California Non-Resident CCW Course (16 Hours, Online)

This course is for non-residents of California. California residents should take our Riverside County or LAPD CCW course.

Since January 1, 2026, California licensing agencies must issue concealed carry licenses (CCW) to qualified non-residents. This 16-hour online course covers the training required for a California non-resident CCW. Take it at your own pace, from anywhere, taught by a California DOJ-certified instructor.

Accepted by these agencies

• Riverside County Sheriff's Office
• Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)
• Sacramento County Sheriff's Office
• El Dorado County Sheriff's Office
• Fresno County Sheriff's Office
• Placer County Sheriff's Office
• Shasta County Sheriff's Office

Each agency sets its own requirements and decides who receives a license. Confirm current requirements with your agency before you apply.

What the course covers

• California concealed carry laws, including where you may not carry
• Use of force and the legal aftermath of a self-defense incident
• Firearm safety, storage and transport in California
• Shooting fundamentals and what to expect at your qualification
• The non-resident application process, step by step

Your live-fire qualification: two options

California requires a live-fire qualification with each handgun you list on your application. You can complete it either way:

• Qualify with us in Southern California. If you'll be in town, you can complete your qualification with our instructors. Contact us to arrange it.
• Qualify near home. Complete your qualification with any NRA-certified instructor at a range facility near you. Let your licensing agency know which instructor and range you'll use.

How it works

1. Enroll and complete the 16-hour online course at your own pace.
2. Pass the written exam and receive your certificate of completion.
3. Complete your live-fire qualification with us or with an NRA-certified instructor near you.
4. Submit your application and training documents to your licensing agency.

About your instructor

Ray Alipanah has over 25 years of firearms and personal defense experience. He is a California DOJ-certified CCW instructor, a POST-certified law enforcement instructor, an NRA Training Counselor and NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, and a USCCA Certified Instructor.

Completing this course does not guarantee issuance of a license. Your licensing agency alone decides who receives a license.