Alabama · Hunter safety · 2026 Edition
Alabama Hunter Safety Course 2026: Cost & Online Options
Anyone born on or after August 1, 1977, and 16 or older — the age Alabama requires a hunting license — must hold a certificate of completed hunter education before buying one. 10 and older can certify entirely online, free of charge.
Alabama is unusually clean among the states here: both routes, classroom and online, certify outright with nothing else to attend afterward — there's no hybrid step anywhere in the state's program. That makes the choice pure preference: free in person, or pick from five online providers running free (NRAHE.org) to $49.95 (ilearntohunt.com) for an identical certificate. New hunters aren't boxed in while they decide, either — the course opens at 10, six years before Alabama requires a license at all, and the Supervision Required license covers the gap in between at normal voice range of a licensed adult.
01 — Who needs it
Anyone born on or after August 1, 1977, and 16 or older — the age Alabama requires a hunting license — must hold a certificate of completed hunter education before buying one.
The course itself opens at 10, well ahead of when it's legally required. Until then, or if you'd rather wait, a Supervision Required hunting license lets you hunt without certification as long as you stay in normal voice range — no more than 30 feet — of a licensed adult of 21 or older. Certified law enforcement officers, and active-duty military or Alabama National Guard members, are exempt outright.
Statute: Ala. Code § 9-11-44.1
02 — Course options
| Course | Format | Who | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-person course | In person | 10 and older | Free | 8+ hours plus a written exam — Free. No field day or hybrid step — the classroom course certifies you outright on its own. |
| Online course | Online | 10 and older | — | About 8 hours at your own pace — Certifies you entirely online — no field day here either. Print the temporary certificate immediately after passing. |
A dash means ADCNR publishes no set price for that route — what you pay depends on the provider you pick or on the individual class.
03 — Approved online courses, side by side
| Provider | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NRAHE.org | Free | |
| huntercourse.com | $29 | |
| hunter-ed.com | $39.95 | |
| Recademics | $39.99 | Pass guarantee or money back. |
| ilearntohunt.com | $49.95 |
All five certify identically with no field day, so price is the only real difference — free through NRAHE.org up to $49.95 through ilearntohunt.com.
04 — Your certificate, and other states
Alabama's card is recognized by all 50 states and Canadian provinces.
Alabama accepts hunter education certification completed in any other state.
Bowhunter education is not required to buy a bowhunting license in Alabama. ADCNR has adopted the NBEF bowhunter education program with the Bowhunters of Alabama for hunters who want it.
05 — Where to register
Courses are booked through Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Find and register for an Alabama course →
Got your certificate? Next step: Alabama hunting license costs and permits →
Everything else we track for the state: Alabama hunting seasons →
Looking for somewhere to hunt? Alabama public hunting land — WMAs by county & access rules →
FAQ
Can I take the Alabama hunter safety course online?
Yes. 10 and older can certify entirely online free of charge. Anyone born on or after August 1, 1977, and 16 or older — the age Alabama requires a hunting license — must hold a certificate of completed hunter education before buying one.
Is there a free hunter safety course in Alabama?
Yes — at least one ADCNR-approved online provider certifies at no cost. Every approved provider produces the same certificate, so the free one certifies you just as well as the paid ones.
How much does the Alabama hunter safety course cost?
Approved online providers run from Free (NRAHE.org). They all produce the same certificate, so the cheapest one certifies you just as well. Prices are set by the providers and change without notice — the table above was read on Aug 7, 2026.
How long does the Alabama hunter safety course take?
The online course runs about 8 hours at your own pace. That is course content, not a deadline — how many sittings you spread it over is up to you.
Verified · Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources · Last verified 2026-08-07
Publisher's note. Requirements and course fees read from ADCNR, retrieved 2026-08-07. Review due 2027-08-01. Course providers set their own prices and change them without notice — confirm before you pay.