Hunter education is a mandatory program that is designed to introduce students to several life-long skills that are important to the many different types of outdoor recreational opportunities. The course teaches students basic survival and first aid skills, water safety, wildlife identification, and the basics of wildlife management, hunting laws, and firearm/archery safety. Hunter education also stresses the importance of individual responsibility and outdoor ethics.

Iowa law requires that anyone born after January 1, 1972 must be certified in hunter education before they are eligible to purchase an Iowa hunting license. The minimum number of hours to complete the class is 10. Typically there is no charge for the course, unless lunch is furnished or room rental is required. Iowa recognizes hunter education certificates issued by another state and some foreign nations.

A person who is 11 years old or older may enroll in a course, but those who are 11 and successfully complete the course shall be issued a certificate which becomes valid on that person's 12th birthday. Iowa residents under the age of 12 can be issued a deer or turkey license; however, a licensed adult hunter must accompany each youth hunter. If the certificate is lost, a replacement certificate maybe obtained from any ELSI vendor during regular business hours for $ 3.50.

The following are your options for obtaining a hunter education certificate from the State of Iowa:

Search our Statewide Online Database for a course in your area!

*If as a student, you require reasonable accommodations to participate in a classroom type education program, please advise the listed contact person at the time of pre-registration.

OR

Independent/Internet Hunter Education Course

The Iowa DNR has developed an independent/internet hunter education course designed for adults who work evenings and weekends. Adults wishing to participate in this delivery method must understand that this is a three-part process. The steps listed below must be completed in order.

1. The first step in this process is to go to the Statewide Online Database on the DNR website (see below) and find a class near you where the training can be completed. Make sure that you pre-register for a class (if applicable) before completing the remaining steps below.
2. Once you have found this class, get online (also below) and complete the internet course work which will take 8-10 hours.
3. The next part of the process requires bringing quizzes which you take online completed with 100% accuracy to the scheduled classroom session.
4. The next step of the process involves completing a closed book pre-test. The student must pass the prestest with a score of 80% or better to continue with the class. This step assures that the person who shows up to complete the process is the same one who actually took the course online.
5. The final step involves attending a scheduled classroom session where gun handling skills will be learned, laws will be presented by the local conservation officer, ethics and responsibility will be covered and you may even do some live firing.
6. The finale will be the standard student exam which must be completed with 75% accuracy to receive your certificate of completion.

Use our online course listings to locate a scheduled independent/internet classroom session.

Online Course Work for Independant/Internet Hunter Education Course