Can I take an Online Class to get my AZ CCW Permit?

Can I Take an Online Class to Get My Arizona CCW Permit?

The short answer is yes.

Not only can you take an online class to obtain your Arizona Concealed Weapons Permit, but in many cases it is the most convenient option available.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation online about Arizona CCW training. Some people believe you must attend an in-person class. Others believe an online class is somehow less legitimate. After teaching concealed carry classes for more than 17 years and training thousands of students, I can tell you that neither of those assumptions is true.

The real question is not whether online training is legitimate. The real question is whether the instructor is legitimate.

Is an Online Arizona CCW Class Legal?

Yes.

Arizona law allows qualifying training to be completed through an online course taught by an NRA Certified Instructor. As long as the training meets the legal requirements, students can use the completion certificate when applying for their Arizona Concealed Weapons Permit.

One of the most common questions I receive is:

"Will Arizona DPS actually accept an online class?"

The answer is yes.

In fact, many people are surprised to learn that the Arizona Department of Public Safety has accepted online training for years.

Why I Changed My Opinion About Live-Fire Requirements

When I first started teaching concealed carry classes more than 17 years ago, Arizona required a live-fire shooting qualification.

At the time, students had to shoot five rounds at five yards and five rounds at ten yards. To pass, they needed only a 70% score on a target that was approximately two feet wide and three feet tall.

The reality was that almost anyone could pass (even a monkey could do it).

Over time, I realized that this qualification often gave people a false sense of confidence. Passing a simple shooting test does not mean someone is prepared to defend themselves in a life-threatening situation.

A shooting range is controlled and predictable.

A violent criminal attack is not.

The range can teach someone how to operate a firearm. It can teach loading, unloading, sight alignment, trigger control, and safe handling. Those are valuable skills.

What it cannot teach is judgment, decision-making under stress, situational awareness, or the legal consequences of using deadly force.

Those are the areas where many people are truly unprepared.

When Arizona legislature expanded types of qualifying classes in 2010 (thus removing the live-fire requirement), I changed the structure of my training because I no longer believed that a simple qualification test was the best measure of responsible concealed carry.

The Most Important Part of Carrying a Firearm Has Nothing to Do With Shooting

Many people assume concealed carry training is primarily about learning how to shoot.

I disagree.

Carrying a firearm is not about looking for trouble.

It is about avoiding trouble.

The most responsible armed citizens are often the people who never have to draw their firearm because they recognize danger early, avoid bad situations, and make smart decisions before a problem escalates.

A firearm should be viewed as an insurance policy for the worst day of your life.

That requires a certain mindset.

It requires understanding the law.

It requires awareness of your surroundings.

It requires knowing when not to use force.

Those lessons are every bit as important as learning how to hit a target.

Why I Created an Online Arizona CCW Class

For many years, I taught exclusively in person.

Eventually, I noticed a recurring problem.

Many people wanted training but struggled to fit a class into their schedule.

Some worked unusual hours.

Some had family responsibilities.

Some lived too far away.

Some lived in entirely different states.

An online class solves all of those problems.

Students can complete the training at their own pace and on their own schedule.

They can pause the training, take notes, and review sections when needed.

The convenience factor is significant, but the quality of the instruction remains the same.

My online Arizona CCW class contains the same information I teach during my in-person classes.

The difference is simple:

One version is me speaking to you in a classroom.

The other version is me speaking to you through video.

I am still the same instructor.

I still have the same credentials.

The curriculum is still the same.

A Student Who Changed My Perspective

Not long ago, a prospective student contacted me about taking a class.

The problem was that he lived approximately 70 miles away, well outside my normal travel area.

I explained that I would not be able to provide an in-person class for him. However, I offered him the option of taking my online Arizona CCW course.

I didn’t hear back from him.

At least, that's what I thought.

A short time later, I received a five-star Google review from someone I didn't immediately recognize.

After looking into it, I discovered it was the same individual who lived 70 miles away.

He had enrolled in the online class, completed the training, and was extremely impressed with the experience.

That story perfectly illustrates why online training matters.

Without that option, he probably never would have taken the class at all.

The Biggest Misconception About Online CCW Training

The biggest concern people have is legitimacy.

Many prospective students ask:

• Is an online class really valid?

• Will DPS accept it?

• Is it as good as an in-person class?

Those questions are understandable.

For years, people have associated firearm training with sitting in a classroom.

But if the same NRA Certified Instructor is teaching the same material, why would the information suddenly become less valuable simply because it is delivered through video?

The information does not change.

The instructor does not change.

The legal requirements do not change.

Only the delivery method changes.

Why Training Matters Even in a Constitutional Carry State

Arizona is a constitutional carry state.

That means many people assume they do not need a permit or any formal training.

I think that is a mistake.

While there are several legal advantages to obtaining an Arizona Concealed Weapons Permit, there is something more important that many people overlook.

The permit demonstrates responsibility.

When law enforcement encounters someone with a valid Arizona Concealed Weapons Permit, they know that person has passed a background check and completed qualifying training.

They know that person represents a very small percentage of the population.

They know that person took the initiative to learn the laws surrounding the use of force and concealed carry.

That can influence interactions with law enforcement during traffic stops, investigations, or even self-defense incidents.

In addition, Arizona permit holders receive several practical benefits, including:

• Reciprocity with many other states

• Exemption from the FBI NICS background check when purchasing firearms from licensed dealers

• Certain legal exemptions that do not apply to constitutional carry alone

• Greater flexibility when traveling outside Arizona

For many people, those advantages alone justify obtaining the permit.

Ignorance Is Not a Defense

One of the most important reasons to seek training is simple.

Ignorance is not a defense to the law.

I recently taught a class where a father shared that his 22-year-old son had experienced a negligent discharge inside their home.

Fortunately, nobody was injured.

The bullet only damaged part of the house.

But the outcome could have been much worse.

Someone could have been seriously injured or killed.

Depending on the circumstances, criminal charges could also have been a possibility.

Incidents like this remind us that firearm ownership carries enormous responsibility.

Training changes how people think about firearms.

It helps them understand the consequences of careless actions.

It teaches them to respect the power they are carrying.

A firearm can save innocent lives.

It can also permanently alter lives when handled irresponsibly.

That is why education matters.

My Advice to Anyone Considering an Online Arizona CCW Class

If a friend or family member asked me whether they really need concealed carry training, my answer would be YES.

Absolutely.

Not because the state says so.

Not because they need a permit.

And not because carrying a firearm automatically makes them safer.

They need training because carrying a firearm comes with serious legal, moral, and personal responsibilities.

Good training teaches you far more than how to shoot.

It teaches you how to avoid dangerous situations.

It teaches you how to stay within the law.

It teaches you how to think before you act.

Most importantly, it teaches you how to carry a firearm with the respect that such responsibility deserves.

The firearm itself is only a tool.

The knowledge and judgment of the person carrying it are what truly matter.