacement Hunter Education Training Certificate is online at pa.gov/pgc or ilostmycard.com.
Source: Pennsylvania Game Commission, checked October 27, 2026; page dated 2026-27 digest.
Does Pennsylvania accept hunter education cards from other states?
Pennsylvania accepts hunter education certification from other states. The agency notes its basic course may not satisfy states that require archery-specific or trapper-specific certification.
Source: Pennsylvania Game Commission, checked October 27, 2026.
What this page leaves out
These could not be confirmed on the Pennsylvania Game Commission's pages when this page was checked, so they are left out rather than guessed:
- Whether the earlier ban on importing high-risk cervid parts from other states and provinces still applies in 2026-27 (the 2026-27 digest does not mention out-of-state imports). Check PGC CWD hotline 1-833-INFOCWD or infocwd@pa.gov.
Hunting in Pennsylvania by the numbers
In 2024, 1,031,218 people held a paid Pennsylvania hunting license, up 5.1% from 981,320 in 2022, the 2nd most of the 50 states. They bought 2,711,001 licenses, tags, permits and stamps (2,576,648 resident, 134,353 nonresident) for a gross cost of $43,051,513, 18.2% of it paid by nonresidents. Against Pennsylvania's 13,078,751 residents in 2024 that is 7.9 license holders per 100 people, though license holders include nonresidents.
| Licenses sold in | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid hunting license holders | 981,320 | 1,016,946 | 1,031,218 |
| Resident licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 2,433,271 | 2,478,674 | 2,576,648 |
| Nonresident licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 120,937 | 125,413 | 134,353 |
| All licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 2,554,208 | 2,604,087 | 2,711,001 |
| Gross cost paid by residents | $34,567,144 | $34,633,313 | $35,213,378 |
| Gross cost paid by nonresidents | $7,361,669 | $7,456,088 | $7,838,135 |
| Gross cost, all buyers | $41,928,813 | $42,089,401 | $43,051,513 |
| Rank among the 50 states by license holders | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd |
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 Pennsylvania land has public access?
PAD-US 4.0 lists 5,124,019 acres of Pennsylvania with public access, 17.4% of the state's 29,474,658 acres: 5,052,099 acres open access and 71,920 acres restricted access (a permit, draw, season or other limit).
| Public access land, PAD-US 4.0 | Acres | Share of the state |
|---|---|---|
| Open access | 5,052,099 acres | 17.1% |
| Restricted access | 71,920 acres | 0.2% |
| Managed by federal agencies | 719,362 acres | 2.4% |
| Managed by state agencies | 3,765,567 acres | 12.8% |
| Managed by local, private, tribal and other managers | 639,089 acres | 2.2% |
| All public access land | 5,124,019 acres | 17.4% |
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: pa.gov. 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: Pennsylvania hunting.
- Hunter education in other states