Basic Pistol teaches the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude for owning and operating pistols safely. Students learn NRA’s rules for safe gun handling; pistol parts and operation; ammunition types and storage; shooting fundamentals; range rules; shooting from the bench rest position and two handed standing positions; cleaning pistols; and continued opportunities for skill development. You may expect to shoot approximately thirty rounds of live ammunition to qualify and may need up to 200 rounds if we need to work on your shooting skills. I will take all of the time you need to make sure you learn to shoot well and qualify before you leave the range. Your course completion certificate qualifies you to apply for your concealed firearms license in the State of Florida. Other States may have additional requirements but NRA certificates are sufficient for all other States as well. Florida law changed effective July 2023 to allow for non-licensed concealed carry. Training is always a good idea and also other states may still require licensing for reciprocity.
As of April 2017, NRA has altered its BP Course to include three options.
1. One option is titled the Blended Course where you work through a series of lessons at your convenience on a computer with internet access. There are two ways to pay for Phase 1. One is you may pay NRA $60, select your own unique username, password, and choose an instructor afterwards. NRA then sends you an e-mail with instructions for completing the self-study academics on-line. Or second, you may pay an instructor for a Course Control Code for Phase 1 enrollment which costs the instructor only $25. I sell them for that same price to my students. A Course Control Code provides access to the same on-line training that would otherwise have cost 60 dollars. The Instructor provided Course Control Code commits you to using only that instructor for the Phase 2 range qualification shooting portion. It is critical that your Phase 1 self-study be completed before attempting the Phase 2 hands-on shooting portion of the blended course. Print and take your certificate to your certified NRA instructor who reviews the material with you prior to completing the practical range portion learning to shoot revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. The on-line Phase 1 registration site address is https://basicpistol.nra.org/. Once registered you will have 90 days to complete the eleven lessons which normally takes about 8 hours. Once you complete Phase I or the on-line portion of the course you will take an online exam. You must score a 90% on the exam in order to receive your online certificate, which you can save and print. If you do not pass the exam on your first try – RELAX! You’ll have four additional opportunities to retake the exam and pass. Once you pass the online course, register for the Phase II range portion of the course.
2. The second way to take the course is in the traditional classroom manner under the direct supervision of an instructor in both a classroom and on a live fire range. This version is titled Instructor Led Training or ILT. Call me at (850) 333 - 7186 to discuss which method you prefer. The traditional classroom based course takes about 8 to 9 hours in total, typically conducted in one day but can be adjusted to your schedule.
3. The third option is a slightly condensed plan where you learn to shoot only one specific pistol action type, either a revolver or semi-automatic pistol. Registration is the same as for the ILT version of the course.
To maintain consistency across all three versions, a Performance Requirements Checklist is used to document what you are taught as well as record your acknowledgement that you feel comfortable with each objective. For example, if you register for the condensed lesson plan covering a single pistol type, your instructor must document this clearly on the checklist who then keeps it for his records. Each ILT student is provided with a Basics of Pistol Shooting student packet consisting of the NRA Guide: Basics of Pistol Shooting Handbook and a written exam. For the condensed course for only one pistol action type, this will be indicated on your course registration page in order to print the correct certificate which will state "Revolver" or "Semi-Automatic" as appropriate.
Once you complete either the Blended or the ILT version of the NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting Course, your instructor will submit an electronic course report to NRA. This report will include your written exam score, the shooting skill level you achieved, and the instructor’s acknowledgement that you met all of the learning objectives as set forth by the National Rifle Association. Once each of these elements is complete, the instructor will be able to submit and print your report and certificate. Certificates are watermarked and pre-printed with the NRA Instructor's ID number, the instructor’s printed name below a signature line, date, serial number, your name, your marksmanship skill level, the pistol action type if appropriate for the condensed course, as well as the signature of the NRA Secretary.
Please note the difference between this kind of thorough firearms education and training compared with the 2-hour gun show "CCL Classes" that offer very little to no training in shooting skills, whose academic instruction covers next to nothing about firearms and only read what is posted in Florida State statutes that is already freely available on-line. NRA instruction is more valuable to you than these 70 dollar "classes". Keep in mind the high responsibility you are expected to live up to as a firearms owner, or concealed carrier who at some moment may have real shooting skills demanded of you with little to no warning.
Finally, here are some recommended items to bring to class with you:
Your Student Handbook and Phase 1 Certificate of training for Blended / On-line students,
Eye and ear protection - both earplugs and muffs together are quietest,
Your pistol(s) in a case,
A minimum of 50 and up to 200 rounds of target grade ammunition per pistol, left in your vehicle during class,
Cleaning kit,
Pen, pencil, and highlighter,
Lunch or a few snacks and water bottle,
Manufacturer's manual for your pistol, usually available free on their website if you do not have one,
Dummy cartridges for dry fire practice, at least 4 recommended. A-Zoom makes solid brown colored aluminum ones available on the Lyman website. The blue ones are for loading and unloading practice only and are not designed to withstand the rigors of dry practice unless they are of center-fire design. ST Action Pro makes bright orange ones that are easy to find on the ground and are USA made.
