RENEWAL OF INSTRUCTOR APPROVAL

Effective April 7, 2007, DPS approved firearms-safety instructors are subject to renewal. The purpose of the renewal process is to confirm the status of each instructor, to ensure we have accurate contact information and to ensure instructors have current materials and information.

 

Effective December 7, 2007, the firearms-safety instructor renewal application process will apply as stated in the Arizona Administrative Rules: Title 13, Public Safety; Chapter 9, Department of Public Safety Concealed-Weapons Permits; Article 3, Firearms Safety Training, and Section R13-9-309 Renewal of Approval as a Firearms-Safety Instructor. This rule states the approval of an instructor who is a permit holder will expire when the permit expires, a period of five years.

For instructors who are NOT permit holders:

To renew your instructor status: submit a fingerprint card, appropriate fee in the form of a money order, cashier's or certified check, made payable to AZ DPS, updated instructor credentials, documentation of instructing or co-instructing at least two firearms-safety training classes and a completed instructor renewal application must be received before your instructor status expires.

This renewal process will result in a new instructor number being issued to those who are instructors only. Instructors who have CCW permits will retain their original instructor number.

What is involved in renewing my instructor status?

The following information, contained in Arizona Administrative Code R13-9-309, describes the renewal process.

• If the firearms-safety instructor holds a valid concealed-weapons permit, the approval as a firearms-safety instructor expires when the concealed-weapons permit expires; or
• If the firearms-safety instructor does not hold a valid concealed-weapons permit, the approval as a firearms-safety instructor expires five years from the date of approval.
• An approved firearms-safety instructor shall submit an original renewal application no more than 90 days before the firearms-safety instructor's approval expires. THERE IS NOT A GRACE PERIOD AFTER THE EXPIRATION DATE FOR A FIREARMS-SAFETY INSTRUCTOR.
• Note: Instructors who hold concealed-weapons permits who wish to renew their instructor status may do so no more than 90 days before the permit expiration date by completing the renewal application. Your renewal application will be mailed to the address on record as part of the courtesy renewal packet.
• Instructors who do not hold a concealed-weapons permit and wish to renew their instructor status may do so by completing the instructor renewal form.
• A firearms-safety instructor shall include the following information with the renewal application:
  1. Current documentation that the firearms-safety instructor completed one of the following firearms-safety training instructor programs:
     • Arizona Basic Police Firearms Instructor training provided by Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (APOST); or
     • Firearms Instructor Training Program provided by a federal law enforcement agency; or
     • Police Firearms Instructor Development School provided by the National Rifle Association (NRA); or
     • Law Enforcement Security Firearms Instructor Development School provided by the NRA; or
     • Training provided by the National Rifle Association that results in rating as one of the following:
       1. Pistol Instructor and Personal Protection Instructor
       2. Law Enforcement Tactical Handgun Instructor
       3. Law Enforcement Handgun / Shotgun Instructor
       4. Law Enforcement Tactical Shooting Instructor
  2. Documentation that the firearms-safety instructor instructed or co-instructed at least two firearms-safety training classes within the five years before the firearms-safety instructor's approval expires. Note: Documentation may include a copy of a class roster. In the absence of documentation, the responsible party of the training organization for which the firearms-safety instructor instructed may sign an affidavit attesting that the firearms-safety instructor meets the requirement. The affidavit will be included on the renewal forms.
  3. If the firearms-safety instructor does not have a valid concealed-weapons permit, two sets of classifiable fingerprints and the fee.

ELIGIBILITY

• To be eligible for approval as a firearms-safety instructor, an individual must meet the requirements of ARS 13-3112(E) and not be a prohibited possessor. The Department shall not approve an individual as a firearms-safety instructor if the individual has been convicted of a felony even if the individual's civil rights have been restored or the conviction has been expunged, set-aside or vacated. Approval will not be granted to an individual who has a history of behavior that the Department determines is contrary to the safe and lawful use of a firearm.

EXPIRATION OF APPROVAL

• If the approval of a firearms-safety instructor expires, the former firearms-safety instructor shall immediately stop providing DPS firearms-safety training. The former firearms-safety instructor may apply again for approval under R13-9-308. 

THERE IS NOT A GRACE PERIOD FOR RENEWAL

         FIREARMS-SAFETY INSTRUCTOR RESPONSIBILITIES

To ensure timely communication from the Department, an approved firearms-safety instructor shall provide notice to the Department within 10 days after a change of address or contact telephone number. This may be accomplished by completing the instructor change notice available on this web site (downloadable forms). You may fax, mail or email the notice.

If mail from the Department to an approved firearms-safety instructor is returned to the Department because it is undeliverable, the Department shall administratively suspend the firearms-safety instructor's approval until the firearms-safety instructor submits updated information. Applications received containing the instructor number of a suspended firearms-safety instructor will be returned to the applicant unprocessed.

Required Documents for Instructor Renewal:

A fingerprint card, appropriate fee in the form of a money order, cashier's or certified check, made payable to AZ DPS, updated instructor credentials, documentation of instructing or co-instructing at least two firearms-safety training classes before the firearms-safety instructor approval expires, and a completed instructor renewal application.

The instructor renewal application form may be found in Downloadable Forms. A fingerprint card may be obtained by contacting the CWPU via email: ccw@azdps.gov

Updated: 05/02/08