Hunter Education
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Hunter Education Program is dedicated to the safe enjoyment of our outdoors. Through this program, students learn about responsibility and ethics in the field, as well as firearms safety.
Who needs a Hunter Education Card?
All residents and nonresidents born after June 30, 1979, must complete a hunter education course before a hunting license can be obtained.
SCDNR accepts hunter education certifications issued by other states in the United States and Canadian provinces. If you have a certification from another state, your certification meets the hunter education requirement in SC. If you have a question about your certification, please contact the Hunter Education Office at 1-800-277-4301.
Which Hunter Education Course is right for you?
SCDNR offers two (2) options to take the Hunter Education Course.
1. Instructor-led Classes
The preferred Hunter Education method is through a free eight (8) hour instructor-led classroom course. Classes maybe offered in a one day class or split over two nights. All classes end with a Test to pass the course.
Class calendar.
The South Carolina Hunter Education Class is recommended for motivated students 12 years of age and older with good reading and comprehension skills who have some firearm and hunting knowledge or experience. Course materials are on a 6th-grade reading level. While we do not discourage any age from attending the class, only children age 10 and older may take the final exam.
2. Online Self-Study Course
The third-party vendor (Hunter-Ed.com) who provides this online course charges $29.95 to take the course. After completing the course by passing and paying the course fee, you may instantly print out your South Carolina Temporary Hunter Education Certificate, which is valid for 30 days. You should receive your permanent certificate by mail in 2-3 weeks
Hunter-Ed offers daily (including weekend) live customer service via email or telephone with a toll-free number. Today's Hunter online course is the only approved internet course for South Carolina.
You must be a resident of South Carolina and at least 12 years old to take this online course.
3 Steps to complete Today's Hunter Online Course
- Take the above approved internet course
- Successfully complete the online exam at the end of this course.
Note: You will not be able to print your temporary hunter education certificate unless you successfully pass the online test.
- Print your South Carolina Temporary Hunter Education Certificate, which is valid for 30 days. You should receive your permanent certificate by mail in 2-3 weeks.