Hunter Education
Classes
Plan Ahead
Classes are held primarily during spring and early summer
Resources
Instructors
Hunter Education Requirements for North Dakota
By law, persons born after 1961 must take a certified hunter education course prior to obtaining a firearm or bow hunting license.
Exceptions:
- Persons younger than 12 years of age (By state law youth under the age of 12 may hunt only under direct supervision of a parent, guardian or adult authorized by their parent or guardian. The youth must also have the appropriate license(s) for the species they are hunting.)
- • Youth who turn age 11 before the end of the calendar year may receive a whitetail doe license valid for the youth hunting season and the regular deer gun season without having taken the hunter education course.
- Persons who hunt exclusively on land of which they are the record title owner or operator
- Persons who obtain an apprentice hunting license
- Proof of hunter education certification must be presented when buying or applying for a hunting licenses.
- Official courses offered by other states and Canadian provinces meet these requirements.
- To look up your hunter education certification number or reprint a hunter education card, go to My Account.
Hunter Education Courses
Students may choose to take either the traditional in-person course, taught entirely in the classroom, or a hybrid online/in-person course which splits the student's time between online study and two in-person classroom sessions.
| Traditional Classroom Course | Hybrid Classroom/Online Course | |
|---|---|---|
| Required In-Person Classroom Time | 14+ hours | 6+ hours (students are required to attend an in-person session prior to starting the online class and at end of the class to complete testing) |
| Required At-Home Study Time | As needed | 10+ hours to complete online portion of class |
| Cost | Free | $24.95 |
| Age Requirement | Must turn 11 before the end of the calendar year to enroll | Must turn 12 before the end of the calendar year to enroll |
| Note: The traditional and hybrid classes cannot be combined. You must complete one or the other to earn your certification. | ||
Class Availability
- The availability of certified volunteer instructors is variable and determines the availability of classes across the state.
- Classes are held primarily during the spring and early summer months with late summer and fall classes occasionally available in certain areas of the state.
- Available classes are listed online (there are no waiting lists for classes).
- Check the list often for new classes or sign up to receive email or text messages as classes become available.
Miscellaneous
Students generally receive their hunter education card in the mail 7-10 days after successfully completing a class. Hunter education certificate numbers may be found on the Department's Online Services once the records for a completed class have been processed.
Note: The hunter education course described above is the course hunters are required to have prior to hunting.
The Department also offers bowhunter certification and fur harvester education courses which are optional, supplemental courses and cannot be used in place of the hunter education courses to meet state hunting education requirements.