Trapper Education courses

You must complete Trapper Education in order to apply for a Trap Registration certificate.

In Massachusetts, Trapper Education is mandatory to apply for a Trap Registration Certificate. Anyone who wants to set traps on someone else’s property must identify and register those traps. Therefore, a MassWildlife trap registration certificate is required. The certificate includes a registration number (a four-digit alpha numeric) that must be embedded/stamped on each trap you own and use.

In Trapper Education, students receive instruction on best management practices for trapping furbearers, the proper use of traps, the identification of fur bearing animals and their habitats, trapping laws, ethical trapping behavior, and landowner relations.

All state trapper education certifications as well as the certificate earned by completing the online North American Basic Trapper Course is accepted to meet this training requirement.

Attention: The online North American Basic Trapper Course is scheduled for an upgrade early in the year 2025. The online course will be unavailable for a short time during this shift.

In-person Massachusetts Trapper Education courses are offered in the early Spring and early Fall each year.

All courses are free of charge and open to the public. 

Trapper Education: In-Person

Location	Dates & Times	Status
N/A	No in-person Trapper Education courses are currently available.	N/A

Upon successful completion of the in-person Trapper Education course, students will be mailed a Trapper Education certificate and a Bailey-Hancock certificate. 

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Trapper Education: Online

Attention: The online North American Basic Trapper Course is scheduled for an upgrade early in the year 2025. The course will be unavailable for a short time during this shift.

Successful completion of the Association of Fisheries and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) free, online, self-paced North American Trapper Education course is recognized for the purpose of applying for a MA Trap Registration Certificate.

1. Visit https://conservationlearning.org/mod/page/view.php?id=3470 (for best performance, access the online course from a computer or laptop - not from a smartphone).
2. Click on the green "Click to Enroll Now" link.
3. Click on the "Create new account" button.
4. Follow the steps to create your account, making sure to provide your full, legal name and valid email address. Don't forget to record the username and password you create.
5. An email will be sent to you to complete your registration. If you do not see it in your inbox, check your Junk/Spam folder.
6. From that email, follow the instructions to enroll in the free North American Trapper Education course.
7. Work at your own pace to complete each section and associated quiz.
8. Once the entire online course is complete, you will receive a Trapper Education certificate of completion. This certificate is recognized for the purpose of applying for a MA Trap Registration which is required if you wish to trap on land you do not own.

Resources

• AFWA's North American Trapper Education Manual (version 2022)
• AFWA's Furbearer Management and Best Management Practices for Trapping

After Trapper Education -

• MassFishHunt: Buy your Trapping license.
• Apply for a Trap Registration Certificate.
• Apply to be a Problem Animal Control (PAC) agent.

Specific to Beavers -

• Beavers and the Law: A Citizen’s Guide to Addressing Beaver Conflicts
• BMPs for the Trapping of Beaver in the United States
• Prevent conflicts with beavers
• Learn about beavers

Bailey and Hancock Traps

The in-person Massachusetts Trapper Education course includes the training required to use Bailey and Hancock traps. If you have already completed Trapper Education online or through another jurisdiction, but specifically wish to use Bailey and Hancock traps, please contact the Hunter Education Program at [e-mail]

Special accommodations

If you have a disability or a medical condition and you would like to request special accommodations, or if you speak a language other than English and you would like to request an interpreter, please email [e-mail] or call the Hunter Education Program at [phone] and press zero to speak with an attendant.