{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/29.1-300.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/29.1-300.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/29.1-300.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/29.1-300.1.html"}],"law_id":63068,"edition_id":1,"section_id":63068,"structure_id":12936,"section_number":"29.1-300.1","catch_line":"Certification of competence in hunter education; incentives","history":"1987, c. 83, \u00a7 29-51.1; 1988, cc. 179, 384, 474; 1989, c. 204; 1996, cc. 118, 151; 1997, c. 247; 2008, cc. 18, 416; 2014, c. 798; 2016, c. 123; 2020, c. 958.","full_text":"A\n\nExcept as provided in subsection B and §§ 29.1-300.4 and 29.1-305.2, no hunting license shall be issued to (i) a person who has never obtained a license to hunt in any state or country, or (ii) a person who is under the age of 16, unless such a person presents to the Board or one of its authorized license vendors, a certificate of completion in hunter education issued or authorized by the Board under the hunter education program, or proof that he holds the equivalent certificate obtained from an authorized agency or association of another state or country.B\n\nAlthough a resident under the age of 12 is not required to obtain a license to hunt, any person under the age of 12, or an individual on his behalf, may purchase a Virginia hunting license or a junior lifetime hunting license pursuant to § 29.1-302.1, without completing a hunter education program as required in subsection A, provided that no person under the age of 12 shall hunt unless accompanied and directly supervised by an adult who has, on his person, a valid Virginia hunting license. The junior lifetime hunting license issued to an individual under the age of 12 shall become invalid on the individual’s twelfth birthday and remain invalid until certification of competence in hunter education is shown as provided in this section. A lifetime license, indicating the completion of hunter education or an equivalent certificate, shall be reissued at no cost when such proof is provided.\n\t\t\tThe adult shall be responsible for such supervision. For the purposes of this section, “adult” means the parent or legal guardian of the person under age 12, or such person over the age of 18 designated by the parent or legal guardian.\n\t\t\t“Accompanied and directly supervised” means that the adult is within sight of the person under the age of 12.C\n\nThis section shall not apply to persons while on horseback hunting foxes with hounds but without firearms.D\n\nThe Board may adopt regulations that provide incentives for successful completion of a hunter education course to hunters who are not required by law to complete such a course. The regulations may include such incentives as the Board deems appropriate.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":230015,"text":"Except as provided in subsection B and §§ 29.1-300.4 and 29.1-305.2, no hunting license shall be issued to (i) a person who has never obtained a license to hunt in any state or country, or (ii) a person who is under the age of 16, unless such a person presents to the Board or one of its authorized license vendors, a certificate of completion in hunter education issued or authorized by the Board under the hunter education program, or proof that he holds the equivalent certificate obtained from an authorized agency or association of another state or country.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":230016,"text":"Although a resident under the age of 12 is not required to obtain a license to hunt, any person under the age of 12, or an individual on his behalf, may purchase a Virginia hunting license or a junior lifetime hunting license pursuant to § 29.1-302.1, without completing a hunter education program as required in subsection A, provided that no person under the age of 12 shall hunt unless accompanied and directly supervised by an adult who has, on his person, a valid Virginia hunting license. The junior lifetime hunting license issued to an individual under the age of 12 shall become invalid on the individual’s twelfth birthday and remain invalid until certification of competence in hunter education is shown as provided in this section. A lifetime license, indicating the completion of hunter education or an equivalent certificate, shall be reissued at no cost when such proof is provided.\n\t\t\tThe adult shall be responsible for such supervision. For the purposes of this section, “adult” means the parent or legal guardian of the person under age 12, or such person over the age of 18 designated by the parent or legal guardian.\n\t\t\t“Accompanied and directly supervised” means that the adult is within sight of the person under the age of 12.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":230017,"text":"This section shall not apply to persons while on horseback hunting foxes with hounds but without firearms.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":230018,"text":"The Board may adopt regulations that provide incentives for successful completion of a hunter education course to hunters who are not required by law to complete such a course. The regulations may include such incentives as the Board deems appropriate.