Becoming a Carry Concealed Weapon Program DOJ Certified Instructor and Maintaining Current Certification

CCW Program DOJ Certified Instructor applicants must be at least 21 years old, must have a Certificate of Eligibility as proof of being able to lawfully possess firearms in California, and must provide a copy of a valid California driver license or California identification card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. If your California driver license or identification card has “FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY” on the front, you must also present proof of lawful presence in the United States by providing one of the documents listed in California Code of Regulations, title 11, section 4045.1, subdivision (b). (Cal. Code Reg., tit. 11, § 4410, subd. (b), referencing § 4045.1.).

If your name, as it appears on the California driver license or identification card that has “FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY” on the front, differs from the name on the document(s) above, you must present one of the certified documents listed in California Code of Regulations, title 11, section 4045.1, subdivision (c). (Cal. Code Reg., tit. 11, § 4410, subd.(b), referencing § 4045.1.).

CCW Program DOJ Certified Instructor applicants must also submit a copy of their active or unexpired training certification from one of the following entities:

1. Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Department of Consumer Affairs, State of California-Firearm Training Instructor;
2. Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), State of California-Firearms Instructor, Rangemaster, or Concealed Carry Tactics Instructor;
3. Authorization from a State of California accredited school to teach a firearm training course;
4. California Highway Patrol or California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation-Firearms Instructor, Weapons Instructor, or Rangemaster; or
5. National Rifle Association (NRA)-Law Enforcement Instructor or Basics of Personal Protection Outside the Home Instructor. Basics of Personal Protection Outside the Home Instructor must additionally be both an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor and Personal Protection in the Home Instructor.

Lastly, within six months before submitting their application, initial and renewal applicants must pass a live-fire shooting qualification course on a firing range.

(Cal. Code Regs., tit. 11, § 4410, subds. (a)–(d).)

Within six months before submitting their application, initial and renewal applicants must pass a live-fire shooting qualification course on a firing range. The shooting course must be administered by someone certified by one of the following entities:

1. Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Department of Consumer Affairs, State of California-Firearm Training Instructor;
2. Federal Government, Certified Rangemaster or Firearm Instructor
3. Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Firearm Instructor Training Program or Rangemaster;
4. United States Military, Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) as marksmanship or firearms instructor. Assignment as Range Officer or Safety Officer is not sufficient;
5. Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), State of California-Firearms Instructor, Rangemaster or Concealed Carry Tactics Instructor;
6. Authorization from a State of California accredited school to teach a firearm training course;
7. California Highway Patrol or California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation-Firearms Instructor, Weapons Instructor, or Rangemaster; or
8. National Rifle Association (NRA)-Law Enforcement Instructor or Basics of Personal Protection Outside the Home Instructor. Basics of Personal Protection Outside the Home Instructor must additionally be both an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor and Personal Protection in the Home Instructor.

(Cal. Code Regs., tit. 11, § 4410, subd. (d); Form BOF 1034 (Rev. 02/2024).)

To prevent any conflict of interest, you may not administer your own shooting qualification.

No, there is no DOJ fee associated with the application process. However to qualify as a CCW Program DOJ Certified Instructor, an applicant must possess a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE). The fees for a COE can be found on the COE webpage.

The CCW Program DOJ Instructor Certification is valid for four years provided that the instructor maintains a valid COE. To remain valid, a COE must be renewed annually.

(Cal. Code Regs., tit. 11, § 4410, subd. (e).)

No. The Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) Program is separate from the CCW Program. FSC Program DOJ Certified Instructors are authorized to administer the FSC test, issue FSCs, and oversee safe handling demonstrations.

You may apply to be a certified instructor for either, or both, programs. For information about becoming a FSC Program DOJ Certified Instructor, please visit https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/fscinfo.

No, because the FSC Program is separate from the CCW Program, your certification as a FSC Program DOJ Certified Instructor is not affected by the requirements to become a CCW Program DOJ Certified Instructor.

Yes. Any active or honorably retired peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, who is certified as a Firearms Instructor by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) may provide the course of training described in Penal Code section 26165. Such officers are exempt from the application process. Reserve peace officers appointed pursuant to Penal Code section 830.6 do not qualify for this exemption.

(Cal. Code Regs., tit. 11, § 4412.)

Yes. Any person may notify the DOJ if they believe a CCW DOJ Certified Instructor’s certification should be revoked. Such notifications should state the facts that support this belief and include any documents or other evidence supporting this conclusion.

A certification shall be revoked for any of the following reasons:

1. Instructor made false statements on the application;
2. Instructor’s training course fails to meet the minimum hourly length prescribed by Penal Code section 26165, subdivisions (a)(1) or (d);
3. Instructor’s training course fails to include instruction on the topics listed in Penal Code section 26165, subdivision (a)(2);
4. Instructor fails to require students to pass a written examination to demonstrate their understanding of the topics listed in Penal Code section 26165, subdivision (a)(2) and (3);
5. Instructor’s training course fails to include the live-fire shooting exercises, safe handling demonstration, or demonstration of shooting proficiency prescribed by Penal Code section 26165, subdivision (a)(6); or
6. Public safety may be endangered if the instructor were to retain the certification

(Cal. Code Regs., tit. 11, § 4411, subds. (a)–(b).)

Please email DOJCertifiedInstructor@doj.ca.gov to request another copy of your certificate. There is no cost for a replacement certificate.

For additional information regarding the CCW Program DOJ Certified Instructor process, please email DOJCertifiedInstructor@doj.ca.gov.