Signed and dated waiver.
As of April 2017, NRA has altered its BP Course to include three options.
1. One option is titled the Blended Course where you work through a series of lessons at your convenience on a computer with internet access. There are two ways to pay for Phase 1. One is you may pay NRA $60, select your own unique username, password, and choose an instructor afterwards. NRA then sends you an e-mail with instructions for completing the self-study academics on-line. Or second, you may pay an instructor for a Course Control Code for Phase 1 enrollment which costs the instructor only $25. I sell them for that same price to my students. A Course Control Code provides access to the same on-line training that would otherwise have cost 60 dollars. The Instructor provided Course Control Code commits you to using only that instructor for the Phase 2 range qualification shooting portion. It is critical that your Phase 1 self-study be completed before attempting the Phase 2 hands-on shooting portion of the blended course. Print and take your certificate to your certified NRA instructor who reviews the material with you prior to completing the practical range portion learning to shoot revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. The on-line Phase 1 registration site address is https://basicpistol.nra.org/. Once registered you will have 90 days to complete the eleven lessons which normally takes about 8 hours. Once you complete Phase I or the on-line portion of the course you will take an online exam. You must score a 90% on the exam in order to receive your online certificate, which you can save and print. If you do not pass the exam on your first try – RELAX! You’ll have four additional opportunities to retake the exam and pass. Once you pass the online course, register for the Phase II range portion of the course.
2. The second way to take the course is in the traditional classroom manner under the direct supervision of an instructor in both a classroom and on a live fire range. This version is titled Instructor Led Training or ILT. Call me at (850) 333 - 7186 to discuss which method you prefer. The traditional classroom based course takes about 8 to 9 hours in total, typically conducted in one day but can be adjusted to your schedule.
3. The third option is a slightly condensed plan where you learn to shoot only one specific pistol action type, either a revolver or semi-automatic pistol. Registration is the same as for the ILT version of the course.
To maintain consistency across all three versions, a Performance Requirements Checklist is used to document what you are taught as well as record your acknowledgement that you feel comfortable with each objective. For example, if you register for the condensed lesson plan covering a single pistol type, your instructor must document this clearly on the checklist who then keeps it for his records. Each ILT student is provided with a Basics of Pistol Shooting student packet consisting of the NRA Guide: Basics of Pistol Shooting Handbook and a written exam. For the condensed course for only one pistol action type, this will be indicated on your course registration page in order to print the correct certificate which will state "Revolver" or "Semi-Automatic" as appropriate.
Once you complete either the Blended or the ILT version of the NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting Course, your instructor will submit an electronic course report to NRA. This report will include your written exam score, the shooting skill level you achieved, and the instructor’s acknowledgement that you met all of the learning objectives as set forth by the National Rifle Association. Once each of these elements is complete, the instructor will be able to submit and print your report and certificate. Certificates are watermarked and pre-printed with the NRA Instructor's ID number, the instructor’s printed name below a signature line, date, serial number, your name, your marksmanship skill level, the pistol action type if appropriate for the condensed course, as well as the signature of the NRA Secretary.
Please note the difference between this kind of thorough firearms education and training compared with the 2-hour gun show "CCL Classes" that offer very little to no training in shooting skills, whose academic instruction covers next to nothing about firearms and only read what is posted in Florida State statutes that is already freely available on-line. NRA instruction is more valuable to you than these 70 dollar "classes". Keep in mind the high responsibility you are expected to live up to as a firearms owner, or concealed carrier who at some moment may have real shooting skills demanded of you with little to no warning.
Finally, here are some recommended items to bring to class with you:
Your Student Handbook and Phase 1 Certificate of training for Blended / On-line students,
Eye and ear protection - both earplugs and muffs together are quietest,
Your pistol(s) in a case,
A minimum of 50 and up to 200 rounds of target grade ammunition per pistol, left in your vehicle during class,
Cleaning kit,
Pen, pencil, and highlighter,
Lunch or a few snacks and water bottle,
Manufacturer's manual for your pistol, usually available free on their website if you do not have one,
Dummy cartridges for dry fire practice, at least 4 recommended. A-Zoom makes solid brown colored aluminum ones available on the Lyman website. The blue ones are for loading and unloading practice only and are not designed to withstand the rigors of dry practice unless they are of center-fire design. ST Action Pro makes bright orange ones that are easy to find on the ground and are USA made.
Signed and dated waiver.