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State of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

Hunter Education Program

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Hunter & Bowhunter Education Certification Archery Proficiency Exams Skill Building Workshops & Events National Archery in Schools Program

The Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife Hunter Education Program promotes ethical, legal, and safe hunting practices through comprehensive certification classes and hands-on skill-building workshops. Whether you're a new hunter or looking to sharpen your skills, our program ensures that all participants gain the knowledge and confidence to hunt responsibly and sustainably.

In 1956, Rhode Island enacted legislation mandating training in safe hunting practices and the handling and use of firearms and bow & arrow for those individuals applying for a license for the first time. Since the inception of the program, well over 40,000 individuals have completed the course, resulting in a significant decrease in hunting-related accidents not only locally, but also throughout the country.

According to National Safety Council data, individuals who participate in hunting have a significantly lower injury rate (8 injuries per 100,000 participants) than those involved in golf (104.4 injuries/100,00), fishing (141 injuries/100,000), soccer (900 injuries/100,00), baseball (2089 injuries/100,00), or football (2171 injuries/100,000).

Injury rates have steadily declined through the years as more and more individuals become educated. The course has evolved over time to include subjects that have become increasingly important in current times such as landowner relations, hunter ethics, and wildlife management. The Rhode Island Division of Fish & Wildlife in conjunction with volunteer instructors and sportsmen's clubs throughout the state administer the program.

The Rhode Island Division of Fish & Wildlife is always looking for qualified individuals who would like to become instructors or assistants in the hunter education programs. The following are the qualifications and duties of volunteer instructors.

INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: FIREARMS AND ARCHERY

An eligible applicant must:

  • Be twenty-one years of age or older
  • Have at least three years of hunting experience
  • Have no felony convictions, conservation convictions or serious misdemeanors within the last five years.
  • Undergo a background investigation
  • Be a Hunter Education or Bowhunter Education Course graduate
  • Be a high school graduate or possess an equivalency certificate

Steps to Volunteer:

  1. Obtain an Instructor Application and Background Check Waiver Form from the Hunter Education Office.
  2. Complete the forms and return them to the Hunter Education Office along with two letters of reference.
  3. Upon receipt of the above-mentioned material, we will review it and contact you to schedule a brief interview. 
  4. The successful applicant will then be required to team-teach with experienced instructors and attend state-sponsored training sessions as they are offered.

Please contact DEM.DFWHunterEducation@dem.ri.gov for an application 

Hunter and Bowhunter Education Certification

A Hunter Education/Bow Hunter Education Certification is required to purchase a hunting license in Rhode Island.

Under Rhode Island law, no license to hunt shall be issued to any person unless that person has held a hunting license in a prior year or unless he or she presents to the licensing agent a certificate of competency issued under § 20-13-2, or under an equivalent hunter safety program adopted by any other state

Below are three avenues to receive certificates of competencies (Hunter Education Certification and Bowhunter Education Certification) in Rhode Island:

  1. In-Person Certification Classes

    In-person Hunter Education and Bowhunter Education Certification classes are offered year-round at various locations across the state. The list of upcoming classes is regularly updated, so be sure to check back for new options. Pre-registration is required unless otherwise noted, and all in-person courses are free of charge.

  2. Hybrid Classes

    An online course is available through Hunter-Ed.com, an approved delegated provider for DEM's Division of Fish and Wildlife. The vendor Hunter-Ed.com requires a fee, and while content is accessible online, students must complete an in-person exam after finishing the online portion. 

    In order to complete the Rhode Island hunter and bowhunter education requirements, you must pass both the online and In-Person Exam portions of the course. Passing the online course does not guarantee you a spot at an In-Person Exam.

    The in-person exam is available only to students who have completed Rhode Island’s online hunter or bowhunter education course within the past year. To take the in-person exam, bring your Certificate of Completion from the online course and a picture ID.

    Minor Consent Requirement: All participants under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian’s signature to be permitted to take the in-person test. If a parent or legal guardian is unable to be present on the day of the test, a permission card may be requested in advance. This card must be signed by a parent or legal guardian and presented at check-in. Please email DEM.DFWHunterEducation@dem.ri.gov to request a card. 

    About the Certification Exams

    There is no extra charge for the in-person exam, but it will include questions about RI-specific laws and regulations not covered in the online course. To prepare, review the RI Hunting and Trapping Regulation Guide, focusing on safety requirements, prohibited activities, and equipment rules. You don't need to memorize season dates or bag limits, as you can reference them during the season. Be sure to check for any yearly regulation updates.

    • For Hunter Education Students: The exam consists of 100 questions; 50 multiple choice and 50 true/false.
    • For Bowhunter Education Students: The exam consists of 50 questions; 30 multiple choice and 20 true/false.

    PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL TESTING DATES

    RI Fish & Wildlife Education Office, 1B Camp E-Hun-Tee Place, Exeter

    By appointment only: call 401-539-0019 or email DEM.DFWHunterEducation@dem.ri.gov 
    Office hours 8:30 AM - 4 PM

    Manville Sportsmen’s Rod and Gun Club, 250 High St, Manville

    By appointment only: Call Rick Blanchard, (401)742-0392, or Mike Dennen, (401)946-9509

    Narragansett Bow Hunters, 1531 Ten Rod Road, North Kingstown

    Contact Deb Dean by texting 401-932-8231 or by email at gntlspir8@yahoo.com. 

    Ashaway Sportsman Club, 1 Gun Club Path, Hopkinton

    By appointment only: Email or call Ed at McQuairde1@yahoo.com / 401-226-3098

    Tiverton Rod and Gun Club, 1529 Fish Rd, Tiverton

    By appointment only: Call Derrick Foley (508)-558-2920

  3. Out of State Reciprocity

    Rhode Island shares reciprocity with all 50 states for hunter and bowhunter education certifications. 

    This means that if you are certified in a state other than Rhode Island, you can use that certification to purchase an RI hunting license on the hunt/fish license platform, Rhode Island Outdoors (RIO). 

    If you plan to hunt in a different state, it’s always a good idea to check with that state’s wildlife or game department to confirm their specific rules for out-of-state hunter education certifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rhode Island law states that no license to hunt shall be issued to any person unless that person has held a license in a prior year or unless that person presents a hunter education card issued by Rhode Island or under an equivalent hunter safety program adopted by any other state. Persons who are serving in or have been honorably discharged from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard are exempt from the hunter education requirement.

Yes. You must have a previous hunting license or a hunter education certificate/card from any state.

A previous Rhode Island bowhunter license or a bowhunter education certificate/card from any state is required for those individuals who wish to hunt using archery gear. Those individuals who intend to hunt exclusively with bow and arrow may obtain an "Archery Only" license by completing a bowhunter education course. Those individuals who wish to hunt with firearms, AND archery gear must complete both courses.

Most mainland archers do not need an archery proficiency card. Individuals who wish to hunt deer with bow and arrow on Prudence Island, Patience Island, Block Island, Beavertail, Bristol co-op land, the town of Lincoln, or certain USFWS National Wildlife Refuges must hold an Archery Proficiency card. See the Archery Proficiency Testing page for full details

There is no minimum age requirement to enroll in the hunter education course or bowhunter education course. The student must be mature enough to understand the information presented, pass the written exam and participate in practical exercises as required. The student must also demonstrate to the satisfaction of the instructor that they possess the skills and attitude to responsibly and safely participate in hunting activity.

Persons age 12 to 14 who have completed a hunter education course may obtain a junior hunting license and may hunt in the immediate company of a qualified licensed adult twenty-one years of age or older. For more information please see our hunting rules and regulations.

The courses are taught by volunteer instructors in conjunction with the Rhode Island Division of Fish & Wildlife. Courses are held at sportsmen's clubs, community centers and other public meeting places. Hunter and Bowhunter Education Courses are held in the evenings and on weekends throughout the year, with the majority of courses held in August, September and October. The Hunter Education and Bowhunter Education courses can also be completed online with an in-person testing component for certification.

There is no fee to participate in the classroom course. All materials are provided free of charge. For the online courses there is a fee of $19.95 for the Hunter Education Course and a fee of $30 for the Bowhunter Education Course.

The hunter education course entails a minimum of 10 hours of classroom participation and includes such topics as hunter responsibility, principles of wildlife management, firearms, wildlife laws and identification, game care, specialty hunting, outdoor emergencies and survival, water safety and hypothermia. The Bowhunter Education Course is a one day course (approximately 8 hours) covering topics specific to bowhunting, including fundamentals of bowhunting, safety issues, how an arrow works, bowhunting equipment, tree stand use, shot placement and blood trailing.

Live fire is not mandatory in either course. About half of our hunter education courses include a live fire exercise where you will actually fire a gun. Some of our bowhunter education courses offer proficiency testing at the conclusion of the course for those who desire to participate. Again, this exercise is not required to pass the course.

Yes. If you are a RI resident, your Rhode Island hunter education cards are accepted throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. If you are not a RI resident, please check with your state’s Hunter Education office to see what is accepted in your state.

Yes. A Rhode Island Hunter Education Course card can be used in lieu of a Blue Card to purchase a handgun. See RIGL 11-47-35 section 2C.

The hunter education office has student records dating back to 1973 and will provide a duplicate card if your name is on record. If you successfully completed a Hunter Education or Bowhunter Education course in Rhode Island and are in need of a duplicate card, please contact the Hunter Education Office at (401) 539-0019.