How do I get hunter education in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, hunters born on or after January 1, 1969 need hunter education: anyone 9 or older can finish it completely online with no field day (one approved course is free), or take the free in-person course of at least 8 hours with a written test and a live-fire or firearm handling session.
Data updated October 27, 2026. Every answer below is from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's own pages, with the date each was checked.
Tennessee hunter education at a glance
| Question | What the agency says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who has to take hunter education in Tennessee? | All hunters, resident or nonresident, born on or after January 1, 1969 must carry proof of completing a hunter education course. Hunters under 10 do not need a certificate but must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older who stays in position to take immediate control of the hunting device. | Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How old do you have to be to take hunter education in Tennessee? | Anyone may attend the in-person course regardless of age, but students must be 9 or older to become certified. The all-online option is open to people 9 and over. | Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Can you take Tennessee hunter education online? | People 9 and over can complete hunter education entirely online, with no field day, through one of the agency's approved courses, then print a Tennessee Hunter Safety Education Certificate; the record transfers to the license system. A free in-person course is also offered. | Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Is there a field day in Tennessee? | The in-person course includes a classroom part and a field day: at least 8 hours of classroom (most classes run 8 to 14 hours), a written test, and a live-fire session or firearm handling demonstration. The all-online route has no field day requirement. Students do not bring guns; the instructor provides everything. | Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How much does Tennessee hunter education cost? | The in-person course is free. Among the approved online courses, one is free and the others are fee-based; the agency page does not list their prices. | Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Can you hunt in Tennessee before taking the course? | The Apprentice Hunter Education Permit costs $11 and is open to hunters 10 or older who have not taken the course. It exempts the holder from the requirement for one year from purchase and can be bought for up to three consecutive years in a lifetime; all other licenses are still required. The apprentice must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older who meets the hunter education requirement and can take immediate control of the hunting device. It is valid only in Tennessee. | Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How do you replace a lost Tennessee hunter education card? | First contact your TWRA Regional Office during business hours to confirm your hunter education number is in the license system, then buy a Hunter Education Card Replacement for $7 from a license agent or GoOutdoorsTennessee. Processing fees apply. | Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Does Tennessee accept hunter education cards from other states? | Tennessee accepts hunter education certification from all other states, and its own certification is accepted in all 50 states. | Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, checked October 27, 2026 |
Who has to take hunter education in Tennessee?
All hunters, resident or nonresident, born on or after January 1, 1969 must carry proof of completing a hunter education course. Hunters under 10 do not need a certificate but must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older who stays in position to take immediate control of the hunting device.
Source: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, checked October 27, 2026.
How old do you have to be to take hunter education in Tennessee?
Anyone may attend the in-person course regardless of age, but students must be 9 or older to become certified. The all-online option is open to people 9 and over.
Source: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, checked October 27, 2026.
Can you take Tennessee hunter education online?
People 9 and over can complete hunter education entirely online, with no field day, through one of the agency's approved courses, then print a Tennessee Hunter Safety Education Certificate; the record transfers to the license system. A free in-person course is also offered.
Source: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, checked October 27, 2026.
Is there a field day in Tennessee?
The in-person course includes a classroom part and a field day: at least 8 hours of classroom (most classes run 8 to 14 hours), a written test, and a live-fire session or firearm handling demonstration. The all-online route has no field day requirement. Students do not bring guns; the instructor provides everything.
Source: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, checked October 27, 2026.
How much does Tennessee hunter education cost?
The in-person course is free. Among the approved online courses, one is free and the others are fee-based; the agency page does not list their prices.
Source: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, checked October 27, 2026.
Can you hunt in Tennessee before taking the course?
The Apprentice Hunter Education Permit costs $11 and is open to hunters 10 or older who have not taken the course. It exempts the holder from the requirement for one year from purchase and can be bought for up to three consecutive years in a lifetime; all other licenses are still required. The apprentice must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older who meets the hunter education requirement and can take immediate control of the hunting device. It is valid only in Tennessee.
Source: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, checked October 27, 2026.
How do you replace a lost Tennessee hunter education card?
First contact your TWRA Regional Office during business hours to confirm your hunter education number is in the license system, then buy a Hunter Education Card Replacement for $7 from a license agent or GoOutdoorsTennessee. Processing fees apply.
Source: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, checked October 27, 2026.
Does Tennessee accept hunter education cards from other states?
Tennessee accepts hunter education certification from all other states, and its own certification is accepted in all 50 states.
Source: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, checked October 27, 2026.
What this page leaves out
These could not be confirmed on the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's pages when this page was checked, so they are left out rather than guessed:
- Prices of the fee-based online courses (not shown on the agency page). Check tn.gov.
- Hunter education deferral (the agency offers the apprentice permit, not a deferral). Check tn.gov.
Hunting in Tennessee by the numbers
In 2024, 734,342 people held a paid Tennessee hunting license, down 13% from 844,172 in 2022, the 4th most of the 50 states. They bought 840,109 licenses, tags, permits and stamps (767,031 resident, 73,078 nonresident) for a gross cost of $28,927,109, 19.2% of it paid by nonresidents. Against Tennessee's 7,227,750 residents in 2024 that is 10.2 license holders per 100 people, though license holders include nonresidents.
| Licenses sold in | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid hunting license holders | 844,172 | 718,674 | 734,342 |
| Resident licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 919,253 | 847,020 | 767,031 |
| Nonresident licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 171,230 | 86,093 | 73,078 |
| All licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 1,090,483 | 933,113 | 840,109 |
| Gross cost paid by residents | $25,768,117 | $16,791,650 | $23,383,398 |
| Gross cost paid by nonresidents | $11,359,997 | $5,731,773 | $5,543,711 |
| Gross cost, all buyers | $37,128,114 | $22,523,423 | $28,927,109 |
| Rank among the 50 states by license holders | 3rd | 4th | 4th |
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 Tennessee land has public access?
PAD-US 4.0 lists 2,447,477 acres of Tennessee with public access, 9.1% of the state's 26,962,794 acres: 905,288 acres open access and 1,542,189 acres restricted access (a permit, draw, season or other limit).
| Public access land, PAD-US 4.0 | Acres | Share of the state |
|---|---|---|
| Open access | 905,288 acres | 3.4% |
| Restricted access | 1,542,189 acres | 5.7% |
| Managed by federal agencies | 831,304 acres | 3.1% |
| Managed by state agencies | 1,406,146 acres | 5.2% |
| Managed by local, private, tribal and other managers | 210,027 acres | 0.8% |
| All public access land | 2,447,477 acres | 9.1% |
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.
Deer hunters reported 153,343 deer statewide in 2025-26, from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency harvest figures on our Tennessee deer harvest by county page.
What to do next
- Start the course on the agency's page: tn.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: Tennessee hunting, and Tennessee deer harvest by county.
- Hunter education in other states