Overview of CRS § 18-12-202.5
Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) § 18-12-202.5 outlines the requirements for concealed handgun training classes and refresher classes in the state. This statute is part of Title 18 (Criminal Code), Article 12 (Offenses Relating to Firearms and Weapons), Part 2 (Permits to Carry Concealed Handguns). It was added by House Bill 24-1174 (2024 Ch. 388) and became effective on August 7, 2024. The law standardizes training for individuals applying for or renewing a concealed handgun permit (CHP) under CRS § 18-12-203 and § 18-12-211.
This is particularly relevant for websites built on Squarespace (or any platform) that offer, promote, or provide information about firearms training in Colorado. If your site involves selling courses, providing resources, or advertising CHP-related services, ensure compliance with these rules to avoid legal issues. Key considerations include:
Instructor Certification: Classes must be taught by a "verified instructor" (defined in CRS § 18-12-202.7, requiring sheriff verification).
In-Person Requirement: No online-only classes; all must be in-person.
Accessibility: Classes must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Certificate Issuance: Instructors must provide signed certificates indicating the class type.
Updates for Renewals: Refresher classes focus on recent law changes.
Full Text of CRS § 18-12-202.5 (as of 2024)
Below is the complete, verbatim text of the statute:
(1) A concealed handgun training class is any of the following: (a) A law enforcement training firearms safety course; or (b) A firearms safety course taught by a verified instructor and offered by a law enforcement agency; an institution of higher education; or a public or private institution, organization, or firearms training school, that is open to the general public and is taught by a verified instructor.
(2) A concealed handgun training class must be held in person with the instructor of the class at the same location as the students, and no part of the class may be conducted via the internet. A concealed handgun training class must provide a minimum of eight hours of instruction, including the live-fire shooting exercise described in subsection (3)(g) of this section and the written concealed handgun competency exam described in subsection (3)(h) of this section. The eight hours of instruction in a course do not need to be consecutive.
(3) A concealed handgun training class must include the following elements: (a) Instruction regarding knowledge and safe handling of firearms and ammunition; (b) Instruction regarding safe storage of firearms and child safety; (c) Instruction regarding safe firearms shooting fundamentals; (d) Instruction regarding federal and state laws pertaining to the lawful purchase, ownership, transportation, use, and possession of firearms, including instruction on extreme risk protection orders described in article 14.5 of title 13, requirements for reporting lost or stolen firearms described in section 18-12-113, secure firearms storage requirements described in section 18-12-114, and any other state law enacted within five years before the class that pertains to the purchase, ownership, transportation, use, and possession of firearms; (e) Instruction regarding state law pertaining to the use of deadly force for self-defense; (e.5) Instruction regarding best practices to ensure concealed handgun permit holders safely interact with law enforcement personnel who are responding to an emergency; (f) Instruction regarding techniques for avoiding a criminal attack and how to manage a violent confrontation, including conflict resolution and judgmental use of lethal force; (g) A requirement that a student achieve a minimum seventy percent accuracy score, as determined by the instructor, in a live-fire shooting exercise conducted on a range, which requires discharging at least fifty rounds of ammunition and which does not need to be conducted in a single day; and (h) A requirement that a student achieve a passing score of at least eighty percent on a written concealed handgun competency exam that tests a student's knowledge of the subjects described in subsections (3)(a) to (3)(f) of this section. The exam must be administered as an open book exam.
(4) (a) A concealed handgun refresher class requires a student to demonstrate safety and competence with a handgun. A refresher class must be taught by a verified instructor and must include 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, which requires discharging at least fifty rounds of ammunition; and a written concealed handgun competency exam that tests a student's knowledge of the subjects described in subsections (3)(a) to (3)(f) of this section. (b) A refresher class must be held in person with the instructor of the class at the same location as the students, and no part of the class may be conducted via the internet. A refresher class must include at least two hours of instruction, including the live-fire exercise and the written exam. In order to complete a refresher class, a student must achieve a minimum seventy percent accuracy score, as determined by the instructor, in the live-fire shooting exercise and a passing score of at least eighty percent on the written exam. The exam must be administered as an open book exam. (c) A training certificate issued for the completion of a refresher class is valid for renewal of a permit to carry a concealed handgun pursuant to section 18-12-211 but is not valid for an initial application for a permit to carry a concealed handgun pursuant to section 18-12-203 (1)(h)(VI).
(5) A verified instructor shall provide a training certificate that includes the printed name and original signature of the class instructor to any student who completes a concealed handgun training class or a refresher class so that the student may submit the certificate to a sheriff as part of an initial application for, or an application for renewal of, a permit to carry a concealed handgun. The training certificate must clearly indicate whether the student completed a concealed handgun training class or a refresher class.
(6) A concealed handgun training class and a refresher class is subject to the requirements of the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990", 42 U.S.C. sec. 12101 et seq.
Source: Added by 2024 Ch. 388, § 2, eff. 8/7/2024. Note: 2024 Ch. 388 was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).
Key Differences Between Initial Training and Refresher Classes
Aspect Initial Concealed Handgun Training Class Refresher Class Duration Minimum 8 hours (non-consecutive OK) Minimum 2 hours Eligibility For new CHP applications For CHP renewals only Law Updates All current laws + changes in last 5 years Only changes in last 5 years Live-Fire Requirement50+ rounds, 70% accuracy 50+ rounds, 70% accuracy Written Exam80% passing score (open book)80% passing score (open book)Certificate Validity Valid for initial permit Not valid for initial; only renewal