Hunter Education
Hunter Education Hunter Education
Instructor with child shooting gun

Hunter education

The Utah Hunter Education Program helps you learn essential safety skills and develop practical techniques useful for hunting. All courses offered by the Utah Hunter Education Program are nationally recognized.

Completion of a basic hunter education course is required to obtain a hunting license in Utah if you were born after Dec. 31, 1965.

There are two approved Utah Hunter Education course delivery options:

  • Course details:
    • The online course is self-paced (takes approximately 4–6 hours), and all sections must be completed before the field day.
    • The online course is provided by a private vendor which includes narration in both English or Spanish and has interactive animations.
    • The required field day includes approximately 5 hours of attendance, completed over 1–2 days. During the in-person field day you must pass the final written test and a live-fire shooting exercise.
  • Cost: $12* for a Hunter Education Registration Certificate + $24.95 for the online course.
  • What do I need to do?
    1. Complete the approved Utah online course. You must present the proof of completion to your instructor at the field day.
    2. Purchase a Hunter Education Registration Certificate online through the DWR licensing portal, at any DWR office or from a license agent.
    3. Find a field day in your area and register online.
    4. Reminder: You must complete the approved Utah online course before the field day, and present proof of completion to your instructor at the field day.
  • Ready to start?

* Some facilities charge to rent a room or range, which may increase the cost.

  • Course details:
    • Typically takes 6–12 hours.
    • Classes typically meet 1–2 nights a week over the course of 2–3 weeks.
    • Includes all instruction, a final written test and the live-fire shooting exercise.
  • Cost: $12* for a Hunter Education Registration Certificate
  • What do I need to do?
    1. Purchase a Hunter Education Registration Certificate online through the DWR licensing portal, at any DWR office or from a license agent.
    2. Find an instructor-led course in your area and register online.
    3. Complete the course and pass the final written test and live-fire target shooting exercise.
  • Ready to start?

* Some facilities charge to rent a room or range, which may increase the cost.

If you completed Hunter Education in another state or country and are now a Utah resident, you must transfer your out-of-state hunter education certification to a Utah certificate before applying for hunting licenses and permits as a Utah resident.

How do I complete Hunter Education and obtain a Utah hunting license?

  1. Purchase a Hunter Education Registration Certificate ($12), which is available through the DWR licensing portal, at any DWR office or from a license agent. The certificate is good for 365 days from the date of purchase.
  2. Complete an approved Utah Hunter Education course, which includes either in-person or online instruction on safety, ethics, skills and techniques; wildlife identification; hands-on exercises with practical skill application; the final written test and a live-fire shooting exercise. For students selecting the online instruction option, the hands-on exercises, final test and shooting exercise will be covered in a required, in-person field day.
  3. After you complete all requirements of the Hunter Education course — including the field day for online students — you will be issued a certificate of completion card (commonly known as a "blue card").
  4. Once you have obtained your certificate of completion card (blue card), you may complete your application for a Utah hunting or combination license through the DWR licensing portal, at any DWR office or from a license agent.

After you register

In addition to the Hunter Education Program, we offer several other required courses for Utah hunters and trappers:

This course is required for residents to obtain a furbearer license in Utah if you were born after Dec. 31, 1984. The course includes instruction in safe and responsible trapping. The course teaches proper trapping technique and device usage. You have two options for completing this course:

This course is not required to obtain a bowhunting permit in Utah. This is a comprehensive course for a national bowhunter certification that is required to bow hunt in Idaho, Montana, Alaska and several other states.

Extended archery season hunt orientation
Black bear annual orientation
Predator Control Program training course and registration

For Hunter Education Program instructors:

Quick links
Wildlife Blog: Views from DWR employees
» Wildlife Blog
Report poachers — 1-800-662-3337
» Report poachers
Wildlife dates
» Important dates
Hunter, angler mobile app
Hunter Education: Sign up for classes
» Hunter education