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 and must have a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

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.
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.
6. California Rifle & Pistol Association (CRPA)- Personal Protection Outside the Home Instructor. Personal Protection Outside the Home Instructors must additionally be both a CRPA 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.
8. National Rifle Association (NRA)-Law Enforcement Instructor or Basics of Personal Protection Outside the Home Instructor, or CCW Instructor. Basics of Personal Protection Outside the Home Instructors and CCW Instructors must additionally be both an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor and Personal Protection in the Home Instructor.
9. California Rifle & Pistol Association (CRPA)- Personal Protection Outside the Home Instructor. Personal Protection Outside the Home Instructors must additionally be both a CRPA Pistol Instructor and Personal Protection in the Home Instructor.

(Cal. Code Regs., tit. 11, § 4410, subd. (d); Form BOF 1034 (Rev. 07/2025).)

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.

Any active 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, Rangemaster, or Concealed Carry Tactics Instructor by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) is exempt from the live-fire shooting qualification described in section 4410, subdivision (d), if they provide a POST printout showing their active or unexpired firearms live-fire qualification with their Form BOF 1034. 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 claim, include any documents or other evidence supporting this conclusion, and be emailed to DOJCertifiedInstructor@doj.ca.gov. Alternatively, the materials may be mailed to:

California Department of Justice, Bureau of Firearms
Customer Support Center – CCW DOJ Certified Instructor
P.O. Box 160367
Sacramento, CA 95816-0367

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).
6. Public safety would be endangered if the instructor were to retain the certification. For example, the instructor was intoxicated during their training course or fails to display safe weapon practices.

A CCW DOJ Certified Instructor who has had their certification revoked may not reapply for certification earlier than one year from the effective date of the revocation.

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

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.