Mysticguido, I'm a Hunter Safety Instructor in MD. Our course is 12 hours long. We have more than half a dozen instructors in our course. We do show some videos, but it is a "hands-on" class. Our instructors teach safety for tree stand, hunting (turkey, deer, small game, trapping etc.) Bow, Shotgun, High Power Rifle and Black Powder.
The students have three tests they must pass at the end of the course. The first is a written test to see what they have learned. The second is a Field Walk (outside) to see if they know the safety for different situations on a hunt (when to shoot, when not to shoot and what's beyond their target, etc.). The third is the Firing Range (we use pellet rifles) to see how they handle a firearm. You can't get all this from just watching videos. You would be surprised at some of the questions we get, not only from the young students but older ones, too. We have an average class of 100 students. Oppose the video classes. They can't answer questions. As Iroquoisarcher said, 12 hours is still not enough time and yes, attitude is a big part of the class. If we feel we would not be safe hunting with a student, we do not pass them.
PS Latest News: By our "Great" Governor, we now have to include hand gun safety in our course. Anyone wanting to buy a handgun must, also, take this course, because of new
handgun laws in MD.