Night Shooting Course
The LANTRA Accredited Night Shooting Certificate (NSC) delivers essential, certificated training for deer managers, pest control operatives, and fox shooters. Following Natural England’s February 2026 CL55 guidance, the NSC is now recognised as a 'Suitable Qualification' for those seeking a night licence to shoot deer, ensuring your skills are fully current, relevant, and compliant with government guidance.
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NSC - The UK's recognised route to a CL55 Night Shooting Licence
PLEASE NOTE: If you are looking to apply under Category 2, you will be required to complete practical assessment in the field with one of our Approved Verifiers. Additional Assessment fee will apply.
Nationally recognised and Accredited Course
A few more words about Night Shooting Certificate NSC
The course covers key subjects that include, the origins of night shooting, understanding thermal imaging and night vision devices, understanding technical specifications, maintenance, device set-up and zeroing. Legislation and UK law concerning the use of thermal imaging and night vision technology for shooting at night. Safe shooting in both urban and rural environments, considerations surrounding species identification. The use of thermal and night vision in wildlife management and crucial best practice guidance for all professional operatives and recreational shooters involved in the dispatch of pests, predators, vermin and deer at night.
The candidate's uptake of the course is assessed via a series of multiple-choice exams and a final timed multiple-choice exam. Upon satisfactorily completing the night shooting course, candidates are awarded a LANTRA Certificate.
This easy to access, nationally available, third-party accredited ‘Night Shooting Course’ delivers the industry standard in Night Shooting and is perfect for all those involved in the dispatch of pests, fox, vermin and deer at night, and demonstrates a level of competence to landowners, employers and the police.
Practical Assessment (Bolt-On)
Course Content
meet your instructor
Tim Weston
Tim Weston has had a career in game management since leaving university. Starting out in fisheries management and gamekeeping Tim has years of hands on practical experience of land and wildlife management including time spent as a full time professional deer manager in the New Forest.
After seven years of keeping Tim became a sporting agent working with the finest estates in the United Kingdom and fisheries in the world. This not only expanded his knowledge of the sector it allowed him to understand the working practices of a wider range of game managers from around the world and to share those experiences with others.
For the last 14 years Tim has been working for the National Gamekeepers' Organisation (NGO) and is currently the director of Environment, Policy and Politics. Tim also heads up the NGO's training team and is a qualified lecturer and assessor.
meet your instructor
Karolien van der Vorm
Karolien Van der Vorm first started her involvement with deer and wildlife control in the 90’s in her native Netherlands. Following a move to the UK, in the early 2000’s, she concentrated on deer control on several private estates and wildlife management.
Today she is better known as the founder of 360 Wildlife Control, a specialist wildlife management company working and advising not only government organisations but several of the leading UK Pest Control companies as well as numerous Estates and corporate international bodies.
Her teams work across the UK from Hebridean islands to central London, with night shooting forming the mainstay of the business. It is not unusual to find Karolien in unusual shooting locations from scissor lifts, inside distribution centres to airport runways being a very hands-on leader.
Karolien currently sits on the British Pest Control Association Wildlife Committee .
Today she is better known as the founder of 360 Wildlife Control, a specialist wildlife management company working and advising not only government organisations but several of the leading UK Pest Control companies as well as numerous Estates and corporate international bodies.
Her teams work across the UK from Hebridean islands to central London, with night shooting forming the mainstay of the business. It is not unusual to find Karolien in unusual shooting locations from scissor lifts, inside distribution centres to airport runways being a very hands-on leader.
Karolien currently sits on the British Pest Control Association Wildlife Committee .
Night Shooting Licensing for ENGLAND explained
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the Night Shooting Certificate?
A. The Night Shooting Certificate, NSC, is a LANTRA-accredited course designed to provide essential, certificated training for those who shoot at night. It covers night shooting law, safety, equipment, thermal imaging, night vision, species recognition and best practice for safe, effective and humane control.
The course is suitable for deer managers, pest control operatives, fox shooters, wildlife managers and others involved in the dispatch of pests, predators, vermin and deer at night.
Q. Who should complete the Night Shooting Certificate?
A. The NSC is suitable for professional and recreational shooters who need to demonstrate knowledge and competence in night shooting.
This includes deer managers, pest controllers, fox shooters, land managers, wildlife management professionals and anyone using thermal or night vision equipment as part of safe and responsible night shooting.
Q. Is the practical assessment included in the course fee?
A. No. The online Night Shooting Certificate course fee covers the taught course and online assessment.
The NSC practical assessment is a bolt-on assessment completed separately in the field with an Approved Verifier. An additional practical assessment fee will apply.
Q. What does the Night Shooting Certificate cover?
A. The course covers the key knowledge needed for safe and responsible night shooting, including the origins of night shooting, thermal imaging, night vision, imaging systems, equipment specifications, maintenance, set-up, zeroing, legislation, safety, weather conditions, urban environments, species recognition, censuses and night shooting best practice.
It also includes guidance on the use of thermal and night vision technology for wildlife management and the humane dispatch of pests, predators, vermin and deer at night.
It also includes guidance on the use of thermal and night vision technology for wildlife management and the humane dispatch of pests, predators, vermin and deer at night.
Q. Is the Night Shooting Certificate completed online?
A. Yes. The taught element of the NSC is completed online through the Shooting & Hunting Academy.
The course is delivered through clear online modules and can be completed at your own pace, making it suitable for busy professionals, pest controllers, deer managers, gamekeepers and recreational shooters.
Q. How is The Night Shooting Certificate assessed?
A. The online course is assessed through a series of multiple-choice exams and a final timed multiple-choice exam.
Candidates who also require the practical assessment will complete this separately in the field with an Approved Verifier, where they must demonstrate safe and competent night shooting practice using modern night shooting equipment.
Candidates who also require the practical assessment will complete this separately in the field with an Approved Verifier, where they must demonstrate safe and competent night shooting practice using modern night shooting equipment.
Q. Will I receive a certificate after completing the course?
A. Yes. Upon successful completion of the online Night Shooting Certificate course and assessments, candidates are awarded a LANTRA certificate.
Where a candidate also completes the NSC practical assessment, this provides additional evidence of practical competence in night shooting conditions.
Q. Does the Night Shooting Certificate count towards DMC3?
A. Yes. The Night Shooting Certificate is recognised for the Deer Management Certificate Level 3, DMC3, and provides 4 credits towards Unit 1.
This makes the NSC particularly useful for candidates progressing through advanced deer management qualifications.
Q. Who developed the Night Shooting Certificate?
A. The Night Shooting Certificate was developed through an industry-wide collaboration led by the National Gamekeepers Organisation, alongside leading professionals and organisations from pest control, deer management, wildlife management, thermal drone technology, night vision, optics and shooting equipment sectors.
This collaboration ensures the course reflects current best practice and the real-world standards expected of those shooting at night.
Q. Is the Night Shooting Certificate only for deer managers, or is it suitable for pest controllers and fox shooters too?
A. The Night Shooting Certificate is not only for deer managers. It is also highly relevant for pest control operatives, fox shooters, land managers, wildlife managers and anyone involved in the safe and humane dispatch of pests, predators, vermin or deer at night.
The course covers the use of thermal imaging and night vision equipment, night shooting law, safety, species recognition, urban and rural considerations, and best practice for operating responsibly in night shooting conditions.
The course covers the use of thermal imaging and night vision equipment, night shooting law, safety, species recognition, urban and rural considerations, and best practice for operating responsibly in night shooting conditions.
NIGHT SHOOTING COURSE STUDENT TESTIMONIALS