Hunter Education/Firearms Safety Certification for Youth

Classroom course

  • Students ages 11 and older can attend a classroom-based firearms safety certification course and receive their certificate. The firearms safety certificate becomes valid at age 12.
    • The firearms safety class consists of a minimum of 4 separate class sessions (students must attend the entire class for which they sign up), learning the safe handling of firearms, hunter responsibility and wildlife conservation. Students then complete the additional field day.  
    • The field day consists of seven required scenario-based training opportunities. These scenarios allow students to learn and demonstrate commonly accepted principles of safety in hunting and the handling of firearms. It includes shooting a .22 caliber rifle on a range.
    • The DNR course fee is $7.50, payable on-line after successful completion of course requirements. (The instructor may charge a fee of up to $7.50 at the class or field day for any costs they incur.)

Hybrid course

  • Students age 11 and older may complete their online hunter safety course at online hunter safety course (link is external).
    • Then, attend an in-person classroom review and firearms fundamentals session.
    • Students will finish with the field day portion.

Field days fill up quickly! Register your child for an in-person field day now while they complete their online course.

NOTE: Students ages 12 and older who want to hunt this fall but cannot complete their in-person field day are encouraged to use the apprentice hunter validation.

REMINDER:
Check now to make sure you have your firearms safety certificate. If you’ve misplaced it, see the “General information” below for instructions on obtaining a duplicate.

Minnesota recognizes certificates for firearms safety training that are issued by other states.

 

Firearms Safety Certification for Adults (16 and older).

Outdoor News Magazine special for youth

General information

  • Purchase a duplicate firearms safety certificate online or wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold.
  • For more information or assistance with purchasing a duplicate safety certificate:
  • To have your firearms safety certification added to your Minnesota Driver’s License, bring your firearms certificate to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) when you renew your driver’s license and request them to check the box to add it as an endorsement.

Receive updates when new courses are added to our safety training calendar.

 

Find (and sort) more courses on the DNR Safety Training Calendar!

 

Courses

To view detailed information about a class or field day, click on its title.

Scroll table right to see more »
​DateTitleLocationCounty
07/26/24Firearms Safety Field DayMorrisStevens
07/27/24Firearms Safety Field DayMedfordSteele
07/29/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassLewistonWinona
07/29/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassSt CharlesWinona
07/30/24Firearms Safety Field DayGlyndonClay
07/31/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassMew MarketScott
08/02/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassHam LakeAnoka
08/02/24Firearms Safety Field DayWadenaWadena
08/03/24Firearms Safety Field DayMaple GroveHennepin
08/03/24Firearms Safety Field DayCrookstonPolk
08/03/24Firearms Safety Field DayLa CrescentHouston
08/03/24Firearms Safety Field DayChatfieldFillmore
08/04/24Firearms Safety Field DayWebsterHennepin
08/04/24Firearms Safety Field DayGrand RapidsItasca
08/05/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassLaCrescentHouston
08/05/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassStaplesWadena
08/05/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassWorthingtonNobles
08/05/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassFridleyAnoka
08/06/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassElizabethOtter Tail
08/06/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassWillmarKandiyohi
08/08/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassDelanoWright
08/10/24Firearms Safety Field DayNew UlmBrown
08/10/24Firearms Safety Field DayOnamiaMille Lacs
08/10/24Firearms Safety Field DayStaplesWadena
08/10/24Firearms Safety Field DayTrimontMartin
08/11/24Firearms Safety Field DaySandstonePine
08/11/24Firearms Safety Field DaySt. JosephStearns
08/12/24Firearms Safety Field Day ~ FEMALES ONLYHugoWashington
08/12/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassDarfurWatonwan
08/12/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassCloquetCarlton
08/13/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassOronoHennepin
08/13/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassPrior LakeScott
08/16/24Firearms Safety Field DayOrrSt. Louis
08/17/24Firearms Safety Field DayKimballStearns
08/17/24Firearms Safety Field DayDuluthSt. Louis
08/17/24Firearms Safety Field DayGranite FallsYellow Medicine
08/17/24Firearms Safety Field DayMontevideoChippewa
08/17/24Firearms Safety Field DayStewartvilleOlmsted
08/17/24Firearms Safety Field DayWebsterHennepin
08/17/24Firearms Safety Field DayLewistonWinona
08/17/24Firearms Safety Field DayRogersHennepin
08/18/24Firearms Safety Field DayAdrianNobles
08/19/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassAitkinAitkin
08/19/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassKennethRock
08/19/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassRochesterOlmsted
08/19/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassGrand RapidsItasca
08/19/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassZumbro FallsWabasha
08/20/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassCrookstonPolk
08/24/24Firearms Safety Field DayMenahgaWadena
08/24/24Firearms Safety Field DayWillmarKandiyohi
09/03/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassBrooklyn ParkHennepin
09/04/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassRockvilleStearns
09/06/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassDodge CenterDodge
09/07/24Firearms Safety Field DayTracyLyon
09/07/24Firearms Safety Field DayAdaNorman
09/08/24Firearms Safety Field DayGrand RapidsItasca
09/10/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassRosemountDakota
09/11/24Firearms Safety Training Classroom ClassSherburnMartin
09/16/24Firearms Safety Field DayHugoWashington
09/21/24Firearms Safety Field DayMorristownRice
09/22/24Firearms Safety Field DaySleepy EyeBrown
10/06/24Firearms Safety Field DayGrand RapidsItasca
10/14/24Firearms Safety Field DayHugoWashington

There are organizations that include the DNR Firearms Safety Training class as part of an event or membership package they offer. The DNR firearms safety training fee is $7.50, with an option for the instructor group to charge an additional $7.50. However, these other programs have additional costs set by the providing organization.

Organizations offering a DNR firearms safety class

Back to top