How do I get hunter education in Virginia?
In Virginia, hunters 12 to 15 and anyone 16 or older buying a first hunting license need hunter education: take the free self-study plus classroom course at any age, or, if you are a Virginia resident 12 or older, a paid full-online course with no classroom part.
Data updated October 27, 2026. Every answer below is from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources's own pages, with the date each was checked.
Virginia hunter education at a glance
| Question | What the agency says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who has to take hunter education in Virginia? | You must complete an approved hunter education course and carry your card while hunting if you are 12 to 15 years old (no card needed while accompanied and supervised by a licensed adult), or if you are 16 or older and hunting with your first hunting license. Resident hunters under 12 need neither a license nor hunter education, and nonresidents under 12 need a license but not hunter education; all hunters under 12 must be accompanied and directly supervised by a licensed adult. | Virginia DWR, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How old do you have to be to take hunter education in Virginia? | The self-study plus classroom course is open to all ages. The full-online course requires students to be 12 or older. | Virginia DWR, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Can you take Virginia hunter education online? | Option 1 is a self-study plus classroom course for all ages: students study the free manual first and hand in the chapter review exercises at the start of class. Option 2 is a full-online course for Virginia residents 12 and older with no classroom requirement; the student prints a certificate after passing. | Virginia DWR, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Is there a field day in Virginia? | No separate field day is described. The full-online course for residents 12 and older has no classroom requirement; everyone else attends the classroom session after self-study. | Virginia DWR, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How much does Virginia hunter education cost? | The self-study manual is free, either picked up at a regional DWR office or downloaded, and is used with the classroom course. The full-online course is commercially provided and a fee is paid directly to the provider; the agency page does not list the amount. | Virginia DWR, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Can you hunt in Virginia before taking the course? | The apprentice hunting license is a one-time, first-time license for residents or nonresidents, good for two years; previous Virginia license holders cannot buy it. The apprentice must be accompanied and directly supervised by a licensed adult over 18 who keeps close visual and verbal contact and can take control of the firearm. Apprentices have two years to pass an approved course, and after passing may hunt unsupervised on the apprentice license until it expires while carrying proof of hunter education. | Virginia DWR, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How do you replace a lost Virginia hunter education card? | Replacement cards for classroom and online courses are ordered online through the card service DWR links from its hunter education page, for $10. | Virginia DWR, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Does Virginia accept hunter education cards from other states? | Virginia accepts all states' and countries' hunting licenses and official hunter education credentials, as a card or certificate, to meet its mandatory hunter education requirement. | Virginia DWR, checked October 27, 2026 |
Who has to take hunter education in Virginia?
You must complete an approved hunter education course and carry your card while hunting if you are 12 to 15 years old (no card needed while accompanied and supervised by a licensed adult), or if you are 16 or older and hunting with your first hunting license. Resident hunters under 12 need neither a license nor hunter education, and nonresidents under 12 need a license but not hunter education; all hunters under 12 must be accompanied and directly supervised by a licensed adult.
Source: Virginia DWR, checked October 27, 2026; page dated 2026-27 hunting seasons guide.
How old do you have to be to take hunter education in Virginia?
The self-study plus classroom course is open to all ages. The full-online course requires students to be 12 or older.
Source: Virginia DWR, checked October 27, 2026.
Can you take Virginia hunter education online?
Option 1 is a self-study plus classroom course for all ages: students study the free manual first and hand in the chapter review exercises at the start of class. Option 2 is a full-online course for Virginia residents 12 and older with no classroom requirement; the student prints a certificate after passing.
Source: Virginia DWR, checked October 27, 2026.
Is there a field day in Virginia?
No separate field day is described. The full-online course for residents 12 and older has no classroom requirement; everyone else attends the classroom session after self-study.
Source: Virginia DWR, checked October 27, 2026.
How much does Virginia hunter education cost?
The self-study manual is free, either picked up at a regional DWR office or downloaded, and is used with the classroom course. The full-online course is commercially provided and a fee is paid directly to the provider; the agency page does not list the amount.
Source: Virginia DWR, checked October 27, 2026.
Can you hunt in Virginia before taking the course?
The apprentice hunting license is a one-time, first-time license for residents or nonresidents, good for two years; previous Virginia license holders cannot buy it. The apprentice must be accompanied and directly supervised by a licensed adult over 18 who keeps close visual and verbal contact and can take control of the firearm. Apprentices have two years to pass an approved course, and after passing may hunt unsupervised on the apprentice license until it expires while carrying proof of hunter education.
Source: Virginia DWR, checked October 27, 2026.
How do you replace a lost Virginia hunter education card?
Replacement cards for classroom and online courses are ordered online through the card service DWR links from its hunter education page, for $10.
Source: Virginia DWR, checked October 27, 2026.
Does Virginia accept hunter education cards from other states?
Virginia accepts all states' and countries' hunting licenses and official hunter education credentials, as a card or certificate, to meet its mandatory hunter education requirement.
Source: Virginia DWR, checked October 27, 2026; page dated 2026-27 hunting seasons guide.
What this page leaves out
These could not be confirmed on the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources's pages when this page was checked, so they are left out rather than guessed:
- Price of the full-online course (paid to the provider, amount not shown on the DWR page). Check dwr.virginia.gov.
- Apprentice hunting license fee (not shown on the license requirements page). Check Virginia DWR Headquarters, (804) 367-1000.
- Hunter education deferral (DWR describes the two-year apprentice license, not a deferral). Check dwr.virginia.gov.
Hunting in Virginia by the numbers
In 2024, 251,350 people held a paid Virginia hunting license, up 1% from 248,951 in 2022, the 30th most of the 50 states. They bought 746,042 licenses, tags, permits and stamps (693,930 resident, 52,112 nonresident) for a gross cost of $24,011,954, 21.1% of it paid by nonresidents. Against Virginia's 8,811,195 residents in 2024 that is 2.9 license holders per 100 people, though license holders include nonresidents.
| Licenses sold in | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid hunting license holders | 248,951 | 248,933 | 251,350 |
| Resident licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 683,225 | 684,371 | 693,930 |
| Nonresident licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 49,764 | 51,102 | 52,112 |
| All licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 732,989 | 735,473 | 746,042 |
| Gross cost paid by residents | $17,997,995 | $18,450,184 | $18,956,966 |
| Gross cost paid by nonresidents | $4,678,792 | $4,869,865 | $5,054,988 |
| Gross cost, all buyers | $22,676,787 | $23,320,049 | $24,011,954 |
| Rank among the 50 states by license holders | 28th | 28th | 30th |
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 Virginia land has public access?
PAD-US 4.0 lists 2,806,110 acres of Virginia with public access, 10.3% of the state's 27,375,880 acres: 2,222,342 acres open access and 583,768 acres restricted access (a permit, draw, season or other limit).
| Public access land, PAD-US 4.0 | Acres | Share of the state |
|---|---|---|
| Open access | 2,222,342 acres | 8.1% |
| Restricted access | 583,768 acres | 2.1% |
| Managed by federal agencies | 2,174,850 acres | 7.9% |
| Managed by state agencies | 401,685 acres | 1.5% |
| Managed by local, private, tribal and other managers | 229,575 acres | 0.8% |
| All public access land | 2,806,110 acres | 10.3% |
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: dwr.virginia.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: Virginia hunting.
- Hunter education in other states