Tennessee · Hunter safety · 2026 Edition
Tennessee Hunter Safety Course 2026: Cost & Online Options
Every hunter, resident or nonresident, born on or after January 1, 1969, must carry proof of a completed hunter education course. 9 and older can certify entirely online, free of charge.
Tennessee runs the widest online field of any state in this silo — five approved providers from free (NRA) through $49.95 (ilearntohunt.com), all certifying identically with no field day. The one to watch is Recademics: cheapest-looking on paper is meaningless there for a visiting nonresident, since it's restricted to Tennessee residents. The in-person route is free at any age, though certification itself only starts at 9. Nothing here requires bringing a firearm — the instructor supplies them, and outside guns are barred from the classroom entirely.
01 — Who needs it
Every hunter, resident or nonresident, born on or after January 1, 1969, must carry proof of a completed hunter education course.
Under 10, hunt without it alongside an adult of 21 or older who stays able to take immediate control of the hunting device. From 10, the Apprentice Hunting License defers the requirement a year at a time, for up to three years running, under the same adult supervision — valid in Tennessee only.
Statute: Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-2-108
02 — Course options
| Course | Format | Who | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Hunter Education course, in person | In person | Open to any age, certification from 9 | Free | At least 8 hours of classroom, most run 8-14 hours, plus a live-fire session or firearm-handling demonstration — Free. Firearms are provided — outside guns and ammunition are barred from the classroom. Parents are welcome to sit the course alongside their kids and certify too if they pass. |
| Online course | Online | 9 and older | — | Self-paced — Certifies you entirely online, no field day of any kind — print the Tennessee certificate the moment you pass. |
A dash means TWRA 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 |
|---|---|---|
| NRA Course | Free | |
| huntercourse.com | $29 | |
| hunter-ed.com | $39.95 | |
| Recademics | $39.99 | Tennessee residents only. Money-back guarantee if you don't pass. |
| ilearntohunt.com | $49.95 |
All five certify you outright with no field day, so the cheapest one that's open to you does the job — free through the NRA, or $29 through huntercourse.com if you'd rather not deal with a residency check, since Recademics is Tennessee residents only.
04 — Your certificate, and other states
Tennessee's certificate is accepted in all 50 states, and Tennessee accepts hunter education certification from any other state in return.
Bowhunter education is not mandatory in Tennessee and does not replace the basic hunter education course. Two ways to get it if you need it for another state: an 8-hour traditional class (4 classroom, 4 field), or the NBEF online course followed by a mandatory 4-hour field day where you must pass a written exam at 85% or better.
05 — Where to register
Courses are booked through Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
Find and register for a Tennessee course →
Got your certificate? Next step: Tennessee hunting license costs and permits →
Everything else we track for the state: Tennessee hunting seasons →
Looking for somewhere to hunt? Tennessee public hunting land — WMAs by county & access rules →
FAQ
Can I take the Tennessee hunter safety course online?
Yes. 9 and older can certify entirely online free of charge. Every hunter, resident or nonresident, born on or after January 1, 1969, must carry proof of a completed hunter education course.
Is there a free hunter safety course in Tennessee?
Yes — at least one TWRA-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 Tennessee hunter safety course cost?
Approved online providers run from Free (NRA Course). 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 Tennessee 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 · Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency · Last verified 2026-08-07
Publisher's note. Requirements and course fees read from TWRA, retrieved 2026-08-07. Review due 2027-08-01. Course providers set their own prices and change them without notice — confirm before you pay.