Washington · Hunter safety · 2026 Edition
Washington Hunter Safety Course 2026: Cost & Online Options
Anyone born after January 1, 1972 must complete hunter education before buying a first Washington hunting license.
Washington joins New Hampshire as the only states in this silo with no way to certify without attending in person — the online course, at $24.95 through hunter-ed.com or $39.95 through Recademics, only ever buys the knowledge half. The Field Skills Evaluation that follows is short, 30 to 60 minutes, but it's graded and mandatory regardless of age or which provider you picked. The one real escape hatch is the once-in-a-lifetime deferral: hunt a full license year alongside a licensed adult of 18 or older before the course becomes unavoidable, a single-use option rather than a repeatable apprentice license.
01 — Who needs it
Anyone born after January 1, 1972 must complete hunter education before buying a first Washington hunting license.
A once-in-a-lifetime, one-license-year deferral is available while hunting alongside a non-deferred, Washington-licensed hunter of 18 or older.
Statute: RCW 77.32.155; WAC 220-412-010
02 — Course options
| Course | Format | Who | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional classroom course | In person | No minimum, though recommended for under-12s over the hybrid route | Free | Multi-session, averaging 15 hours of instruction — Free — the student handbook is provided by WDFW at no cost, and instructors are volunteers. |
| Online course plus Field Skills Evaluation | Online + field day | No minimum | — | Online at your own pace, then a 30-60 minute in-person evaluation — Washington has no way to certify without attending in person: even this route ends with a graded field skills check, not just a formality. |
A dash means WDFW 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 |
|---|---|---|
| hunter-ed.com | $24.95 | |
| Recademics | $39.95 | Pass guarantee or money back. |
Neither certifies on its own — both are the online half of the hybrid route, ending at the same in-person Field Skills Evaluation either way.
04 — Your certificate, and other states
A hunter education certificate from Washington or any other state satisfies the requirement.
Bowhunter education is recommended but not required in Washington — a bowhunter certificate doesn't substitute for basic hunter education either, so archery hunters still need the standard course.
05 — Where to register
Courses are booked through Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Find and register for a Washington course →
Got your certificate? Next step: Washington hunting license costs and permits →
Everything else we track for the state: Washington hunting seasons →
Looking for somewhere to hunt? Washington public hunting land — WMAs by county & access rules →
FAQ
Can I take the Washington hunter safety course online?
Washington does not offer a route that certifies entirely online — see the course formats above for what WDFW does accept. Anyone born after January 1, 1972 must complete hunter education before buying a first Washington hunting license.
Is there a free hunter safety course in Washington?
Every WDFW-approved online provider charges a fee; the cheapest is hunter-ed.com at $24.95. In-person courses run by the agency itself are often free — see the formats above.
How much does the Washington hunter safety course cost?
Approved online providers run from $24.95 (hunter-ed.com). 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 8, 2026.
Verified · Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife · Last verified 2026-08-08
Publisher's note. Requirements and course fees read from WDFW, retrieved 2026-08-08. Review due 2027-08-01. Course providers set their own prices and change them without notice — confirm before you pay.