Becoming A DOJ Certified Instructor And Maintaining Current DOJ Certified Instructor Certification

Effective January 1, 2015, all DOJ Certified Instructor applicants are required to have a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and must obtain a COE prior to submitting an application as a DOJ Certified Instructor.

The Certificate of Eligibility instructions and application is available at Certificate of Eligibility Please note that COEs must be renewed annually. The COE processing time is approximately 4 – 8 weeks.

Once you have obtained your COE number from the Bureau of Firearms, you can apply to become a DOJ Certified Instructor by completing a Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) Program DOJ Certified Instructor application (form BOF 037) available at https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/forms or apply online through the FSC Certified Instructor Firearm Certification System at https://fcs.doj.ca.gov/login-form. Please note that a DOJ Certified Instructor's certification is valid for five years provided he or she maintains a valid COE. The processing time for manual applications is up to four weeks and online applications is 3-4 business days.

To renew DOJ Certified Instructor certification a FSC Program DOJ Certified Instructor application (form BOF 037) available at https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/forms must be submitted with the renewal box checked or renewing online through the FSC Certified Instructor Firearm Certification System at https://fcs.doj.ca.gov/login-form and accepting the Conditions of Use.

Firearm Safety Certificate Program

Effective January 1, 2015, the Handgun Safety Certificate program was replaced with the Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) program. Under the FSC program, requirements that previously applied to handguns only now apply to all firearms (handguns and long guns), unless exempt. A list of exemptions is available on this website.

A valid Handgun Safety Certificate can still be used to purchase/acquire handguns only until it expires. For long gun purchases/acquisitions made January 1, 2015, and thereafter, an FSC will be required. Once an FSC is obtained, it can be used for both handgun and long gun purchases/acquisitions.

FSCs are acquired by taking and passing a written test on firearm safety, generally at participating firearms dealerships and private firearms training facilities. A Firearm Safety Certificate Study Guide to help individuals prepare for the FSC test is available for viewing/downloading from this website. A Firearm Safety webinar is also available for viewing or download on the Videos page.

The firearm safety demonstration protocols and DOJ Certified Instructor standards have been established and implemented by DOJ. An explanation of the firearm safety demonstration can be found starting on page 12 of the Firearm Safety Certificate Study Guide.

The following forms and publications are available at https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/forms

Forms

Update: These forms now contain fields you can fill in on-screen by first downloading and saving the form to your computer.

• Comparable Entity Application (BOF 946)
• DOJ Certified Instructor Application (BOF 037)
• Safe Handling Demonstration Affidavit (BOF 039)

Publications

• FSC Manual (revised June 2020)
• FSC Study Guide (revised June 2020)
• FSC Study Guide-Spanish (revised June 2020)

For additional information regarding the FSC program, please review the following or send an email to boffscprogram@doj.ca.gov:

• Frequently Asked Questions

Specified Training Organizations In Firearms Safety

Organizations Specified by Penal Code section 31635, subdivision (b) as providing Acceptable Firearms Safety Training.

Penal Code section 31635, subdivision (b), authorizes Department of Justice to certify individuals possessing a training certificate from an organization enumerated under this subdivision to be a DOJ Certified Instructor.

The training organizations specified under Penal Code section 31635, subdivision (b) are:

1. Department of Consumer Affairs, State of California-Firearm Training Instructor.
2. Director of Civilian Marksmanship, Instructor or Rangemaster.
3. Federal Government, Certified Rangemaster or Firearm Instructor.
4. Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Firearm Instructor Training Program or Rangemaster.
5. United States Military, Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) as marksmanship or firearms instructor. Assignment as Range Officer or Safety Officer is not sufficient.
6. National Rifle Association-Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement Instructor, Rangemaster, or Training Counselor.
7. Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), State of California-Firearm Instructor or Rangemaster.
8. Authorization from a State of California accredited school to teach a firearm training course.

Comparable Training In Firearms Safety

Entities Recognized by DOJ as Providing Comparable Firearm Safety Training to Those Entities Specified by Penal Code section 31635, subdivision (b).

Penal Code section 31635, subdivision (b) authorizes the California Department of Justice (DOJ) to recognize entities which provide firearms safety training comparable to the entities specified within that subdivision. Individuals possessing a Certificate of Completion from any of the entities so recognized by DOJ may apply to be a DOJ Certified Instructor.

The entities recognized by DOJ as providing firearms safety training comparable to the entities specified by Penal Code section 31635, subdivision (b) are: