If you were born on or after June 1, 1975, Florida requires you to complete an approved hunter safety course before you can buy a license to hunt on your own. With CertifiedHunter, that works in two parts. First, you complete the online course at home for $28.95. FWC advises allowing about 8 hours for an online course, and you can spread that across as many sittings as you like because your progress is saved. Second, you attend a free FWC Field Day, in person or virtual. You are certified only after both parts are done. The online course alone does not complete your Florida certification.
Here is how it works, who needs it, and what to expect at each step, including the Field Day most new hunters ask about.
Who needs hunter education in Florida?
Florida requires hunter education for anyone born on or after June 1, 1975 who wants to buy a hunting license to hunt with a firearm, muzzleloader, bow, or crossbow. You must show a valid hunter safety certification card before the license is issued, and carry the card while hunting if your license does not show you completed the course.
A few useful details around that rule:
- The requirement applies whether you are a Florida resident or visiting from another state to hunt here.
- Florida accepts hunter safety certification completed in another state, so if you are already certified elsewhere, you do not need to take the Florida course.
- If you are 16 or older and want to try hunting before completing the course, Florida offers a Hunter Safety Mentoring Deferral. You request it when you buy your license, your license is printed with a note that you must hunt under supervision, and you may only hunt while a qualified hunter age 21 or older is with you. That supervisor must hold a valid hunting license and have met the hunter safety requirement. It is a way to try a first hunt with a mentor, not certification. You still need the course before you can hunt without supervision.
- Law enforcement and military personnel are not exempt from the requirement.
The four steps to certification
1. Complete the online course
CertifiedHunter’s Florida course is approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and built to IHEA-USA standards. It covers safe firearm handling, hunting laws and ethics, wildlife identification and conservation, and responsible decisions in the field.
The course costs $28.95. You study anytime, anywhere, at your own pace, and your progress is saved automatically. FWC’s guidance is to allow approximately 8 hours to complete an online hunter safety course, so plan on working through it in a few sittings rather than one long night.
2. Pass the online exam and get your Certificate of Completion
At the end of the course you take the official online exam. Exam attempts are unlimited and free, so if you do not pass the first time, you review the material and take it again. When you pass, you receive your Certificate of Completion for the online portion. Save it and print a copy. You will need it for the next step.
Be clear on what this certificate is: proof you finished the online portion, not your hunter safety card. It does not complete your Florida certification. One step remains, run by FWC.
If you lose your Certificate of Completion, contact CertifiedHunter for a replacement. Your final certification card comes from FWC after your Field Day.
3. Register for an FWC Field Day
With your Certificate of Completion in hand, register for an FWC Field Day at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety. Choose a date and complete the online registration form. You must have finished an approved online course and hold your completion certificate before you attend, so register after you pass the online exam, and register early. Field Days run around the state, and seats fill quickly before a season opener. Some Field Days are split over two days, and if yours is, you must attend both days in full.
FWC offers two Field Day formats:
- Virtual Field Day. The session runs live over Microsoft Teams. FWC emails you the meeting invitation the day before your scheduled class. You need an internet connection and a computer or smartphone.
- In Person Field Day. You meet at a physical location for hands on work with FWC instructors.
4. Attend the Field Day and get certified
The Field Day is the hands on half of your certification, and it is free. FWC provides the firearms, ammunition, and materials at in person sessions at no charge. Length varies by location and class size; many sessions run about 4 to 6 hours, and your registration listing shows the exact start and end times.
At an in person Field Day, expect:
- Safe firearms handling practice, including loading and unloading
- Safe and effective shot placement work, including live fire
- Shoot or don’t shoot scenarios, so you practice the decision, not just the shot
- Florida specific regulations and questions with your instructors
Bring a paper or digital copy of your Certificate of Completion, a pen or pencil and paper for notes, and wear closed toed shoes. Shooting safety gear is provided, though you can bring your own shooting glasses and hearing protection. Students under 18 must bring a Parental Release Form signed by a parent or guardian to take part in live fire exercises, and a parent or guardian must accompany students under 16.
Complete the Field Day and you have earned your Florida hunter safety certification. FWC issues your certification card after your Field Day. Carry it with your hunting license while you hunt.
Questions new Florida hunters ask
Is the online course enough by itself?
No. Florida requires the FWC Field Day for everyone, no matter your age or experience. The online course replaces the classroom portion. It does not replace the Field Day, and you are not certified until you complete both.
How much does it cost in total?
The online course is $28.95, paid to CertifiedHunter. The FWC Field Day is free, including firearms, ammunition, and materials at in person sessions. A Florida hunting license is a separate purchase from the state.
How long does the whole process take?
Allow about 8 hours for the online course, split across as many sittings as you like, plus one Field Day session, which is commonly about 4 to 6 hours depending on the location and class size. Field Day availability near you is the real variable, so finish the online portion early.
What if I fail the online exam?
You retake it. Attempts are unlimited and free. Review the sections you missed and go again.
I lost my Certificate of Completion. What do I do?
Contact CertifiedHunter for a replacement Certificate of Completion. If you completed your Field Day and lost your certification card, that card comes from FWC.
Does my Florida certification work in other states?
Yes. Hunter education certification is recognized across the United States through reciprocity between states, and Florida accepts certification from other states as well. Complete it once and you are covered wherever you hunt.
Can I hunt before I finish all of this?
Only under the deferral above: if you are 16 or older, request a Hunter Safety Mentoring Deferral when you buy your license and hunt under the direct supervision of a qualified hunter age 21 or older. To hunt on your own, you need the course and the Field Day completed.
Start now, hunt this season
The online course is the longest part and the only part that depends on you. Finish it early, register for your Field Day while seats are open, and certification is handled before the season you want to hunt.
Once you are certified, the next step is your license. Our companion guide walks through it: How to Buy a Hunting License In Florida.
Safe, Legal, Responsible. That is the standard, and it starts with getting certified.
Questions before you start? Call us at 1-888-885-8830.