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State Cert Guide

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Do I need a hunter safety course to hunt in Arkansas?

Yes, if you were born after 1968. But if you are 16 or older, a free deferred code can take the place of the course. The code has rules, listed below. Kids under 16 may hunt first if a licensed hunter at least 21 years old directly supervises them. Or take the course: a free class with an instructor, or an online course for a fee.

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The rule, fact by fact

Who needs it
Anyone born after 1968The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC), the state's wildlife agency, says there is no specific age requirement to enroll.
Verified. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission · Hunter Education (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Under 16
Under 16: may hunt without the course under a licensed hunter 21 or olderThe supervising hunter must be licensed, and the supervision must be direct.
Same source and date as above
Free option
A free 10-hour instructor-led classAGFC lists free classes with an instructor. The class is 10 hours of classroom time and hands-on lessons, and it ends with a test.
Same source and date as above
Online accepted
One listed course says you can complete Arkansas hunter education onlineAGFC's course page lists online courses from outside companies, and you pay each company a fee. One listed course says you can finish online at your own pace. For any other course, read its own page before you pay.
Same source and date as above
Valid for
Good for life, with a digital certification on the hunter profileAGFC says your certificate is good for life. After you pass, a digital certificate shows on your profile.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check your birth year. Anyone born after 1968 needs the course to hunt in Arkansas. There is no minimum age to enroll, and Arkansas recognizes certificates from other states.

  2. Step 2. Pick a route. AGFC lists a free class with an instructor and online courses from outside companies. The lowest online price on AGFC's page is $19.99, a discount for Arkansas's service members, veterans, first responders and their families. Start on AGFC's course page.

  3. Step 3. For the class, find one on AGFC's page. It runs 10 hours: a few hours a night for three to four nights, or one full Saturday. The last class ends with a test. For an online course, sign up with the company. One listed course says you can finish at your own pace. For any other course, read its own page before you pay.

  4. Step 4. After you pass, a digital certificate shows on your profile. AGFC says it is good for life. Want a card to carry? AGFC sells hard cards through its licensing system.

Before you pay

Look at the free class first. AGFC lists it, and it costs nothing.

Online courses charge a fee, paid to the company that runs the course. The lowest online price on AGFC's page is $19.99, a discount for Arkansas's service members, veterans, first responders and their families. Other listed online prices are higher. Read what the final price includes before you pay.

We haven't confirmed whether the online courses are open to people who don't live in Arkansas, or whether any of them needs an in-person part. Ask AGFC on its course page.

A free deferred code can take the place of the course for hunters 16 and older. You need a valid Arkansas hunting license, and a licensed hunter at least 21 years old must directly supervise you. That hunter must be certified or born in 1968 or earlier. The code is not for you if you were convicted or forfeited bond for prior hunter education certification violations, or if you have other AGFC-sanctioned hunting privilege revocations.

Questions

Can I hunt before I take the course?

Yes, in two cases. Under 16, you may hunt if a licensed hunter at least 21 years old directly supervises you. At 16 or older, a free deferred code can take the place of the course; get it from any license purchasing agent, by phone or online. Its conditions are under Before you pay.

Can I take hunter education online in Arkansas?

One listed course says yes. AGFC lists online courses from outside companies, and you pay each one a fee. That course says you can finish online at your own pace and get your certification right after you pass. For any other course, read its own page before you pay.

What do the online courses cost?

Among the online prices AGFC's page lists: $29.99 for the Recademics Arkansas course, $34.95 for The Original Arkansas course and $49.95 for the ilearntohunt course.

Does AGFC list a separate bowhunter course?

Yes. AGFC lists free bowhunter classes with an instructor. It says the traditional bowhunter method is a 10-hour classroom and hands-on class, and the final class ends with a test.

What to do next

Check your birth year first. Then pick a free class or an online course on AGFC's course page.

www.agfc.com

Sources we read