Arkansas · Hunter safety · 2026 Edition
Arkansas Hunter Safety Course 2026: Cost & Online Options
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1969 must be hunter education certified to hunt in Arkansas. 16 and older can complete the test online too; 15 and under must print a certificate and test in person can certify entirely online, from $29.99.
Arkansas's cutoff (born on or after Jan. 1, 1969) is one of the older ones among the states this project tracks, meaning a large share of adult hunters are already exempt by birth year alone. The free Deferred Hunter Education Code is unusual — it lets an uncertified adult 16+ hunt immediately under supervision while they arrange to take the course, rather than requiring the course before any hunting at all.
01 — Who needs it
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1969 must be hunter education certified to hunt in Arkansas.
Hunters under 16 without certification may hunt under the direct supervision of a licensed adult 21 or older. A free Deferred Hunter Education Code (DHE) is also available for hunters 16 and older, letting them hunt under direct supervision of a licensed adult 21+ who is either certified or was born on or before Dec. 31, 1968, without having completed the course yet.
02 — Course options
| Course | Format | Who | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instructor-led classroom course | In person | Not stated | Free | 10 hours, over several evenings or one Saturday — Ends with a test. No stated minimum age to enroll, though material is written at a sixth-grade reading level. |
| Online course | Online | 16 and older can complete the test online too; 15 and under must print a certificate and test in person | — | Self-paced — Multiple AGFC-approved vendors, priced independently — see the table below. |
A dash means AGFC 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Recademics Arkansas | $29.99 | |
| hunter-ed.com | $34.95 | Also offered in Spanish. |
| ilearntohunt | $49.95 | Gamified course format. |
Recademics also sells a discounted $19.99 course exclusively for military service members, veterans, first responders and their families (recademics.com/hunting/discounts) — not a general-public price, so it isn't used as the headline cheapest option above.
04 — Your certificate, and other states
Arkansas hunter education certification is good for life — no renewal needed.
Arkansas recognizes hunter education certification from any other state, and Arkansas's own certification is recognized in all states, Canada and Mexico.
Arkansas does not require separate bowhunter education. AGFC does offer an optional bowhunter education course through the same in-person and online-vendor channels as hunter education.
05 — Where to register
Courses are booked through Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
Find and register for an Arkansas course →
Got your certificate? Next step: Arkansas hunting license costs and permits →
Everything else we track for the state: Arkansas hunting seasons →
Looking for somewhere to hunt? Arkansas public hunting land — WMAs by county & access rules →
FAQ
Can I take the Arkansas hunter safety course online?
Yes. 16 and older can complete the test online too; 15 and under must print a certificate and test in person can certify entirely online, from $29.99. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1969 must be hunter education certified to hunt in Arkansas.
Is there a free hunter safety course in Arkansas?
Every AGFC-approved online provider charges a fee; the cheapest is Recademics Arkansas at $29.99. In-person courses run by the agency itself are often free — see the formats above.
How much does the Arkansas hunter safety course cost?
Approved online providers run from $29.99 (Recademics Arkansas). 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 12, 2026.
How long does the Arkansas hunter safety course take?
The online course runs self-paced. That is course content, not a deadline — how many sittings you spread it over is up to you.
Verified · Arkansas Game and Fish Commission · Last verified 2026-08-12
Publisher's note. Requirements and course fees read from AGFC, retrieved 2026-08-12. Review due 2027-08-01. Course providers set their own prices and change them without notice — confirm before you pay.