You have to take an exam and, passing it, you get the license valid for 10 years, with the possibility of renewal, throughout the national territory. It is also necessary to pay an annual fee for the truffle hunting activity (only if it is planned to do so in that year), which is around € 140 in Piedmont. At this point the “trifulau” can try the search, but strictly respecting the collection periods that are indicated on the site of the Region: each type of truffle has a precise period of time during which it can be collected. In addition, there are one month in early spring (April or May) and another month at the end of summer (September) during which it is forbidden to collect truffles. These rules were introduced in order not to ruin the fragile balance of truffles' life, leaving them the time to be born and grow and then be collected only when they are ripe.