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 AFWA's online North American Basic Trapper course are accepted to meet this training requirement.

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
No in-person courses available	N/A	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

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 the AFWA login page (for best performance, access the online course from a computer or laptop).
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Work at your own pace to complete each section and associated quiz.
5. 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.

Complete AFWA's online Trapper Education course 

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]

Event accommodations

We will do our best to accommodate any needs to allow community members to participate as fully as possible in our events and programs.

• Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. To submit a request for an accommodation, please email [e-mail] or call 617-626-1282; an ADA Coordinator will receive your request. Please include a description of the request in as much detail as possible and a way they can contact you if they need more information. Please allow at least 2 weeks (14 days) advance notice. Last-minute requests will be accepted but we may be unable to fulfill the request.
• Please let us know of any language interpretation requests by email to [e-mail] at least 72 hours before the event.
• Se pueden solicitar servicios adicionales de traducción o interpretación enviando su solicitud por correo electrónico a [e-mail] al menos 72 horas antes de la reunión.
• Serviços adicionais de tradução ou interpretação podem ser solicitados ao enviar um e-mail para: [e-mail] com pelo menos 72 horas de antecedência da reunião.
• 如需额外的笔译或口译服务，请至少在会议开始前 72 小时发电子邮件至 [e-mail] 提出要求.
• Ou ka mande plis sèvis tradiksyon oswa entèpretasyon lè w adrese demann ou pou imèl [e-mail] omwen 72 èdtan anvan reyinyon an.
• Các dịch vụ biên dịch hoặc phiên dịch bổ sung có thể được yêu cầu bằng cách gửi yêu cầu của quý vị qua email đến [e-mail] ít nhất 72 giờ trước cuộc họp.
• Предоставление дополнительных услуг письменного или устного перевода можно запросить, отправив просьбу по электронной почте на адрес [e-mail] как минимум за 72 часа до начала встречи
• Des services de traduction ou d'interprétation supplémentaires peuvent être demandés en envoyant votre demande par e-mail à [e-mail] u moins 72 heures avant la réunion.