Courses

  1. The type of course you want to take depends upon what you are hoping to accomplish. Refer to the following for obtaining a Firearms Eligibility Card:
  2. For obtaining a CCW, see the Concealed Handgun Permit section below.

Buying a Specified Semiautomatic Firearm (SSF) as defined by SB25-003?

  1. Fill out the online-only form #2, available starting July 2026.
  2. Present your county Sheriff the following:
    • A government issued photographic ID card.
    • A name-based background check of national and Colorado public criminal history and judicial databases completed by a third party vendor with an attestation the background check was performed by the vendor. IdentoGO or Colorado Fingerprinting may provide these services, yes you must pay for this.
    • Application fee of $52. This fee is in addition to any fees charged by the Sheriff.
  3. If everything is in order, the Sheriff will issue you a Firearms Eligibility Card.
  4. Then, you may sign up for either the Basic or Extended course.
    • Do you have a Colorado issued Hunter Safety Card?
      • Yes: take the Basic course within 5 years of purchase date.
      • No: take the Extended course

Note: per the CPW site, there is no reciprocity between completing these courses and completing the requirements for a Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP). However, I have structured my Extended course to meet the requirements of both, so you will receive both an NRA certificate along with the Colorado mandated certificate.

Concealed Handgun Permit

First Steps NRA Basic Pistol Course and SSF Extended Course

Course Goals:

To teach the Basic Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude Necessary for Owning and Using a Pistol Safely.

This course is composed of two segments:
Classroom 8 hours.
Range ~4 hours.
You will have use of the NRA Basic Pistol Shooting Student Packet, consisting of the NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting Handbook (2019), NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program Booklet, and Gun Safety Rules Card. You may buy the manual for an additional $15. Range fees are covered.
You will need to bring:
Classroom: your own pistol, magazines, no live ammunition, notebook, pen/pencil. Range information will be disseminated during the class.

You will be evaluated using NRA guidelines both in the classroom and the range:
Classroom: 50 question, multiple-choice and True/False, open-book test
Range: Level I certification, 10-foot range, 5 shots each in 4 targets (example attached, Red target is Level I)

Basic Pistol Refresher (4 hours)

Course Goals: Refresher training for renewing your Concealed Carry Weapon permit and meeting the requirements for SSF.

This course will also be composed of two segments, but is geared towards updates to the law and refreshing the basic pistol skills. Classroom time will be two hours, and a mandatory range to confirm shooting skills.

Personal Protection in the Home (PPITH)

To develop in the students the basic knowledge, skills and attitude essential to the safe and efficient use of a firearm for protection of self and family, and to provide information on the law-abiding citizen’s right to self defense.