ATV

ATV course requirements

Anyone who operates an ATV on public riding areas - e.g. trails, frozen waters, routes, permitted county and/or forest lands - who is at least age 12 years of age and who was born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 must have completed a safety certification course. These ATV operators must carry their safety certification card and they must display it to law enforcement officers when requested.

Anyone is eligible to take the class and receive a safety education completion certificate. For children under 12 years of age, the certificate does not become valid until the child reaches 12. Students with special needs must contact the instructor at least two weeks in advance of the course to request special accommodations.

Course information

Instruction emphasizes laws and regulations, ethics, personal safety and the proper use of all-terrain vehicles.

Length of course

This course requires a minimum of six hours but may be longer depending on the instructor.

Class availability

Courses vary depending on the area of the state and time of the year. There is at least one class per county per year. Click the enroll button above to search for a recreational safety education course.

Cost of course

$10 for traditional classroom. $15-$30 for Internet courses.

Internet courses

Operators of all-terrain vehicles now have a convenient online method to receive ATV safety certification through Internet web courses. The Internet courses are available at www.atvcourse.com/usa/wisconsin [exit DNR]

www.offroad-ed.com/wisconsin [exit DNR]

Boating

Boating course requirements

Wisconsin boating safety certification or out of state equivalent certification is required for operators born on or after Jan. 1, 1989. Anyone is eligible to take the class and receive a safety education completion certificate, however, courses are designed at a 5th grade level or up. Please read the boating regulations [exit DNR] for full details.

Who may operate a boat

• No one under the age of 10.
• Children 10 years of age but less than 16 if accompanied in the boat by a parent or guardian or a person at least 18 years of age designated by a parent or guardian.
• Anyone at least 12 years of age may operate a motorboat if they have successfully completed a DNR prescribed boating safety course and possess a boating safety certificate issued by the Wisconsin DNR or another state.
• There are no age requirements for operating a boat that is not equipped with a motor.

Who may operate a personal watercraft

• No one under the age of 12 may operate, lease or rent a personal watercraft.
• No one under the age of 16 may rent or lease a personal watercraft.
• Children at least 12 years of age may operate a personal watercraft if they have successfully completed DNR prescribed boating safety course and possess a boating safety certificate issued by the Wisconsin DNR or another state. Adult supervision is not a substitute for a certificate.

Course information

Instruction emphasizes navigation, laws, ethics, personal safety and the proper use of boats.

Class availability

Courses vary depending on the area of the state and time of the year. There is at least one class per county per year. Click the enroll button above to search for a recreational safety education course.

Cost of course

$10 for traditional classroom. $30 for Internet courses.

Internet course

Boat operators now have two convenient online methods to receive boat safety certification through Internet web courses.

• Boat education course [exit DNR]: This updated course offers interactive instruction for all learning styles. The three-hour course is split into short segments that are designed for easy comprehension and quick learning. Log out and the course "remembers" where you left off, so you can jump right back in after a few hours or days. This course has the identical text that students study in DNR's classroom courses, colorfully illustrated with more than 200 realistic drawings, more than an hour of streaming videos and interactive animations. Customer support is available 16 hours a day, seven days a week via email or a toll-free number.
• BoaterExam [exit DNR]: This new course is suitable for boaters of any age and reading skills because students can choose to hear the material as well as see it. The course features many eye-catching animations and the ability for students to "bookmark" where they are, making it easier to return to complete the course later. This course takes a minimum of three hours to complete.

Hunting

Hunting course requirements

Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1973, must have completed a hunter education course and show the certificate to purchase any hunting license in Wisconsin. However, if they will be hunting under the hunting mentorship program or they have successfully completed and have proof completing basic training in the U.S. armed forces, reserves or National Guard, they do not need a hunting safety course certificate to purchase a license.

Hunter education graduates receive a certificate that is accepted in every state, Canadian province and Mexico.

For Wisconsin residents, a first time graduate may use the Wisconsin hunter education certificate in lieu of a small game hunting license from the date of issuance until March 31 of the following year. Those qualifying do not need to purchase a small game license; the certificate is the license for the established time period.

Course information

The hunter education course instills in students the knowledge and skill to be a responsible and safe hunter. The basic course consists of 10 lessons during a minimum of 10 hours. Students learn how hunting accidents are caused and how they can be prevented. Hunter responsibility and safety are stressed throughout the classes, which consist of lectures, demonstrations, group discussions, practical exercises and individual study and activity assignments. Hunter education course manual [PDF]

Length of course

This course requires a minimum of ten hours but may be longer depending on the instructor. The average length course is 18 hours.

Class availability

Courses vary depending on the area of the state and time of the year. There is at least one class per county per year. Click the enroll button above to search for a recreational safety education course.

Cost of course

$10 per student.

Internet course

Hunter education students now have two convenient online opportunities to begin their Internet certification process. In order to become certified in hunter education in the state of Wisconsin by Internet training you must also attend an Internet specific field day course.

