The Best First Time CCW Classes Near You: What to Look For

By: Joel T. Nadler

What makes a great initial Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) class?  The answer will be different for each one of us depending on how we learn and where we are on our journey.  What will be a good class for someone who is very comfortable around guns and is comfortable with firearm fundamentals, including accuracy and safety, will be different compared to someone that is new to guns. My goal in this article is to discuss how to match the right class to your current needs.

Background

I have been training people in armed self-defense for over three decades.  During that time, I have continued to refine my classes and style to adapt to a wide range of experience levels from the beginning shooter to the person working on more advanced skills. As I have aged and gained more experience, I have naturally adapted to more experienced shooters (it comes more naturally as it is a better match to my own experiences).  This is not to say I am not well grounded in the instruction of people newer to shooting.  It is just that my own ability to remember being new to shooting, new to carrying, and new to training are getting further into my past.  Thus, I must make additional efforts to remembering what it was like to be new to shooting when I teach others.

The psychological choice to learn about using guns defensively is a big step for many people.  Additionally, the skills needed to do this safely and competently are relatively simple but can be overwhelming for a new shooter. I have seen very talented instructors overwhelm students with too much information just because their knowledge base is so vast. My personal suggestion is to first focus on classes that only address fundamentals of shooting safely.  Don’t try to cram too much into your learning. Once you have incorporated such skills as gun safety, stance, sights, grip, and trigger press then move on to the more mechanical skills (speed reloading, malfunction clearances, and carrying (presenting and returning to a holster)).

Factors to Consider 

My first advice is to master the skills of safety and basic accuracy first and then start looking for a CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon) class.  There are several factors to consider in picking the class that is right for you.  Your list may include factors that I have not listed and each of us may place different weights on each of these factors.  For example, cost, times, or location may be factors as well in your personal choice.  Here is my list in no specific order.

Knowledge and Experience of the Instructor. A good instructor should have a solid understanding of the laws governing the use of force in the jurisdiction they are teaching. Additionally, they need to understand the realities of civilian use of force (compared to military or law enforcement rules of engagement).  Finally, they don’t need to be the best shooter in the world, but they should have competence in the physical skills they teach.  With these skills they should also be able to detect what is happening with other’s shooting and make usable suggestions allowing them to coach students to better performance. 

The differences between a good instructor and a poorer one are often hard for someone who is new to shooting to detect.  Here are a few guidelines you can use. Are they certified to instruct others by at least one national civilian defensive organization?  What are their reviews, what are others saying about them? Do they spend more time trying to convince you that they are the only ones you should listen to compared to teaching you the knowledge and skills you are there to learn? Do you feel they are listening to you and understanding your concerns?

Like all things in life, sometimes you must take a class to find out how well an instructor works for you.  Be willing to change instructors if the one you have chosen is not a great fit.  Also be willing to take other courses from other instructors as you build your skillsets.  As you learn more about carrying and defensive use of force the better you will be in determining which instructors are right for you.

Compatibility with the Instructor. My father, a high school teacher, once told me “A good instructor is only one day ahead of his students.” I took this to mean that you need to remember what it was like to be learning something for the first time.  Based on this, instructors should construct classes not to show how much they know, but to meet the students where they are in their own learning.  We have likely all had the experience of an instructor that was immensely knowledgeable about a field but talked above their students to the point that it was not even useful. 

A good instructor will meet you where you are no matter what your skill level is.  They will hear your concerns, understand them, and address them realistically.  If your instructor is not doing this, it does not mean they are an overall poor instructor.  More likely they may be a great instructor for you later, just not right now on your journey. 

Years later I was talking with my father and mentioned how much his words of advice had impacted on my own teaching. He just laughed and said that was not what he meant.  What he was referring to is that if you can teach, it doesn’t matter what you are teaching if you are at least one day ahead in learning it yourself.  I am not sure I agree with this interpretation.  I do think a good instructor has fully mastered the material they are teaching.  However, as the advice was intended it reminds us that most students are unaware of the overall skill levels of the people teaching us.  It is when there is a problem, or you need to reach a struggling student that the levels of mastery may matter.

Content of the Class. A good first CCW class should at least equally deal with the skills needed to not have to defend oneself with a weapon.  Such topics as situational awareness, avoiding or escaping unwanted situations (when safe) and determining courses of action and personal defensive plans should all be covered.  Fundamentals of defensive shooting as well as safety should be covered as well.  Mechanics such as malfunction clearances and presenting a firearm from a holster may or may not be included.  

Personally, I would rather see a deeper treatment of the laws and responsibilities of becoming armed as a civilian than time spent on mechanics and tactics at least in a first-time class.  If you are ready to address and learn all these topics, great!  But many people need to learn in segments to not be overwhelmed.  When assessing the content offered, be realistic in your own current skills and knowledge.  Match yourself with a class that focuses on what you can realistically learn.  

I have seen many classes teach too much or too little for the current skill level of some of their students.  Honestly, I have seen way too many classes try to cram too much information in too little time.  Though each skill may be simple to describe, becoming competent with each one takes time and practice. 

Length of the Class. There are advantages to taking multi-day classes.  These longer classes allow an instructor to cover more information and create drills that both teach the skills but allow for more practice of each skill taught.  However, especially for a beginner it may be too much too quickly.  

Start small and learn the fundamentals and then practice those skills before your next class.  Basic safety and fundamentals of shooting can often be covered in two to four hours.  Then once you feel confident with those skills seek a four to six-hour class that covers legal and practical information regarding civilian use of force, situational awareness, and some mechanics and tactics.  Once you are competent with those skills you are ready for the next level of training.  As in the previous suggestions, the goal is to realistically assess your own level of skills to identify what your next class should be. Find an instructor who has the right knowledge and skills, can teach to your current level, and offers the content and length of classes that are a good fit for your current skill level.

Additional Training Available. This factor asks if I find a good instructor for where I am at now do they continue to offer more advanced classes.  Beyond my current needs can I continue to pursue my own development with additional classes?  Ask not only are there classes available but is the instructor able to adapt to teaching those more advanced students.  

I have encountered instructors that are great with newer students, but struggle with people who are more advanced in their skills.  Likewise, some of my favorite instructors are great with more advanced students but struggle with those that are newer.  Finally, some instructors can adapt to any level of skills and knowledge.  All are still good instructors, the question is whether they are a good fit for you.

Conclusions

Do as much homework as you can on the experiences and reviews of the instructor, look at the course length and content, and when possible, meet the instructor before committing to a class.  Ask if the class is a good fit for you, and if it is, are there more classes offered if you want to continue learning?  Self-defense is a serious topic, and someone deciding to become an armed citizen has a responsibility to become knowledgeable, safe, and competent.  This process often includes structured instruction (classes), private training, and follow-up practice of the skills learned in the first two.  

Assess where you are currently in your skills and knowledge.  Make a quick list of what you are looking for in a class.  Use these assessments to pick the class that is the best fit for you.