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Boating Safety Education Challenge Exam
Overview
If you are an experienced boater and have a good working knowledge of the navigation rules and Virginia boating laws, you may opt to take an 80-question challenge exam.
Details
These challenge exams will be scheduled throughout Virginia. You will have a maximum of 3 hours to complete the exam. The exam is closed book and no reference material is allowed in the examination room. The Virginia Watercraft Owner's Guide and other boating materials, such as Chapman's, are suggested as study material.
Registration
You must register at least three (3) days prior to the exam date. Walk-ins will not be allowed to take the exam. Exam proctors will only have enough exams on hand for those who have registered in advance.
Contact Us
If you need special classroom accommodation, or have special needs, or do not see a class in your area, please contact the boating education coordinator for your region.
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Boating Safety Education Classroom Course
Overview
This course is recommended for motivated students 12 years of age and older with good reading and comprehension skills who want to learn more about the fundamentals of safe and responsible boating. Course materials are on a 6th grade reading level.
Details
A typical Boater Education Course lasts 6-8 hours with exam time depending on the class location and instructor.
Who Needs Boater Education?
In 2007, the Virginia General Assembly enacted a law to establish a boating safety education compliance requirement. This requirement has been phased in over the past several years; and by July 1, 2016, all operators (regardless of age) of PWCs (personal watercraft such as jet skis, Sea Doos, and Wave Runners) and operators (regardless of age) of motorboats with a motor of 10 horsepower or greater will be required to have a boating safety education course completion card on board when operating a PWC or motorboat.
This course will enable you to become a safe boater who:
- boats safely
- respects other boaters
- obeys the law
- understands boating laws
Topics covered include:
- boating operations
- safe boating practices
- navigation signs
- boating responsibilities
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Outdoor Learning
Overview
R3 programs and events are designed to help individuals build confidence, learn skills and increase participation in hunting, fishing, boating, wildlife viewing, and recreational shooting.
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Boating Safety Outreach & Workshops
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Basic Hunter Education Course
The Basic Hunter Education Course covers material on hunting safety, principles of conservation and sportsmanship. Students are required to complete the self-study prior to class and will have to turn in the chapter review exercises from the self-study to the instructor at the beginning of class and they may be turned away if the chapter review exercises are not completed. For more information about the self-study and to obtain the study material, click this link.
Details
There is usually no charge for these classes, which are required for 12- to 15-year-old license buyers, as well as for anyone purchasing a hunting license for the first time.
Replacement Cards
Please visit http://www.ilostmycard.com or call 1-800-830-2268 Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (except holidays) for replacement certification cards. There is a $10 fee for replacement cards. You will be requested to provide the following information: your full name, date of birth, approximate date (year or month/year) of class, and current mailing address. If your attendance can be verified, a duplicate card will be issued.
Additional Information
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources shall afford to all persons an equal access to Department programs and facilities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sex or age. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility, please write: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, ATTN: Compliance Officer, 7870 Villa Park Drive, Suite 400, Richmond, Virginia 23228.
This program may receive Federal financial assistance in Sport Fish and/or Wildlife Restoration. Under Title VI of the I 964 Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, The U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program activity or facility as described above, or if you desire further information please write to:
The Office for Human Resources
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services 4040 N. Fairfax Drive
Room 300
Arlington, Virginia 22203
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Bowhunter Education Course (IBEP)
Overview
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources supports the International Bowhunter Education Program (IBEP), a bowhunter education course developed by the National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF).
Details
In Virginia, Bowhunter Education is not required to obtain an archery license. However, the International Bowhunter Education Program (IBEP) class provides an excellent opportunity to learn ethical techniques for hunting with archery equipment. Some states, localities, and military facilities require this course.
This training does not meet the requirement for certification in Hunter Education.
Replacement Cards
Please visit http://www.ilostmycard.com or call 1-800-830-2268 Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (except holidays) for replacement certification cards. There is a $10 fee for replacement cards. You will be requested to provide the following information: your full name, date of birth, approximate date (year or month/year) of class, and current mailing address. If your attendance can be verified, a duplicate card will be issued.
Volunteer Instructors
Hunting, bowhunting, and trapping courses in Virginia are taught primarily by trained volunteer instructors. If you are interested in becoming an instructor, please contact us through the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website at http://www.dwr.virginia.gov/hunting/education/.Additional Information
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources shall afford to all persons an equal access to Department programs and facilities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sex or age. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility, please write: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, ATTN: Compliance Officer, 7870 Villa Park Drive, Suite 400, Richmond, Virginia 23228.
This program may receive Federal financial assistance in Sport Fish and/or Wildlife Restoration. Under Title VI of the I 964 Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, The U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program activity or facility as described above, or if you desire further information please write to:
The Office for Human Resources
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services 4040 N. Fairfax Drive
Room 300
Arlington, Virginia 22203
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Trapper Education Course (VTA)
Overview
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources supports the Virginia Trappers Association (VTA) Trapper Education Program.
Details
This course is not required in order to buy a trapping license in Virginia. However, it is an excellent introduction to the safe and ethical use of trapping techniques.
This training does not meet the requirement for certification in Hunter Education.
Replacement Cards
Please call 1-866-721-6911 Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except holidays) for replacement certification cards. There is a $10 fee for replacement cards. You will be requested to provide the following information: your full name, date of birth, approximate date (year or month/year) of class, and current mailing address. If your attendance can be verified, a duplicate card will be issued.
Volunteer Instructors
Hunting, bowhunting, and trapping courses in Virginia are taught primarily by trained volunteer instructors. If you are interested in becoming an instructor, please contact us through the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website at http://www.dwr.virginia.gov/hunting/education/.
Additional Information
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources shall afford to all persons an equal access to Department programs and facilities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sex or age. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility, please write: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, ATTN: Compliance Officer, 7870 Villa Park Drive, Suite 400, Richmond, Virginia 23228.
This program may receive Federal financial assistance in Sport Fish and/or Wildlife Restoration. Under Title VI of the I 964 Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, The U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program activity or facility as described above, or if you desire further information please write to:
The Office for Human Resources
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services 4040 N. Fairfax Drive
Room 300
Arlington, Virginia 22203
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Virginia Hunter Education Outreach & Workshops
Overview
Hunting workshops are sometimes offered to allow students the opportunity to gain hunting skills beyond those taught in the Basic Hunter Education Course.
Details
Most workshops are coordinated by volunteer Hunter Education Course instructors and involve an actual hunting experience.
Classes, such as wild game processing and outdoor skills, may be offered by volunteer Hunter Education Course instructors.
This training does not meet the requirement for certification in Hunter Education.
Volunteer Instructors
Hunting, bowhunting, and trapping courses in Virginia are taught primarily by trained volunteer instructors. If you are interested in becoming an instructor, please contact us through the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website at http://www.dwr.virginia.gov/hunting/education/.
Additional Information
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources shall afford to all persons an equal access to Department programs and facilities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sex or age. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility, please write: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, ATTN: Compliance Officer, 7870 Villa Park Drive, Suite 400, Richmond, Virginia 23228.
This program may receive Federal financial assistance in Sport Fish and/or Wildlife Restoration. Under Title VI of the I 964 Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, The U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program activity or facility as described above, or if you desire further information please write to:
The Office for Human Resources
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services 4040 N. Fairfax Drive
Room 300
Arlington, Virginia 22203
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Wildlife Education
Overview
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resource's Wildlife Education Program is an outreach effort to promote wildlife education and conservation in schools through the Virginia Project WILD Program, the Virginia Naturally Schools Recognition Program, and others.