Instructor Concealed Handgun Permit Firearms General Information
Please read the following instructions if you desire to be a Weld County Sheriff’s office approved instructor based on the new legislation that is going into effect July 1, 2025. If you want to know more about HB-24-1174 please visit the Colorado General Assembly website.
What a concealed handgun permit applicant must do according to the new law
Under existing law, an applicant for a permit to carry a concealed handgun (permit) must demonstrate competence with a handgun. An applicant may demonstrate competence with a handgun in a number of ways, including by completing a training class offered by a certified instructor within 10 years before submitting an application for a permit. Pursuant to the act, beginning July 1, 2025, an applicant may demonstrate competence with a handgun by completing a training class only if the class satisfies the minimum standards for a training class, described below, and the applicant completes the class within one year before submitting an application for a permit. The act also allows a person to demonstrate competence with a handgun for the purpose of obtaining a permit by holding a current certification as a peace officer.
Minimum standards for the training class an applicant must complete
An initial concealed handgun training class is a law enforcement training firearms safety course, or a firearms safety course taught by an instructor verified by a county sheriff (verified instructor) that is held in person and includes instruction regarding:
- Knowledge and safe handling of firearms and ammunition.
- Safe storage of firearms and child safety.
- Safe shooting fundamentals.
- Federal and state laws pertaining to the lawful purchase, ownership, transportation, use, and possession of firearms.
- State law pertaining to the use of deadly force for self-defense.
- Best practices for safely interacting with law enforcement personnel who are responding to an emergency; and
- Techniques for avoiding a criminal attack and how to manage a violent confrontation, including conflict resolution and judgmental use of lethal force.
A student must achieve a passing score on a written concealed handgun competency exam and in a live-fire exercise to complete an initial concealed handgun training class. An initial concealed handgun training class must provide at least 8 hours of instruction, including the live-fire exercise and written exam.
How an applicant can renew a permit
Beginning July 1, 2025, the act requires an applicant to renew a permit to demonstrate competence with a handgun. A renewal applicant may demonstrate competence with a handgun through participation in:
- An organized shooting competition
- current military service
- current certification as a peace officer
- by being a verified instructor for firearms safety courses
- by showing honorable discharge from a branch of the United States armed forces
- retirement from a Colorado law enforcement agency with pistol qualifications within 10 years prior to submitting a renewal form
- completing an initial concealed handgun training class or a concealed handgun refresher class within 6 months prior to submitting a renewal form.
Requirements for a refresher class
A refresher class must be held in person, be taught by a verified instructor, include instruction on changes to laws related to firearms, and require a passing score of eighty percent on the written exam and take an in-person live-fire exercise. A refresher class must provide at least 2 hours of instruction, including the live-fire exercise and written exam.
What the new law requires of county sheriffs for qualified instructors
The act requires a county sheriff to verify as training instructors any person whose principal place to conduct firearms training is in the sheriff's county.
To be a verified instructor, a person must hold a valid concealed carry permit and be certified as a:
- Firearms instructor by a law enforcement agency
- College or university,
- Nationally recognized organization that customarily offers firearms training,
- A firearms training school.
Other items
Denial, suspension, or revocation of an instructor verification is subject to judicial review.
It is a deceptive trade practice for a person to claim to be a verified instructor for a concealed handgun training class unless the person is verified as a firearms instructor by a county sheriff.
The act prohibits a person from being issued a permit if the person was convicted of certain misdemeanor offenses within 5 years before submitting a permit application.
Application/Renewal Form