The Swedish hunting exam
By taking the exam, you ensure that you have the knowledge and skills required for hunting and wildlife management. Passing the exam is also a mandatory step in obtaining a firearm licence.
To obtain a firearm license for hunting weapons, applicants must pass the Swedish hunting exam. The exam assesses basic knowledge of hunting and wildlife management as well as the ability to handle firearms safely. It is conducted in accordance with the Swedish EPA’s regulation NFS 2015:10.
Naturvårdsverkets föreskrifter om jägarexamen, NFS 2015:10 (in Swedish)
The purpose of the exam is to ensure that every hunter has the necessary knowledge and skills for responsible hunting and wildlife management. The tests are overseen by an examiner approved by the Swedish Police Authority, based on recommendations from either the Swedish Hunters’ Association or the National Association of Hunters.
Good to know
- Foreign hunting exams are not registered in the Swedish Hunter Registry and cannot be converted into a Swedish equivalent.
- To take the Swedish hunting exam, you must first register in the Hunter Registry to obtain a personal Hunter ID number. Present this number to the examiner on the day of the test.
- Study material is available only in Swedish. The Swedish EPA does not produce this material, so any questions should instead be directed to the hunting associations.
- You may use an interpreter during the exam at your own expense. The interpreter must be approved by the organiser, and you should contact the organiser well in advance to arrange this.
- The exam will be available in English shortly.
About the hunting exam
A complete hunting exam consists of one theoretical test and three practical sub-tests.
Booking a full course is not mandatory before taking the exam, although it can be helpful if you do not have previous hunting and shooting experience. For information on study material, courses and exam bookings, contact one of Sweden’s two hunting organisations:
Contact Swedish Hunting Association (jägareforbundet.se)
Contact National Association of Hunters (jägarnasriksforbund.se)
Contents of the hunting exam
The theoretical test includes 70 questions covering
- Species identification
- Ecology and the development of nature and animals
- Trapping wild mammals and birds
- Hunting and firearms legislation and other relevant laws
- Hunting ethics
- Hunting dogs
- Hunting methods
- Handling harvested game
- Wounding and tracking injured game
- Firearms and shooting techniques
- Ballistics, ammunition, and shot impact
- Firearm safety
- Wildlife research
- Wildlife management and damage caused by wildlife
- Environmental and nature conservation considerations
- Wildlife care
The three practical sub-tests are
- Shotgun test
- Basic rifle test
- Large game rifle test
Each sub-test assesses safe firearm handling, distance estimation and precision shooting. The required practical tests depend on the type of firearm for which the applicant is seeking a license. The theoretical test is mandatory for all applicants and must be passed before booking any practical tests.
Approved ranges and examiners are assigned by each county. Information on where to take the theoretical and practical tests is available at the two hunting organisations websites.
Swedish Hunters’ Association – Provbanor och provledare (in Swedish, jägareforbundet.se)
National Association of Hunters – Provledare Jägarexamen (in Swedish, jägarnasriksforbund.se)
Applicants may prepare for the theoretical test independently, but the test must be taken under the supervision of an approved examiner. Practical test must also be completed at an approved shooting range under supervision.
Applicants who do not speak Swedish may use an interpreter at their own expense. Tests can be adapted for applicants with disabilities. Questions about adaptations should be directed to the examiner.
Exemptions
In rare cases, the Swedish EPA may grant exemptions from the hunting exam. Applications for an exemption must include:
- Proof of theoretical and practical knowledge equivalent to passing the hunting exam.
- A statement explaining why the applicant cannot take the official tests.
Because the Swedish hunting exam is designed around Sweden’s hunting conditions, applicants seeking an exemption must demonstrate knowledge of these conditions. When applying for an exemption it is recommended to base your application on the content of the Swedish hunting exam (see above).
Exemptions are granted very restrictively, and the EPA strongly recommends taking the hunting exam as the best way to demonstrate competence.
For further questions, please contact us.