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":12936,"edition_id":1,"name":"Hunting, Trapping and Fishing Licenses","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12935,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","permalink":{"id":192477,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12936,"identifier":"1","token":"29.1\/3\/1","url":"\/29.1\/3\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12935,"edition_id":1,"name":"Licenses","identifier":"3","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12934,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","permalink":{"id":192475,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12935,"identifier":"3","token":"29.1\/3","url":"\/29.1\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12934,"edition_id":1,"name":"Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating","identifier":"29.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","permalink":{"id":192277,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12934,"identifier":"29.1","token":"29.1","url":"\/29.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":66338,"structure_id":12936,"section_number":"29.1-300","catch_line":"Unlawful to hunt, trap or fish without license","url":"\/29.1-300\/","token":"29.1\/3\/1\/29.1-300","metadata":false},{"id":63068,"structure_id":12936,"section_number":"29.1-300.1","catch_line":"Certification of competence in hunter education; incentives","url":"\/29.1-300.1\/","token":"29.1\/3\/1\/29.1-300.1","metadata":false},{"id":75650,"structure_id":12936,"section_number":"29.1-300.2","catch_line":"Hunter education program","url":"\/29.1-300.2\/","token":"29.1\/3\/1\/29.1-300.2","metadata":false},{"id":80889,"structure_id":12936,"section_number":"29.1-300.3","catch_line":"Program fees","url":"\/29.1-300.3\/","token":"29.1\/3\/1\/29.1-300.3","metadata":false},{"id":79162,"structure_id":12936,"section_number":"29.1-300.4","catch_line":"Apprentice hunting license; deferral of hunter education","url":"\/29.1-300.4\/","token":"29.1\/3\/1\/29.1-300.4","metadata":false},{"id":64316,"structure_id":12936,"section_number":"29.1-301","catch_line":"Exemptions from license requirements","url":"\/29.1-301\/","token":"29.1\/3\/1\/29.1-301","metadata":false},{"id":72212,"structure_id":12936,"section_number":"29.1-302","catch_line":"Special license for certain resident disabled veterans","url":"\/29.1-302\/","token":"29.1\/3\/1\/29.1-302","metadata":false},{"id":84843,"structure_id":12936,"section_number":"29.1-302.01","catch_line":"Special fishing license for disabled active duty military personnel","url":"\/29.1-302.01\/","token":"29.1\/3\/1\/29.1-302.01","metadata":false},{"id":78750,"structure_id":12936,"section_number":"29.1-302.02","catch_line":"Special resident and nonresident hunting and fishing licenses for partially disabled veterans","url":"\/29.1-302.02\/","token":"29.1\/3\/1\/29.1-302.02","metadata":false},{"id":60665,"structure_id":12936,"section_number":"29.1-302.03","catch_line":"Special licenses for certain nonresident disabled veterans","url":"\/29.1-302.03\/","token":"29.1\/3\/1\/29.1-302.03","metadata":false},{"id":69598,"structure_id":12936,"section_number":"29.1-302.1","catch_line":"Special lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for residents and nonresidents","url":"\/29.1-302.1\/","token":"29.1\/3\/1\/29.1-302.1","metadata":false},{"id":67871,"structure_id":12936,"section_number":"29.1-302.2","catch_line":"Special lifetime fishing license; 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This law was first created in 1987. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 83 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1987 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 8 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1988, chapters 179, 384, and 474; in 1989, chapter 204; in 1996, chapters 118<\/a> and 151<\/a>; in 1997, chapter 247<\/a>; in 2008, chapters 18<\/a> and 416<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 798<\/a>; in 2016, chapter 123<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 958<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":75650,"section_number":"29.1-300.2","catch_line":"Hunter education program","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-300.2\/"},{"id":79162,"section_number":"29.1-300.4","catch_line":"Apprentice hunting license; deferral of hunter education","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-300.4\/"},{"id":76255,"section_number":"29.1-305.2","catch_line":"Special fox hunting licenses","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-305.2\/"},{"id":79907,"section_number":"29.1-315.1","catch_line":"Special permit to hunt and fish by youth during fish and wildlife education events","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-315.1\/"},{"id":77417,"section_number":"29.1-336","catch_line":"Carrying licenses and certificates; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-336\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":79162,"section_number":"29.1-300.4","catch_line":"Apprentice hunting license; deferral of hunter education","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-300.4\/"},{"id":69598,"section_number":"29.1-302.1","catch_line":"Special lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for residents and nonresidents","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-302.1\/"},{"id":76255,"section_number":"29.1-305.2","catch_line":"Special fox hunting licenses","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-305.2\/"}],"permalink":{"id":192483,"object_type":"law","relational_id":63068,"identifier":"29.1-300.1","token":"29.1\/3\/1\/29.1-300.1","url":"\/29.1-300.