Hurry! Classes fill quickly!
The DNR and its volunteer instructors hold hundreds of the various classes and certify thousands of students every year:
Firearms safety: Nearly 800 classes and more than 23,000 number of students certified
ATV safety: Approximately 150 classes and more than 2,600 number of students certified
Snowmobile safety: More than 200 classes and 4,000 number of students certified
While classes are held in every part of Minnesota, each year there are people who can't obtain certification - or must travel a long distance - because they waited too long to sign up for an open class. Still want to wait? Then consider signing up to receive an email whenever new classes are added.
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 for both hybrid and classroom courses fill quickly! Register your child now for an in-person field day while they complete the online portion of their 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).
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.
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 »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.