Basics of Pistol Shooting — Colorado CCW Permit Class
This is the class that meets Colorado’s concealed carry permit training requirement. It is called Basics of Pistol Shooting because that is what it is — a complete grounding in the handgun — but it is the course you take to satisfy the state requirement and apply for your permit.
Eight hours, in person, taught by a Douglas County verified firearms instructor.
$150 per person · $50 reserves your seat
What Colorado requires
House Bill 24-1174 took effect July 1, 2025 and changed what a permit applicant has to do:
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| 8 hours, in person | No online course satisfies this |
| A verified instructor | Your instructor must be verified by a county sheriff |
| Within 1 year of applying | It used to be within ten years |
| Written test — 80% | Passing score required |
| Live fire — 70% accuracy | Passing score required |
The biggest change is the one-year window. Training that used to last a decade now expires in twelve months. If you took a class in 2023 and have not applied yet, it no longer counts.
This page explains the requirement in plain English. It is not legal advice — your county sheriff’s office is the final word on your application.
Why the instructor matters
Under the current law your certificate is only valid if the person who signed it is verified by a county sheriff. Not every instructor is.
John Rader — Douglas County Verified Firearms Instructor #25037
NRA Certified Instructor #167433046
- Teaching since 1993 — more than 30,000 students
- United States Marine Corps — ten years infantry, honorably discharged as a Sergeant
- Law Enforcement
- Verification valid statewide — your certificate is good in any Colorado county
That instructor number is published on the Douglas County Sheriff’s verified instructor list. We would encourage you to check it.
What you will actually do
Classroom
- Colorado law on carrying, use of force, and where you may and may not carry
- What actually happens — legally and practically — after a defensive incident
- Safe storage at home, in the car, and around children
- Choosing a handgun, a holster, and a carry method you will actually stick with
- Situational awareness — avoiding the fight you never have to win
Range
- Grip, stance, sight alignment, trigger control
- Loading, unloading, and safe handling
- Drawing safely from concealment
- Malfunction clearing and reloads
- The live-fire qualification
Then the written test and the live-fire qualification. We tell you the standards up front — 80% written, 70% live fire — because nobody should be surprised by them.
“Slow is smooth… and smooth is fast.”
That is how we have taught since 1993. Speed is a by-product of doing it correctly, over and over. We do not take shortcuts and we do not rush you through to fill the next seat.
If you have never touched a handgun, you are in the right place. If you have carried for twenty years and need current training for your renewal, you are also in the right place.
What to bring
- Eye and ear protection (ask about loaners)
- A handgun and holster (rentals available — ask when you book)
- Roughly 100 rounds of ammunition
- A brimmed hat and closed-toe shoes
- Lunch or a snack — it is a full day
New to this and do not own a firearm yet? Come anyway. Take the class first, buy second. You will make a far better decision afterward.
Price
| Basics of Pistol Shooting — the CCW permit class | $150 per person |
| Deposit to reserve your seat | $50 |
| Balance | Due on the day |
Your permit application fee is paid separately to your county sheriff and is not included.
Questions people ask
Is this the class I need for my Colorado permit?
Yes. This is the 8-hour in-person course that satisfies the HB24-1174 training requirement, taught by a sheriff-verified instructor.
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 actually shoot.
My old certificate — is it still good?
Only if the training was completed within one year of the date you apply. The old ten-year window is gone. When in doubt, retrain.
Can I do this online?
No. Colorado requires the full course in person. Any online-only offering does not meet the requirement.
I have never fired a gun.
Most of our students are exactly there. The class starts at the beginning.
Do I need to own a handgun?
No. Ask about a rental when you book.
Do you teach outside Douglas County?
Yes. Verification is valid statewide. Students come from Aurora, Castle Rock, Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch, Centennial, Denver and across the metro.
What if I do not pass?
Talk to us. Nobody gets pushed through, and nobody gets abandoned.
Reserve your seat
Reserve a seat → No charge up front. I set the date once enough people are on the list, then email everyone at once.
Proudly serving the Denver Metro area and all of Colorado
Classes in Parker and Aurora · Monday–Saturday, 9–5
720-464-SHOT (7468) · info@coloradotactics.com