Handgun Safety Certificate Program

Effective January 1, 2003, the Basic Firearms Safety Certificate Program was replaced with the Handgun Safety Certificate Program. These new statutes affect the general public in two principal ways. First, unless exempt, individuals must possess a Handgun Safety Certificate (HSC) prior to purchasing or acquiring a handgun. Second, unless exempt, individuals must perform a safe handling demonstration prior to taking delivery of a handgun from a licensed dealer.

HSCs are acquired by taking and passing a written test on handgun safety, generally at participating firearms dealerships and private firearms training facilities. A Handgun Safety Certificate Study Guide, pdf to help individuals prepare for the Handgun Safety Certificate Test is available for purchase at firearms dealerships at $.50 each. There is also a Handgun Safety Certificate Video available for purchase at firearms dealerships or from DOJ Certified Instructors at $5.00 each.

The handgun safety demonstration protocols and DOJ Certified Instructor standards have been established and implemented by DOJ. An explanation of the handgun safety demonstration can be found starting on page 45 of the Handgun Safety Certificate Study Guide (revised January 2012), pdf.

For additional information regarding the Handgun Safety Certificate Program. Please choose from the following:

• Entities Recognized by DOJ as Providing Comparable Handgun Safety Training to Those Entities Specified by Penal Code section 31635, subdivision (b)
• Handgun Safety Certificate Forms and Publications
• Frequently Asked Questions

Entities Recognized by DOJ as Providing Comparable Handgun Safety Training to Those Entities Specified by Penal Code section 31635, subdivision (b)

Penal Code section 31635, subdivision (b) authorizes the California Department of Justice (DOJ) to recognize entities which provide firearms safety training comparable to the entities specified within that subdivision. Individuals possessing a Certificate of Completion from any of the entities so recognized by DOJ may apply for DOJ Certified Instructor certification.

The entities recognized by DOJ as providing firearms safety training comparable to the entities specified by Penal Code section 31635, subdivision (b) are:

• 2nd Amendment Sports, Bakersfield, (661), 323-4512
• Baptist Security Training, Suisun City, (707) 368-2689
• Black Wolf Training, William Heyder, Oceanside, (760) 402-0619
• Bullet Recovery Systems, Plymouth, (530) 308-4747
• BullsEyeTactical Firearms Training, Castella, (530) 235-0721
• California Firearms Safety School, Half Moon Bay, (650) 393-0260
• California Firearms Safety School, San Francisco, (415) 816-2786
• Center Mass Shooting Range, Vacaville, (707) 386-2689
• Defensive Accuracy, Lodi, (408) 687-3791
• Dobbs Firearm Training, Suison City, (888) 486-0250
• Double Tap Training, Granada Hills, (818) 363-1777
• El Cajon Gun Exchange, El Cajon, (619) 579-5152
• Firearms Training Associates, Yorba Linda, (714) 701-9918
• Geof Peabody, Placerville, (530) 642-1892
• The Grant Boys, Costa Mesa, (949) 645-3400
• The Gun School, Danny R. Wells, Tulare, Kings, Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties,
  (888) 274-6436
• Gun World, Burbank, (818) 238-9071
• Gunrunner, Merced, (209) 723-3006
• Herb Bauer Sporting Goods, Inc., Fresno, (559) 435-8600
• HSC Instructor Training Course, William Tidwell, Alameda or Mariposa Counties,
  (510) 552-4742 or (209) 878-3056
• I Can Defend, Peter Schultz, Ramona, (760) 789-0987
• Jackson Arms Shooting Range, Edmund Normandy, (415) 207-1760
• Martin B. Retting Inc., Alex Reyes, Culver City, (310) 837-2412
• On Target Firearms Instruction, Modesto, (209) 575-2308
• Peter Koch Associates, Gary Morgan, Placerville, Sacramento, (530) 642-1400
• Peter Koch Associates, Matt Curry, Sonoma County, (707) 544-9600
• Peter Koch Associates, Ziyad Showket, Marin County, (415) 457-6900
• Powers Security Training, Bakersfield, (661) 871-7273
• Premier Tactical Training, Fresno, (559) 779-7742
• Pro-Right, Valley Springs, (209) 786-2922
• The Range, Grass Valley, (530) 273-4440
• Responsible Firearms Education, Mojave, (661) 810-3025
• Riverside Magnum Range, Riverside, (909) 731-7031
• Safe Gun Handling Course, Mike Green, Elk Grove, (916) 714-4867
• Safety Firearm Training, John Holder, Ukiah, (707) 489-3380
• Seale Enterprises, Chris Seale, Olivehurst, (530) 632-4101
• Shoot Safe Learning, Torrance, (310) 464-0855
• Southern Shooting Supply, Tehachapi, (661) 823-1223
• USA Firearms Training, Santee, (619) 919-2652
• Valley Gun, Inc., Bakersfield, (661) 352-9468
• Westcoast Firearms Training, Eureka, (707) 601-1030