My uncle hasn't hunted in almost 15 year's but wanted to hunt add again few year's ago he went to the local bait shop were he bought his last hunting license but they weren't finding anything in the computer they Told him that he had to take the course again before he signed up for a course i called the local dec they have me a number to call in albany they asked what year he took the course and in a few weeks he had a new card. I know a few older people that got their license by their friends signing their name on the sign in sheet at the course but that was ages ago before for i was even born