How to Become a CCW Instructor in California

By Ray Alipanah, California DOJ-certified CCW instructor, POST-certified law enforcement instructor and NRA Training Counselor. Updated October 2026.

Demand for CCW training in California has grown since Bruen and SB 2, and so has interest in teaching it. To teach the state-mandated CCW course, an instructor needs certification from the California Department of Justice. Here's how that path works, based on California Code of Regulations, Title 11, Section 4410.

What DOJ looks for

DOJ certifies CCW instructors who hold qualifying credentials and complete its application. One accepted credential is the NRA Personal Protection Outside the Home (PPOTH) Instructor rating. NRA requires two ratings before PPOTH: NRA Pistol Instructor and NRA Personal Protection in the Home Instructor. First-time NRA instructors also complete NRA Basic Instructor Training.

The steps

1. Earn the three NRA instructor ratings (Pistol, Personal Protection in the Home and Personal Protection Outside the Home) from an NRA Training Counselor.
2. Shoot the B-27 qualification. DOJ requires at least 19 hits out of 24 rounds, completed within six months before you apply.
3. Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from DOJ. You must be 21 or older.
4. Complete DOJ form BOF 1034 and submit your packet. DOJ reviews it and decides on certification.

Doing it in one week

Our CA DOJ CCW Instructor Pathway ($1,250, one week) covers all three NRA ratings plus Basic Instructor Training, shoots and scores your B-27 qualification in class, and helps you complete the COE application and BOF 1034. You finish the week with your packet ready to submit. Booked separately, the three NRA courses cost $1,500.

Important: DOJ alone decides who receives CCW instructor certification. A2 Defense provides the NRA training and helps you complete the requirements; we don't issue certification and can't guarantee approval.

Other ratings worth adding

• NRA Rifle and Shotgun Instructor ($500 each, two days) to teach long-gun courses.
• NRA Range Safety Officer to run live fire at classes, clubs and events.

Before you teach CCW, it helps to have taken the course as a student. If you haven't, start with our Riverside County or LAPD CCW classes.

Frequently asked questions

Does A2 Defense issue DOJ CCW instructor certification?

No. California DOJ alone decides who is certified. We provide the NRA instructor training and help you complete DOJ's application requirements, with no guarantee of approval.

Which NRA ratings matter for the DOJ application?

The NRA Personal Protection Outside the Home Instructor rating is one of the credentials DOJ accepts. It requires the NRA Pistol and Personal Protection in the Home Instructor ratings first.

What score do I need on the B-27 qualification?

DOJ requires at least 19 hits out of 24 rounds, completed within six months before you apply.

How old do I need to be?

At least 21.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Agency rules change; always confirm current requirements with your issuing agency. The issuing agency alone decides who receives a license.