Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers to what we get asked most. If yours isn’t here, call 720-464-SHOT (7468) — we will tell you what you actually need, including when the cheaper class is the right one.

Colorado firearms safety course (SB25-003)

New law, and plenty of rumors about it. For the full plain-English breakdown — what counts as a specified semiautomatic firearm, what does not, and what the whole process costs — read Colorado SB25-003: What It Actually Does.

I have a concealed carry permit. Doesn’t that cover me?
No. Colorado Parks and Wildlife could not be clearer: “All background checks and courses taken for a concealed carry weapon (CCW) are not reciprocal for the Firearms Safety Program.” Your CCW does not exempt you and does not shorten the course. They are separate laws with separate requirements. This is the single most common mistake we hear.

I took hunter education. Am I done?
No, but it helps. CPW: “Completion of a hunter education course certified by CPW will not qualify you for purchasing a SSF. In addition to your hunter education course, you will need to complete a Basic Firearms Safety Program course.” Hunter education gets you the 4-hour Basic instead of the 12-hour Extended. That is the whole benefit.

Which course do I need?
Completed CPW hunter education → the 4-hour Basic, $89. Everything else → the 12-hour Extended, $249, taught over two days.

Can I book the class first and sort the card out afterward?
No. You cannot enroll until you already hold a Firearms Safety Course Eligibility Card from the sheriff in your county. Apply first, book second. Nobody can sell you a seat before that.

Can I take it online?
No. No part of it may be taught online. Any online-only offering does not meet the requirement.

Is my carry pistol banned?
Almost certainly not. The law covers gas-operated semiautomatic handguns with a detachable magazine. The large majority of common pistols — Glock, Smith & Wesson M&P, SIG P320 — are recoil-operated and are not specified semiautomatic firearms.

Is my shotgun banned?
Tube-fed semiautomatic shotguns have no detachable magazine and are not covered. A detachable-magazine semiautomatic shotgun is.

What about my .22?
Rimfire firearms of .22 caliber or smaller are exempt, unless the firearm has a separate upper and lower receiver.

What about bolt guns, pumps and lever actions?
Manually operated firearms are outside the definition entirely.

How long is it good for?
Five years to purchase, from the date you pass.

What is the pass mark?
90%, on both the written exam and the live-fire qualification. We tell you that up front so nobody is surprised by it.

Who gets the $52?
Colorado Parks and Wildlife, collected by your sheriff’s office. Your county also charges its own processing fee. Neither is included in our course price — we charge for the course only.

Concealed carry permits

Which class do I need for a Colorado permit?
Our Basics of Pistol Shooting — 8 hours, in person, $199, range fee included. It satisfies the state training requirement.

Why is it called Basics of Pistol Shooting and not “the CCW class”?
Because it is a complete pistol course, not a box-ticking exercise. It happens to meet the state requirement, and it also teaches you to shoot.

I’m renewing. Do I need the full 8 hours?
No. Colorado allows renewal applicants a shorter refresher — 2 hours, $124.99, including the law updates, live fire, the written exam and the range fee.

My old certificate — is it still valid?
Only if the training was completed within one year of the date you apply. The old ten-year window is gone. If you trained in 2023 and have not applied, it no longer counts.

Can I do the concealed carry class online?
No. Eight hours, in person, taught by a verified instructor.

Does it matter who teaches it?
Legally, yes. Your certificate is only valid if the instructor is verified by a county sheriff. John Rader is Douglas County Verified Firearms Instructor #25037, published on the county’s list and valid statewide. Check the number before you pay anyone — not every instructor is verified.

Do you teach outside Douglas County?
Yes. Verification is valid statewide. Students come from Aurora, Denver, Centennial, Castle Rock, Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch and across the metro.

I’ve taken the class. How do I actually get the permit?
You apply to the sheriff in the county where you live, with your training certificate from the class. In Douglas County you are photographed and fingerprinted when you submit the application, and there is a combined non-refundable fee of $152.50 covering the background investigation, fingerprint processing and the permit card — cash, a check payable to Douglas County Sheriff, or Visa and Mastercard. Other counties run the same process with their own fees and appointment times. Call us and we will tell you what yours expects.

How long does the permit take?
About six to eight weeks in Douglas County at the moment. Other counties vary. If you are renewing, that is the reason to take your refresher and get the application in before your permit expires rather than after.

How old do I have to be?
21 to hold a Colorado concealed handgun permit. Our other classes have no age limit — see Class day below.

Which county do I apply in?
The county where you live. Permits are issued by county sheriffs and are valid statewide once issued, so you can train with us in Parker and apply at home.

