Chapter 275. Game: Hunter Education
4VAC15-275-10. Application.
This chapter applies to any person who has never obtained a license to hunt in any state or country or any person who is younger than 16 years of age, unless such a person presents to the Department of Wildlife Resources or one of its authorized license vendors a certificate of completion or proof of completion in hunter education issued or authorized by the director or the director's representative under the hunter education program or proof that the person holds the equivalent certificate obtained from an authorized agency or association of another state or country.
Statutory Authority
§§ 29.1-103, 29.1-501, and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2015; amended, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 5, eff. January 1, 2021; Volume 42, Issue 8, eff. January 1, 2026.
4VAC15-275-20. Definitions.
The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires a different meaning:
"Accompanied and directly supervised" means, in the case of an apprentice hunter, that a licensed person older than 18 years of age maintains a close visual and verbal contact with, provides adequate direction to, and can immediately assume control of the firearm from the apprentice hunter. In the case of a hunter 12 years of age or younger, the term means that the licensed adult is within sight of the person younger than 12 years of age.
"Adult" means the parent or legal guardian of the person younger than 12 years of age, or a person older than 18 years of age designated by the parent or legal guardian.
"Approved course provider" is any individual, business, or organization that makes available to the hunting public a hunter education course that is approved by IHEA-USA and is accepted by the department. An approved course provider shall have executed and have on file a valid cooperative agreement with the department. The department will make information regarding such approved courses and providers readily available for public access.
"Board" means the Board of Wildlife Resources.
"Department" means the Department of Wildlife Resources.
"Hunter education course" means a course offered in the classroom, through the Internet, or through an electronic format that provides course content and test questions that at a minimum meet the International Hunter Education Association-USA Education Standards, December 13, 2024, set forth by IHEA-USA and are accepted by the department.
"IHEA-USA" means the International Hunter Education Association-USA.
"Virginia Hunter Education Card" means a card authorized for issuance by the department to a person who has met the minimum standard of hunter education course competency. This card may be issued as an original or a replacement hunter education course card.
Statutory Authority
§§ 29.1-103, 29.1-501, and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2015; amended, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 5, eff. January 1, 2021; Volume 42, Issue 8, eff. January 1, 2026.
4VAC15-275-30. Provisions for compliance and minimum standards for hunter education course competency.
A. A person shall be considered in compliance with the requirements for hunter education if the person meets one or more of the following provisions pursuant to § 29.1-300.2 of the Code of Virginia:
1. Completes and passes a hunter education course that is accepted by the department including a fully online course;
2. Is 16 years of age or older and has previously held a license to hunt in any state or country;
3. Is younger than 12 years of age and is accompanied and directly supervised by an adult who holds a valid Virginia hunting license; or
4. Holds a Virginia apprentice hunting license and is accompanied and directly supervised by a licensed adult hunter.
B. The minimum standards for hunter education course competency required by the department are a passing score of 80% on a closed-book written test upon completion of an in-person classroom course or a passing score of 90% on a self-administered test in conjunction with the course material of a hunting safety education course delivered through the Internet.
Statutory Authority
§§ 29.1-300.2 and 29.1-501 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2015; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 8, eff. January 1, 2026.
4VAC15-275-40. Hunter education course provider requirements.
A. As of January 1, 2016, any hunter education courses offered through the Internet and accepted by the department shall:
1. Meet the International Hunter Education Association-USA Education Standards, December 13, 2024, set by IHEA-USA for course content; and
2. Be provided only by an approved course provider that has executed a valid cooperative agreement with the department. Such agreements may be amended at any time by the department and may be canceled with 30 days notice upon failure of the course provider to comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement or its amendments.
B. Any material or product to be used by an approved course provider that makes reference to the department must be approved by the department through the hunter education program manager or the manager's designee before being published or distributed to the public.
C. Any fees charged by a course provider are set by the course provider, but must be clearly communicated to the student prior to the student taking the course.
Statutory Authority
§§ 29.1-300.2 and 29.1-501 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2015; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 8, eff. January 1, 2026.
4VAC15-275-50. Hunter education course availability.
A. The department shall provide classroom-based hunter education courses across the Commonwealth on a schedule determined by the department.
B. The department shall coordinate with approved course providers of Internet-based courses so that courses developed and offered in accordance with this chapter are available.
Statutory Authority
§§ 29.1-300.2 and 29.1-501 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2015.
4VAC15-275-60. Hunter education course certificates, recordkeeping, and student records.
A. Upon successful completion of an online hunter education course, the approved course provider shall provide the student with a course certificate or wallet-size card. At a minimum, such certificate or card shall include the student's name and date of birth, the issuance date, the name of the course, and an indication of acceptance by the department.
B. Upon successful completion of the Virginia hunter education classroom-based course, the department shall issue a completion certificate or card, which shall include the person's name and the issuance date. Upon request by the person to whom the certificate or card was originally issued and subject to verification of successful completion, the department shall issue a duplicate certificate or card in accordance with the department's policy.
C. The department shall maintain a database of all students who have successfully completed the department's classroom-based or online hunter education course. Such database shall include each student's name, address, date of birth, course or other compliance format approved by the department, and the specific name of the course.
D. Each approved course provider for hunter education courses offered over the Internet or through an electronic format shall maintain a database of all students successfully completing such course. The database shall include each student's name, address, date of birth, course completion date, and the specific name of the course.
Statutory Authority
§§ 29.1-300.2 and 29.1-501 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2015; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 8, eff. January 1, 2026.
4VAC15-275-70. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2015; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 8, eff. January 1, 2026.
4VAC15-275-80. Instructor certification.
A. The department may designate as a hunter instructor any person found by the department to be competent to give instruction in the courses required.
B. Volunteer instructors are designated to work on a voluntary basis and at the pleasure of the department.
C. To be certified as a hunter education course instructor for the department's hunter education program, a person shall (i) have successfully completed a hunter education course and (ii) be certified as an instructor by the department or by a certification program accepted by the department.
D. Applicants for certified instructor shall submit an application to the department on a Volunteer Application form and in a manner determined by the hunter education program manager.
E. Applicants may be required to submit written consent for a criminal history background check in a manner determined by the department.
Statutory Authority
§§ 29.1-103, 29.1-501, and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2015; amended, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 5, eff. January 1, 2021; Volume 42, Issue 8, eff. January 1, 2026.
4VAC15-275-90. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2015; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 8, eff. January 1, 2026.
4VAC15-275-100. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2015; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 8, eff. January 1, 2026.
4VAC15-275-110. Penalties for violation.
Unless otherwise specified, any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Statutory Authority
§§ 29.1-300.2 and 29.1-501 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2015.
Forms (4VAC15-275)
Volunteer Application for Hunter Safety Instructor (eff. 9/2025)
Documents Incorporated by Reference (4VAC15-275)
International Hunter Education Association-USA Education Standards, Recommendations Submitted by the Standards and Evaluation Committee, December 13, 2024, International Hunter Education Association-USA, http://ihea-usa.org