NRA CCW Course

Some of the topics in the course include:

• Review from NRA Basic Pistol or TN Handgun Carry Permit class
  • gun safety rules
  • proper operation of revolvers and semi-automatic pistols
  • Fundamentals of marksmanship
  • ammunition knowledge and selection
• holster selection
• different carry modes
• drawing from a holster (open and concealed)
• defensive mindset
• defensive accuracy and flash sight picture
• emergency reloading
• malfunction clearances
• one-handed shooting
• shooting from moderate distances (10-15 yards)
• shooting with a timer
• and much more!

Small classes ensure low student-to-instructor ratios for lots of individualized attention. The course concludes with a written test and a shooting qualification drill. Our patient instructors will be there to assist students every step of the way in a comfortable, non-intimidating environment.

Students will need:

• a quality defensive handgun
• a properly-fitted holster and belt
• at least two extra magazines or speed-loaders (and a method of carrying them on your person)
• roughly 150 rounds of ammunition
• a cover garment for concealment
• anything you need to keep yourself comfortable in the elements (we’ll spend several hours on an outdoor range)

If you don’t yet have a handgun or holster, we can lend you one of ours for this course (however, if you plan to continue on to the CCW Instructor course, you should have your own gear). Students may also purchase ammunition from us if necessary. Feel free to contact us for questions about equipment requirements, and please let us know in advance if you will need to borrow equipment or purchase ammo.

Note on Ammo:

We are mindful of the current ammunition shortage. We will do our very best to be conservative with ammo consumption throughout this course. The round count in the equipment list is a generous estimate, and we hope to avoid having to use all of it.

The NRA CCW course lasts a full day (roughly eight hours), with a significant portion of the class spent on the range for live-fire drills.

The NRA CCW course builds upon the skills taught in NRA Basic Pistol. Whereas Basic Pistol focuses on safety and pure marksmanship fundamentals, the CCW course puts those fundamental skills into a defensive context. This course is ideal for those who intend to carry a concealed handgun on their person, outside of the home.

There will be some review of general marksmanship (sight alignment, trigger control, etc.), but the primary focus of NRA CCW is defensive mindset and concealed carry techniques (presentation from a holster). There is no prerequisite for this class, but typically students will have some general familiarity with the five fundamentals of marksmanship. However, when we have CCW students who are brand new to shooting, we will adjust the curriculum accordingly.

Every state has its own rules for handgun carry permit issuance. The NRA CCW class is designed to meet most states’ training requirements, and many states do accept it, but please do not make any assumptions. To find out for sure, contact the proper officials in your state to verify whether the CCW course will satisfy that state’s training requirement.

Tennessee has designed its own training course specifically for Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit applicants, and this course is currently not accepted as a substitute. However, Tennessee now has a new permit called the Concealed Handgun Carry permit, and the NRA CCW class DOES satisfy the training requirement for Tennessee’s Concealed Handgun Carry permit. We’ve assembled a page on our website with more information on the difference between the two permits.

Regardless of whether this course satisfies your state’s required training for concealed carry, it is an excellent primer for anyone who plans to go armed in public and wishes to do so safely and responsibly.