Does my training certificate expire?
Effectively, yes. Your training must have been completed within one year of the date you apply. That is why we tell renewal students to book close to their renewal date rather than well ahead of it.

Where is my Colorado permit valid?
Everywhere in Colorado, plus the states that recognize a Colorado permit. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation publishes the official list — check it before you travel, because it changes.

Where can I not carry, even with a permit?
Colorado and federal law both put places off limits, and some of those rules changed recently. We cover this in class. For a specific place or a specific situation, your sheriff’s office or a Colorado attorney is the right source — we teach the training side and will not guess on your behalf.

Classes and booking

Do I need to own a firearm?
No. Ask about a rental when you book. If you are new and do not own one yet, take the class first and buy second — you will make a far better decision afterward.

I have never fired a gun.
Most of our students start exactly there. The class starts at the beginning.

What if I don’t pass?
Talk to us. Nobody gets rushed through and nobody gets abandoned.

Where do you teach?
Parker and Aurora, proudly serving the Denver Metro area and all of Colorado.

Are you a range? Can I just come and shoot?
No. Colorado Tactics is training only — we do not rent lanes and we do not sell firearms. Instruction is all we do.

What does it cost?
Everything we teach is listed with its price on the services and prices page, from $89 to $450. No quotes, no “call for pricing.”

Class day

What do I bring to the concealed carry class?
Your handgun and holster, eye and ear protection, roughly 100 rounds of ammunition, and closed-toe shoes. Rentals are available, and so are loaner eye and ear protection — ask when you book.

What do I bring to the renewal refresher?
Your current permit, your handgun and holster, eye and ear protection, and about 50 rounds. The refresher includes a live-fire qualification, and the range fee is included in the $124.99 — there is nothing extra to pay at the range.

What do I bring to the Firearms Safety Course?
Your eligibility card and yourself. It is classroom only — no range time, no live fire, no ammunition.

How young can a student be?
Younger than most people expect. Outside the permit classes there is no age limit — the youngest student we have taught was eight. A parent or guardian comes along and signs the waiver. The concealed carry classes are the exception, since you must be 21 to hold a permit.

How long is the day, and are there breaks?
The permit class runs 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM with breaks — classroom in the morning, live fire in the afternoon. The 12-hour safety course is split across two separate days, as the law requires.

Where exactly do I go?
Classes run in Parker and Aurora. You get the exact address by email before class.

Booking, payment and cancellation

How do I book a seat?
Through the member portal. Create an account, pick your date, sign the waiver, and you are booked. A confirmation email arrives with a calendar link, and a reminder goes out the morning before.

Do I pay up front?
For the concealed carry class, $75 reserves your seat and the $124 balance is due on the day. Other classes are paid when you book or on the day, depending on the class.

How can I pay?
Card through the portal when you book, and cash or card for the balance on the day. Cash is welcome.

Do I have to register with the NRA too?
For classes that carry an NRA certification, yes — there is a separate NRA sign-up link on the booking page, and that registration is required in addition to your seat. John is NRA Certified Instructor #167433046.

What if I need to cancel or move to another date?
Cancel in the portal up to 24 hours before the class starts and your seat goes to the first person on the waitlist. Inside 24 hours, call 720-464-SHOT (7468) and we will sort it out.

Do I get my deposit back if I cancel?
Yes. Cancel more than 24 hours before the class and your deposit is refunded in full.

The class I want is full. What now?
Join the waitlist in the portal — the first person on the list is emailed automatically when a seat opens. If no date suits you at all, say when you can train. When enough people want the same class, a date gets set around it.

Do you sell gift certificates?
Yes. Call 720-464-SHOT (7468) and we will sort one out.

Groups, private and business

Can you train just me, or me and my spouse?
Yes. Private instruction is $225 per hour — one hour or two, built around whatever you want to work on. Couples and family members training together are common. Request a day and time and John confirms by email, usually the same day.

Do you train businesses, churches and HOAs?
Yes. Active Shooter Response Training is $150 per person, requested most often by employers, congregations and HOAs. It is built around your building and your people.

Do you teach women-only classes?
Yes. Women’s Self-Defense is $125, built around the situations women actually face. No experience and no firearm needed.

Still not sure?

Call 720-464-SHOT (7468) or email info@coloradotactics.com. Tell us your situation and we will point you to the right class — or tell you that you do not need one.

Proudly serving the Denver Metro area and all of Colorado
Classes in Parker and Aurora  ·  Monday–Saturday, 9–5

This page explains public law in plain English. It is not legal advice. Your county sheriff’s office is the final word on permit and eligibility-card applications, and the Colorado Department of Revenue maintains the official list of covered firearms.