About the Course
Initial Permits: CCW Foundations fulfills 8-hours of your 16-hour training requirement. You must also take Paladin's Basic Pistol class for the additional 8-hours. You can take the classes in either order.
Renewals: CCW Foundations fulfills the 8-hour training requirement. If you are concerned about not passing the qualification, please see above.
This covers the state-mandated material for CCW permit holders:
Laws concerning firearms possession, storage, etc.
Firearm safety rules
Fundamentals of shooting
Loading and unloading procedures
Discussion of terminal ballistics and ammunition selection
Firearm and holster selection
Self defense law and post-shooting procedures
Mental health
Live-fire qualification
Required Equipment:
Eye protection
Ear protection
Pistols to be listed on your permit with at least two magazines for each pistol
Outside-the-waistband (OWB) holster for each pistol (see our blog post on selecting the proper holster).
At least 50 rounds of ammunition per pistol
You must have an outside-the-waistband holster for each pistol used in the live-fire qualification. Inside-the-waistband, appendix or SERPA holsters (index finger retention systems) are not allowed on the range. No exceptions. You will have to pay $100 to reschedule your live-fire portion of the class.
If you fail your live-fire qualification during CCW Foundations, you will have to requalify during the range time at a subsequent CCW Foundations class. The cost for a repeat live-fire qualification is $100.
This class is also accepted by the State of Arizona for a non-resident CCW permit which will allow you to carry in multiple states. See the current reciprocity list at the USCCA website. Click here to apply for the Arizona permit.
Your Instructor
Dan Butler and Barry Grove
Dan retired from federal law enforcement after 24 years of service. He is skilled in crisis management, criminal investigation, intelligence, and law enforcement training. His assignments included SWAT Senior Team Leader (tactical commander), Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordinator, Chairman of the Bay Area Terrorism Working Group (BATWinG) and Supervisory Special Agent. Over the last 20 years, he has provided tactical/firearms instruction to hundreds of local, federal, and foreign law enforcement officers. He is certified as a firearms instructor by multiple agencies including the California Department of Justice. Dan has a Ph.D in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of California and is a nationally-registered Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
Barry retired after serving 30 years as a prosecutor for the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office. During his career, he has reviewed hundreds of self-defense and officer-involved shooting cases. To better understand the limits of human performance with a handgun, he completed firearms training with several local police departments and the FBI. He educated numerous California police agencies regarding use-of-force and was recognized as an expert in this area when he retired in early 2021. Barry sought instruction from top competitive shooters and Grandmasters such as Bruce Gray, Ron Avery, Mike Seeklander, Frank Proctor and Mike Pannone. He continues to shoot competitively and seek out advanced training opportunities. He is currently the range master at the United Sportsmen Incorporated shooting range in Concord. He is an NRA-certified Basic Pistol Instructor and Range Safety Officer. He is also a California DOJ Certified Firearms Instructor. He owns "The Better Method Handgun Instruction, LLC." Barry is also a member of the attorney network at the USCCA.