{"id":2673,"date":"2019-06-27T18:55:22","date_gmt":"2019-06-27T18:55:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/?p=2673"},"modified":"2023-06-16T10:56:35","modified_gmt":"2023-06-16T10:56:35","slug":"concealed-carry-class","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/concealed-carry-class\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing A Concealed Carry Class"},"content":{"rendered":"

Guest Writer: Kenzie Fitzpatrick<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

When searching for a concealed carry class to take, look for a high-quality class with real-life scenarios taught by a credentialed instructor. A concealed carry class should include the fundamentals of firearm safety. The instructor should demonstrate proper shooting techniques, and go through the state statutes when it comes to carrying concealed. They should show concealed carry options, and have an open class discussion for students. <\/span><\/p>\n

Determine what your options are in your area (and travel if you need to) and ask questions of the instructors offering the classes. Look for instructors with credentials that are related to concealed carry or pistol knowledge. In this guide, we\u2019ll go over questions to ask instructors, credentials to look for, and more tips are how to choose the right class.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Different States, Different Stakes<\/h4>\n

The statutes differ state to state on what is required to obtain your concealed carry weapons (CCW) permit. For argument’s sake, let\u2019s talk about finding a concealed carry instructor who meets the standards set in most statutes. Some sort of credentialing is required for the instructor to teach Concealed Carry Classes. <\/span><\/p>\n

The options include, but are not limited to, a state Fish and Wildlife Conservation agent, a National Rifle Association (NRA) instructor, a Law Enforcement officer, a state-certified instructor, or any instructor certified by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission or a State Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most popular classes people take is a hunter safety course taught by a state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Agency. Unfortunately, in some states, this class qualifies for you to apply for your CCW permit. I say unfortunately as this class is all about how to hunt safely. You’ll learn how to understand the seasons in your area, how to cleanly shoot an animal, and more topics that are unrelated to concealed carry laws and practical applications. I took both a hunters safety course and a concealed carry course when I was getting my hunting license and CCW permit so as to be prepared for both situations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Before signing up for a concealed carry class, reach out to the instructor and ask them questions. The most frequent thing I hear from people without their permit is that they feel overwhelmed with options and don\u2019t know what to ask or what to look for in an instructor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Questions To Ask Your Concealed Carry Class Instructor:<\/b><\/h2>\n
\"a

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. A good concealed carry instructor is there to diagnose specific issues and help you work through them.<\/p><\/div>\n

“What license, credentials, etc. do you have?”<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

The statute only requires one of the earlier mentioned credentials in the state I live in; therefore a lot of instructors only take one instructor course to get certified to make money teaching firearm classes. When an instructor stops there, it almost always tells me that they only got this certification to teach and nothing more. The NRA is not the only governing body out there so look for other credentials such as range officer certifications, gunsmith certifications, armorer courses, safety certifications, and things of that nature. <\/span><\/p>\n

For example, I am a certified Range Officer by the <\/span>National Range Officer Institute<\/span><\/a> with a multi-gun endorsement. While this isn\u2019t related to concealed carry, it is a <\/span>nationally recognized credential<\/b> by match directors that I am trained uniformly and professionally. A match director handles all of the match administration. This includes scheduling, range construction, the coordination of all support staff (including range officers) and more. The match director decisions prevail over all others.<\/span><\/p>\n

I also am a certified Range Safety Officer by the National Rifle Association. This adds to my safety credentials. One of the other things not related to concealed carry that I recommend looking for is a <\/span>CPR\/First Aid\/AED<\/span><\/a> certification. In case of an emergency, you want to know that your instructor has a safety plan in place and can provide aid.<\/span><\/p>\n

Below are some of the industry credentials I recommend looking and asking for:<\/span><\/p>\n

Concealed Carry Instructor Credentials<\/h3>\n

NRA Credentials:<\/h4>\n