Hey TFOX the people teaching the course are volunteers trained by the PA Game Commission, in fact after we took the course they said we now could go and take the free course to become bowhunting education instructors. I am thinking about that but I am so busy with so much throughout the year. The 18 bucks is to cover the course materials which consist of a workbook and 2 other books and a video you have to watch. Heck I thought it would be more to take it. I do suspect though that the PA game Commission will make this course mandatory as soon as they get enough instructors. That is the problem right now, not enough instructors.