San Mateo County / San Jose CCW Concealed Carry Class

Our California CCW class is an officially recognized course as part of the process of obtaining your concealed weapons permit within the State of California.

We offer a 16 hour class for new applicants and an 8 hour course for renewals that covers the requirements laid out in California Penal Code Section § 26165. We are SB2 compliant. The first day of the class is a shared class between both new applicants and renewals. The second day of class is additional required topics and range time for new applicants. The second day is optional for renewals, but is a good way to get more practice.

Our class is for residents that live within San Mateo County or the City of San Jose. The permit is recognized statewide.

Our course is both an NRA CCW course and a USCCA Use of Force Mini course. All required NRA and USCCA materials will be provided to the students. We will additionally be providing each student with a copy of Chuck Michel’s California Gun Laws book that covers legal scenarios in more detail than we would be able to cover.

Successful students will receive a course certificate for NRA CCW, a certificate for USCCA Use of Force, and a certificate as proof of training to the County of San Mateo. The NRA CCW course requires a written test to be completed by all students. It is possible to complete the San Mateo County requirements without the written test, but if you choose to go that route then we will be unable to provide the NRA certificate. Please reach out if you have any questions on the written test.

Our class has a significant am9ount of range time to allow for skill development. Expect to be on the range most of the day on the second day of class.

We include all range fees in the price. We also provide water, sports drinks, and coffee during the class. You are responsible for your own lunch and any food needs during the day.

Class outline:

  • Firearm Safety
  • Firearm Handling
  • Shooting technique
  • Safe storage
  • Legal methods to transport firearms and securing firearms in vehicles
  • Laws governing where permitholders may carry firearms
  • Laws regarding the permissible use of a firearm
  • Laws regarding the permissible use of lethal force in self-defense
  • Legal Aftermath of a Defensive Encounter
  • Mental health and Mental health resources (per SB2 CA PC26165(a)(3))
  • Drawing from Concealment
  • Loading and Stoppage Remediation
  • Carry Modes and Pistol Concealment
  • Range qualification

We will be ready for students to arrive at 9:00AM. Plan to arrive at USI no later than 9:30AM. The class starts at 10:00AM to approximately 7PM. If you arrive after the class starts then we are not able to sign you off on the class requirement.

There is a lunch period and several breaks to help make the class time more enjoyable. We are required to have either 16 hours or 8 hours of active instruction depending on if you are a new applicant or renewal. The extra time in the schedule is to make sure that we do not go below the requirements with the breaks built into the day.

This course is designed for folks who are in-process of being approved for the permit to carry. Please do not sign up for a class date where that class is prior to receiving an email from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s department instructing you to take the course. Note that we do not have access to your permit application and have no way to determine the status of it. People who are not applying for a permit to carry are also welcome to take the class.

Student are required to bring the following:

  1. All guns listed on their application or permit. These need to match the permit exactly. The course certificate will contain the serial numbers of the guns you qualified with.
  2. For new applicants: Bring at least 200 rounds for the class exercises. There will be a significant number of on-range exercises. You can do those exercises with any of the pistols you intend to qualify with. You will additionally need a maximum of 60 rounds per gun to qualify. The qualification ammo is in addition to the ammo used in the class. We are asking you to bring more ammunition than you will use to guarantee that you’ll have enough. Factory new ammo only. We are unable to allow reloaded ammunition during the class. Target ammunition is OK. You do not need to bring the expensive self-defense ammo for the class or qualification. Do not pre-load your magazines or speed loaders before the class.
  3. A minimum of 3 magazines per semi-automatic firearm. It will help if you bring enough magazines to hold 50 rounds. You will not be able to pass the course without at least 3 magazines.
  4. Speed loaders for revolvers are mandatory. You must bring a minimum of 3 speed loaders per revolver. Again, it will help if you bring enough speed loaders for 50 rounds.
  5. You will need some way to carry 3 magazines or speed loaders on your person. Both concealed and exposed magazine carry is allowed. Pocket carry of magazines is also allowed.
  6. Firearms must be in clean and serviceable condition. All firearms are subject to inspection. Any firearm determined by our instructors to be unsuitable or unsafe will not be allowed.
  7. A holster designed for each firearm you plan on having on your permit. For the class, these must be strong side inside or outside the waistband holsters. Appendix carry is not considered strong side. The holster must be in serviceable condition. Our insurance company does not allow any holsters where a retention device is released with the trigger finger (Serpa and others).
  8. A proper gun belt. The belt must attach to your pants with either belt loops, velcro, or keepers. Any belt that is not secured to your pants will not be allowed. Multiple vendors make nice ones. Please contact us if you need suggestions. If you can not safely secure the holster to your belt then you will not be able to attempt the qualification.
  9. Lights, optical sights, lasers etc are all allowed as long as they are attached to the firearm correctly and can work safety in conjunction with your holster. As a practical matter, it is much easier to pass the course of fire using an aiming device on the firearm such as a red dot or iron sights vs trying to use a laser. You are welcome to use a laser if you wish, but using a laser makes the qualification harder due to the range of distances involved.
  10. Range appropriate attire. This is an outdoor range. Long pants, closed toe shoes, shirts with tight fitting collars, baseball caps. Please bring shirts that can be tucked into your pants. We can not allow you to shoot if your clothing interferes with the safe use of the holster.
  11. Bring sun/rain/hot/cold/weather gear. I highly suggest bringing sunscreen and a hat that works with your hearing protection. We will not delay the class for weather unless forced to do so by the facility.
  12. Electronic amplified hearing protection. We need you to be able to hear the range commands. Electronic type hearing protection is quite inexpensive these days. Contact us for suggestions.
  13. Eye protection that is compatible with your vision. The eye protection must protect your eyes from shell casings and any ricochets. Glasses must be a safety-type material (poly-carbonate is OK). Glasses made of glass that are not safety rated are not acceptable.
  14. USI has a lunch cart on-site or you are welcome to bring your lunch. There is extremely limited food selection nearby off property.

Age Requirements:
You must be 21 years or older to obtain a permit to carry a firearm. Contact us prior to registering if any student under the age of 21 wishes to take the course.

Eligibility Requirements:
You must be a US-person under ITAR and not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Prior to registering, please have the Manufacturer, Model Number, Caliber, and Serial number of your firearms available. We need that information to inform the county which firearms you completed the qualification with.

Facility Requirements:

USI does not allow carry of firearms on their property outside of a range bay, even if you have a valid permit to carry a firearm. Do not arrive armed! Please leave your holsters in your range bag. Transport your ammunition in a separate container from the firearm.

USI requires all attendees to have completed their online waiver. Please do this before the class starts! Use exactly the same name you used for our class in their waiver system. If the range staff is unable to locate your waiver then you will have to watch the video again. The waiver can be found here: https://unitedsportsmen.com/waiver/

When you arrive, park near the end of the lot and walk to the classroom. You do not need to check in or pay at the main range building. Wear hearing protection as you walk to the classroom as the action bays might be hot.

This diagram may help you find the way:
USI parking lot to classroom path

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