Training: the live-fire rule

You can show competence through any one of these (s. 790.06(2)(h)): hunter education; an NRA firearms course; a public course using NRA-, CJSTC- or FDACS-certified instructors; a law-enforcement or security course; organized shooting competition or U.S. military service; a current or prior Florida license (not revoked for cause); or a course by a state- or NRA-certified instructor.

For NRA, public and certified-instructor courses, the instructor must keep records certifying that they observed the student safely handle and discharge the firearm in their physical presence, with live fire using a real firearm and ammunition. Live fire over video, webcam or remote stream does not qualify.

What about an online classroom?

The statute's physical-presence rule covers the handling and live-fire portion. A classroom portion may be delivered online only when paired with in-person live fire observed by the instructor. An online-only course cannot satisfy the requirement.

Questions folks ask