Exam guide: Ontario Hunter Education Course
401 words · checked 2026-10-03 · Free
At a glance (checked 2026-10-03)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who runs it | Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, administered with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) as the Ontario Hunter Education Program (OHEP) |
| Options | In person with a certified instructor (often combined with the CFSC) or online via HUNTERcourse.com (delegated provider) |
| Online course | $60 + tax; 13 chapters with chapter quizzes and a final exam; pass 80 %; unlimited retakes; finish within 90 days of payment |
| In-person exam | Written test at the end of the course; question count and pass mark are not published by the ministry. Fees are set by instructors (e.g. about $100-$195) |
| Minimum age | No minimum age for the course; you need accreditation to buy licences from age 12 |
| Languages | English and French (online course available in French) |
Our exam-style practice papers use 50 questions at 80 % as a realistic standard.
Official course topics
- Wildlife management
- Hunter responsibilities
- Hunting laws and regulations
- Hunting safety and equipment
- Hunting techniques
- Wildlife identification
Key fact: The hunter education course alone lets you hunt with a bow. To hunt with a gun, you also need the Canadian Firearms Safety Course and must carry a PAL, minor's licence or CFSC student report.
After you pass
- Get your Certificate of Completion (emailed for online students; from the instructor in person).
- Have your hunter accreditation put on file with the Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service - for example by taking the printed certificate to a participating ServiceOntario location (online submission is planned for early 2027).
- Buy an Outdoors Card ($8.57, 3 years) and your licences and tags.
- Lost certificate: contact OHEP (705-748-5785).
Age rules
- Residents 16+ (15 with parental consent) can hold their own licences.
- Hunter Apprenticeship Safety Program (HASP): ages 12-14, with an Outdoors Card and hunter accreditation, hunting with a mentor 18+ and sharing one firearm.
- Residents 12 and over need proof of accreditation to be issued a licence.
Exemptions
New residents (living in Ontario at least 6 months) and non-residents with recognized hunter education from their home jurisdiction may not need the course.
How to study
- Read the free Ontario regulations note (hunter orange, hours, loaded firearms, party hunting).
- Study wildlife identification and firearm safety notes.
- Take the practice papers; review every wrong answer against the 2026 Hunting Regulations Summary.