Effective July 1, 2025, Colorado House Bill 24-1174 (HB24-1174) significantly changed the training requirements for concealed handgun permits (CHP). All...
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Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit Training Requirements
Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit Training Requirements
Overview
Effective July 1, 2025, Colorado House Bill 24-1174 (HB24-1174) significantly changed the training requirements for concealed handgun permits (CHP). All training must now be conducted by a verified firearms instructor - an instructor verified by a Colorado county sheriff's office. Training certificates submitted for a CHP must be completed through a verified instructor.
Governing Statutes: C.R.S. 18-12-201 through 18-12-215; C.R.S. 18-12-202.5 (training class requirements); C.R.S. 18-12-202.7 (instructor verification)
New Applicant Training Requirements
Minimum 8-Hour Concealed Handgun Training Class
The class must be held in person with the instructor at the same location as the students. No part of the class may be conducted via the internet. The eight hours of instruction do not need to be consecutive.
Online courses and Hunter Education certificates are NOT accepted.
Required Curriculum Elements
The 8-hour training class must include the following elements:
Knowledge and safe handling of firearms and ammunition
Safe storage of firearms and child safety
Safe firearms shooting fundamentals
Federal and state laws pertaining to the lawful purchase, ownership, transportation, use, and possession of firearms, including instruction on:
Extreme Risk Protection Orders (Article 14.5 of Title 13)
Requirements for reporting lost or stolen firearms (C.R.S. 18-12-113)
Any other state law enacted within five years before the class pertaining to firearms
State law pertaining to the use of deadly force for self-defense
Best practices for safely interacting with law enforcement personnel responding to an emergency
Techniques for avoiding a criminal attack and managing a violent confrontation, including conflict resolution and judgmental use of lethal force
Testing Requirements (New Applicants)
Live-Fire Shooting Exercise: Minimum 70% accuracy score as determined by the instructor, conducted on a range, requiring discharge of at least 50 rounds of ammunition. Does not need to be conducted in a single day.
Written Concealed Handgun Competency Exam: Minimum passing score of 80%, testing knowledge of the curriculum subjects listed above. The exam must be administered as an open book exam.
Training Certificate Validity
Original training certificate must be dated within one (1) year of the application appointment date.
Must include the printed name and original signature of the class instructor.
Photocopies or digital versions are not accepted - the original certificate is required.
The certificate must clearly indicate whether the student completed a concealed handgun training class or a refresher class.
Renewal Applicant Training Requirements (Refresher Class)
Minimum 2-Hour Concealed Handgun Refresher Class
The refresher class must be held in person with the instructor at the same location as the students. No part of the class may be conducted via the internet.
Required Refresher Curriculum Elements
Instruction on changes to federal and state laws related to firearms enacted within five years before the refresher class
A live-fire shooting exercise conducted on a range, requiring discharge of at least 50 rounds of ammunition
A written concealed handgun competency exam testing knowledge of the same subjects required for new applicants
Testing Requirements (Renewal Applicants)
Live-Fire Shooting Exercise: Minimum 70% accuracy score as determined by the instructor
Written Concealed Handgun Competency Exam: Minimum passing score of 80%, administered as an open book exam
Refresher Training Certificate Validity
Original training certificate must be dated within six (6) months of the renewal application appointment/submittal date.
Must include the printed name and original signature of the verified instructor.
Photocopies or digital versions are not accepted.
Renewal Timing
Renewal applications may be submitted up to 120 days before the permit expiration date (per C.R.S. 18-12-211(1)(a)).
Expired permits have a 6-month grace period in which to renew.
Applications renewed after July 1, 2025 are subject to the new training requirements regardless of when the original permit was issued - there is no grace period for the new training requirements.
Applications beyond the 6-month grace period will not be accepted.
Alternative Qualifications (New and Renewal Applicants)
In lieu of the standard training class, the following may satisfy the training requirement:
For New Applicants:
Evidence of experience with a firearm through participation in organized shooting competitions, current military service, or current certification as a peace officer pursuant to Article 2.5 of Title 16
Proof of honorable discharge from a branch of the United States Armed Forces within three (3) years preceding submittal of the application
Proof of honorable discharge from a branch of the United States Armed Forces that reflects pistol qualifications obtained within ten (10) years preceding submittal of the application
Evidence that the applicant is a certified firearms instructor at the time of application
A certificate showing retirement from a Colorado law enforcement agency that reflects pistol qualifications obtained within ten (10) years preceding submittal of the application
For Renewal Applicants:
Evidence of experience with a firearm through participation in organized shooting competitions, current military service, or current certification as a peace officer pursuant to Article 2.5 of Title 16
Proof of honorable discharge from a branch of the United States Armed Forces that reflects pistol qualifications obtained within ten (10) years preceding submittal of the application
Evidence that the applicant is a certified firearms instructor at the time of application
A certificate showing retirement from a Colorado law enforcement agency that reflects pistol qualifications obtained within ten (10) years preceding submittal of the application
Verified Firearms Instructor Program
Per C.R.S. 18-12-202.7, each sheriff shall verify as a firearms instructor a person whose principal place to conduct firearms training is in the sheriff's county.
Instructor Verification Requirements:
Valid Colorado Driver's License or ID
Valid Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit
Proof of certification as a firearms instructor (e.g., NRA instructor certificate or Colorado POST instructor certificate)
Class training location must be within the verifying county
Concealed handgun training class syllabus/lesson plan
Verification is valid for 10 years, provided the instructor's proof of firearms training certification remains valid
Verification is statewide - a verified instructor may teach students applying in any Colorado county
Verified instructors are listed publicly on the verifying sheriff's office website
Instructors must notify the sheriff's office of certification renewals; there is no grace period for expired instructor certifications
If the instructor's principal place of business changes, they must notify the CHP unit within 30 days
Deceptive Trade Practice (C.R.S. 6-1-707)
It is a deceptive trade practice to claim to be a verified instructor for a firearms safety course that satisfies CHP training requirements unless the person is actually verified by a sheriff pursuant to C.R.S. 18-12-202.7.
Judicial Review of Instructor Verification Denial
Per C.R.S. 18-12-207(4)(a), if a sheriff denies, suspends, or revokes a person's firearms instructor verification, the person may seek judicial review. The sheriff has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the person does not meet the requirements.
General Applicant Eligibility Requirements
Must be 21 years of age or older
Must be a resident of the county where applying
Must provide a valid Colorado Driver's License or Colorado ID
Must submit proof of required firearms training
Must successfully complete a background investigation (fingerprints sent to CBI and FBI, Criminal History Review through CBI's InstaCheck System)
Must not be an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance as defined in C.R.S. 18-18-102(5) and C.R.S. 18-12-203(2)(f) - this includes medical or recreational marijuana users
Fees (Vary by County)
Fee Type
Amount (Examples)
New Application
$105 (San Miguel County); $152.50 (Elbert County)
Renewal Application
$63 (multiple counties)
New application fees typically include
CBI fingerprints, InstaCheck, FBI processing, plus local processing
Training Course (if offered by sheriff's office)
$150 new / $75 renewal (Clear Creek County example)
Note: Fees vary by county. Some counties (e.g., Elbert County) offer free training classes for county residents.
Key Statutory References
C.R.S. 18-12-201 through 18-12-215 - Concealed Handgun Permit statutes
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