Concealed Handgun Permit HB24-1174 Verified CHP Firearms Instructor Program Page

Under Colorado House Bill 24-1174, any instructor wishing to conduct a Concealed Handgun Training class must be verified by the County Sheriff.  To be a Verified Instructor, a person must hold a valid concealed carry permit and be certified as a firearms instructor by a law enforcement agency, college or university, nationally recognized organization that customarily offers firearms training, or a firearms training school.  Denial, suspension, or revocation of an instructor verification is subject to judicial review.  It is a deceptive trade practice for a person to claim to be a Verified Instructor for a concealed handgun training class unless the person is verified as a firearms instructor by the county sheriff.

The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office Verified Instructor program complies with HB24-1174 and Colorado Revised Statutes 18-12-201 and 18-12-207.

Verified Instructor List

Click here to view the current PCSO verified Instructor List. 

General Information

Effective July 1, 2025, all firearms training certificates submitted for a Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) must be completed through an instructor verified by a Colorado county Sheriff's Office.  To be verified by the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, instructors must meet the following criteria:

• Valid Colorado Driver's License or Identification Card
• Valid Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit
• Proof that you are a certified firearms instructor, such as an NRA instructor certificate or a Colorado POST instructor certificate
• Class training location must be within Pueblo County 
• Completed, signed Verified CHP Firearms Instructor Application
• Concealed Handgun Training class syllabus (Preferred)

Sheriff David J. Lucero has chosen to waive all fees for this program.

Upon approval, you will receive a Certificate of Verification, and your information will be added to our public list of Verified Instructors.  This verification process will be valid for 10 years, provided the instructor's proof of firearms training certification remains valid.  To that end, the expiration date that appears on your Certificate of Verification will match the expiration date of the submitted proof of firearms instructor certification.  When updated forearms certification is received, the instructor will receive an updated Certificate of Verification.

Please note that during this 10-year verification period, it is the instructor's responsibility to inform the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office CHP Unit of firearms instructor certification renewals.  Failure to do so will result in removal from the public list of Verified Instructors.  There is no grace period for expired instructor certifications.

Additionally, if the instructor's principal place of business changes location, please notify the CHP unit within 30 days of your new business address.

For detailed instructions on how to apply, please see the Verified CHP Firearms Instructor Information Packet.