Internet certification process

1. Pre-register with a certified Internet specific field day instructor who is holding an Internet specific certification field day course. You cannot join in on a traditional hunter education classroom field day.
2. Complete an online course.
3. Enroll in a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Hunter Education "Internet Specific Field Day" course specifically designed for this program. At the conclusion of the field day, you will take two exams - one written and one practical. You cannot join in on a traditional hunter education classroom field day. Students should check the upcoming classes [exit DNR] page right away. Click on the drop down arrow and highlight/click on "Hunter ed CD/Internet" for course listings. If you leave the county blank, it will display all classes being held throughout the state. Look for your county or one close by you. Courses are limited statewide.

Adult only Internet course

Adults (18 years of age or older) now have a convenient way to become certified in hunter education by completing an online training course, followed by attending an adult only test out. The adult only test outs will be scheduled bi-monthly at DNR Service Centers throughout Wisconsin. The test will take approximately 1 hour and include a practical exam. No live fire will take place. To locate a test out, adults should check the upcoming classes [exit DNR] web page. Click on the drop down arrow and choose "hunter adult only" as your course type and leave the county blank. This will give you all adult test outs coming up throughout the state. If no test outs show up that means there are none available at that time. Check the site often as classes are added and removed daily.

Cost of course

In addition to any costs above, there is a mandatory fee for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Hunter Education Internet Specific Field Day course of $10.00.

Snowmobile

Snowmobile course requirements

Any person who is born on or after Jan. 1, 1985 and who has reached the age of 12, must have completed and received a snowmobile safety certificate in order to operate a snowmobile in Wisconsin. The certificate must be carried while operating the snowmobile and displayed to a law enforcement officer upon demand.

This does not apply to the operation of snowmobiles upon lands owned or leased by the operator's parent or guardian. Leased lands do not include lands leased by an organization of which said operator or the operator's parent or guardian is a member.

No person under the age of 12 may operate a snowmobile unless the person is accompanied either by a parent or guardian or by a person over 18 years of age. Accompanied means to be on the same snowmobile as the operator.

Other states and provinces that issue a snowmobile safety certificate to snowmobilers will be honored in Wisconsin.

Course information

The snowmobile safety course consists of six hours of basic instruction in the principles of snowmobile safety. The course is comprised of six hours of classroom study and an optional two hours of hands-on snowmobile operation or optional snowmobile ride simulation.

Length of course

This course requires a minimum of eight hours but may be longer depending on the instructor and the student's learning ability.

Class availability

Courses vary depending on the area of the state and time of the year. There is at least one class per county per year. Click the enroll button above to search for a recreational safety education course.

Cost of course

$10

Internet courses

Operators of snowmobiles have an online method to receive snowmobile safety certification. The Internet courses are available at Snowmobile Ed[exit DNR] and Snowmobilecourse.com[exit DNR]. Students MUST be 16 years of age or older in order to become certified by these online courses.

Certificate replacement

Obtaining a duplicate safety education certificate

Should your safety education certificate become lost or destroyed, you may obtain a duplicate by following the steps below.

Customers can now purchase and print their own duplicate safety education certificate from home online, or they may still visit a DNR service center or a DNR license sales agent.

Fees for purchasing a duplicate safety education certificate are still $2.75. For the customer that decides to print their duplicate at home there will also be a $1 convenience fee for a total of $3.75. The customer will need to pay online with a valid credit card.

• People can also purchase and print a duplicate safety education certificate from home through the DNR Online Licensing Center.
• You can also locate a DNR service center or a DNR license sales agent to purchase and receive a duplicate safety education certificate over the counter.

If there is no option for you to obtain or print a duplicate safety card, you will need to contact DNR customer service at 888-936-7463. You may have multiple DNR Customer ID Numbers.

Bow hunting education

Bow course requirements

Any person born on or after January 1, 1973, is required to be certified in Hunter Education before purchasing any hunting license, including an archery license.

Course information

Wisconsin's bowhunter education program is voluntary and a bowhunter education certificate is not required to bowhunt in Wisconsin, however, numerous other states and certain federal properties do require a bowhunter education certificate from a course approved by NBEF in order to bowhunt. Wisconsin has adopted the National Bowhunter Education Foundation's (NBEF) International Bowhunter Education Program and our course is acknowledged and accepted worldwide.

Course information

1. The history of modern day bowhunting and our hunting heritage
2. Responsibilities of bowhunters toward our environment, wildlife, landowners and others
3. Preparing for the hunt - specific laws, clothing and other equipment
4. Bowhunting Equipment selection and care - Tree stand safety
5. Marksmanship fundamentals
6. Bowhunting methods
7. Handling outdoor emergencies
8. Field care of harvested game

Length of course

Bow hunter education course is offered in two formats.

• A bow hunter education only course which lasts 10 hours.
  • In Wisconsin, without a hunter education course, the bow hunter education course only allows you to hunt in Wisconsin with a bow.
• A hunter education course, plus a bow hunter education course allows you to buy a firearm or archery license in any state.

Class availability

Courses vary depending on the area of the state and time of the year. There is at least one class per county per year. Click the enroll button above to search for a recreational safety education course.

Cost of course

$10 per student.