Skip to content
State Cert Guide

Independent guide, not a government agency. We earn commissions on some links.

Do I need a hunter-trapper education course to hunt in Pennsylvania?

If you have never held a hunting license in Pennsylvania, another state or another country, state law requires hunter education before you get one. Exceptions include people who show proof of current military service, or of a recent discharge or separation under honorable conditions. The in-person course is free for anyone 11 or older, and Pennsylvania residents can also take it online.

By State Cert GuideChecked against the sources listed below.Report a mistake

The rule, fact by fact

Who needs it
Hunter education before a first hunting license, except for certain military serviceThe statute excepts someone who shows proof of serving now, or of a discharge or separation under honorable conditions within six months of applying.
Verified. www.palegis.us (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Free option
In-person course: free for anyone 11 or older, after some independent studyYou read chapters of the student manual before you attend the class.
Verified. www.pa.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Online accepted
Yes, you can take the course in person or onlineThe online courses on the Commission's page are offered to Pennsylvania residents.
Same source and date as above
Cost
Online courses for residents: $49.95, $34.95 or free through the NRAThe Commission's page lists these fees for the providers it names.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check your hunting history. The Commission says first-time hunters and trappers must finish Basic Hunter-Trapper Education before buying a hunting or trapping license. Among the people state law excepts from the hunting rule are those who show proof that they serve in the armed forces or Coast Guard now, or that they left under honorable conditions within six months of applying.

  2. Step 2. Pick a course on the Game Commission's page. It lists an in-person class and three online courses for residents. Two of the online courses cost money, and the NRA course is free.

  3. Step 3. For the in-person class, read Chapters 1, 4, 5 and 9 of the Today's Hunter and Trapper in Pennsylvania manual first. You can ask the Commission to mail you a copy.

  4. Step 4. The online course for residents 16 or older includes an exam. When you pass, you print a temporary certificate, and a permanent one comes by mail.

Before you pay

Look at the free options before you pay. The in-person class is free, and so is the NRA online course for residents. The Commission's page lists the other two online courses with fees. Read each provider's page before you pay. We haven't confirmed what else a provider may charge.

Questions

Can I hunt before I finish the course?

Yes, with a mentored hunting permit. Mentored hunters don't have to take the course first. They must go with a mentor, a licensed hunter at least 21 years old. If you are 12 or older, you can use the program for three license years at most. Then you must take the course to buy a license.

Does Pennsylvania accept a hunter education certificate from another state?

Yes. The Commission says it accepts certification from other states. Its own course covers archery and trapping, but it may not satisfy a state that requires an archery or trapper certification.

What score do I need to pass?

You need 80% or higher on a multiple choice and true-false exam to receive the Basic Hunter-Trapper Education certificate.

What to do next

Check your hunting history first. Then pick a course on the Game Commission's course page.

www.pa.gov

Sources we read