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/29.1-300.1\/","token":"29.1\/3\/1\/29.1-300.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Certification of competence in hunter education; incentives","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 29.1-300.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Except as provided in subsection B and §§ 29.1-300.4<\/a> and 29.1-305.2<\/a>, no hunting license shall be issued to (i) a person who has never obtained a license to hunt in any state or country, or (ii) a person who is under the age of 16, unless such a person presents to the Board<\/span> or one of its authorized license vendors, a certificate of completion in hunter education issued or authorized by the Board<\/span> under the hunter education program, or proof that he holds the equivalent certificate obtained from an authorized agency or association of another state or country. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Although a resident under the age of 12 is not required to obtain a license to hunt, any person under the age of 12, or an individual on his behalf, may purchase a Virginia hunting license or a junior lifetime hunting license pursuant to § 29.1-302.1<\/a>, without completing a hunter education program as required in subsection A, provided that no person under the age of 12 shall hunt unless accompanied and directly supervised<\/span> by an adult<\/span> who has, on his person, a valid Virginia hunting license. The junior lifetime hunting license issued to an individual under the age of 12 shall become invalid on the individual’s twelfth birthday and remain invalid until certification of competence in hunter education is shown as provided in this section. A lifetime license, indicating the completion of hunter education or an equivalent certificate, shall be reissued at no cost when such proof is provided.\n\t\t\tThe adult<\/span> shall be responsible for such supervision. For the purposes of this section, “adult<\/span>” means the parent or legal guardian of the person under age 12, or such person over the age of 18 designated by the parent or legal guardian.\n\t\t\t“Accompanied and directly supervised<\/span>” means that the adult<\/span> is within sight of the person under the age of 12. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> This section shall not apply to persons while on horseback hunting foxes with hounds but without firearms<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The Board<\/span> may adopt regulations<\/span> that provide incentives for successful completion of a hunter education course to hunters who are not required by law<\/span> to complete such a course. The regulations<\/span> may include such incentives as the Board<\/span> deems appropriate. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCERTIFICATION OF COMPETENCE IN HUNTER EDUCATION; INCENTIVES (\u00a7 29.1-300.1)\n\nA. Except as provided in subsection B and §§ 29.1-300.4 and\n29.1-305.2, no hunting license shall be issued to (i) a person who has never\nobtained a license to hunt in any state or country, or (ii) a person who is\nunder the age of 16, unless such a person presents to the Board or one of its\nauthorized license vendors, a certificate of completion in hunter education\nissued or authorized by the Board under the hunter education program, or proof\nthat he holds the equivalent certificate obtained from an authorized agency or\nassociation of another state or country.\n\nB. Although a resident under the age of 12 is not required to obtain a license\nto hunt, any person under the age of 12, or an individual on his behalf, may\npurchase a Virginia hunting license or a junior lifetime hunting license\npursuant to § 29.1-302.1, without completing a hunter education program as\nrequired in subsection A, provided that no person under the age of 12 shall hunt\nunless accompanied and directly supervised by an adult who has, on his person, a\nvalid Virginia hunting license. The junior lifetime hunting license issued to an\nindividual under the age of 12 shall become invalid on the individual’s\ntwelfth birthday and remain invalid until certification of competence in hunter\neducation is shown as provided in this section. A lifetime license, indicating\nthe completion of hunter education or an equivalent certificate, shall be\nreissued at no cost when such proof is provided.\n\t\t\tThe adult shall be responsible for such supervision. For the purposes of this\nsection, “adult” means the parent or legal guardian of the person\nunder age 12, or such person over the age of 18 designated by the parent or\nlegal guardian.\n\t\t\t“Accompanied and directly supervised” means that the adult is\nwithin sight of the person under the age of 12.\n\nC. This section shall not apply to persons while on horseback hunting foxes with\nhounds but without firearms.\n\nD. The Board may adopt regulations that provide incentives for successful\ncompletion of a hunter education course to hunters who are not required by law\nto complete such a course. The regulations may include such incentives as the\nBoard deems appropriate.\n\nHISTORY: 1987, c. 83, \u00a7 29-51.1; 1988, cc. 179, 384, 474; 1989, c. 204; 1996,\ncc. 118, 151; 1997, c. 247; 2008, cc. 18, 416; 2014, c. 798; 2016, c. 123; 2020,\nc. 958.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}