Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) Training

Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit, CCW and concealed carry training.

Plain Sight offers Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) training—often searched as Colorado CCW or Colorado concealed carry training—with two separate instructional tracks for the same Colorado Initial CHP training requirement: Colorado CHP Foundations and Colorado CHP Experienced Shooter. Both are complete Colorado Initial CHP courses. Neither track is a shortcut, neither is a reduced-hour course, and neither is a prerequisite for the other.

Colorado CHP, Colorado CCW and concealed carry terminology.

Colorado uses the term Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP). Many students also search for Colorado CCW, Colorado concealed carry class, or Colorado concealed handgun permit training. On this site, those phrases point to the same initial-permit training topic: a complete Colorado Initial CHP course with classroom instruction, written exam, live fire, and responsible-carry education.

Common core required in both tracks.

Both Colorado CHP Foundations and Colorado CHP Experienced Shooter include the same Colorado Initial CHP statutory core. The tracks differ in emphasis, not in legal standard.

  • Knowledge and safe handling of firearms and ammunition
  • Safe storage and child safety
  • Safe shooting fundamentals
  • Applicable federal and Colorado firearm laws
  • Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs)
  • Lost/stolen-firearm reporting
  • Secure-storage law
  • Recent applicable Colorado firearm laws
  • Colorado deadly-force and self-defense law
  • Safe interaction with law enforcement responding to an emergency
  • Avoiding criminal attacks
  • Managing violent confrontations
  • Conflict resolution
  • Judgmental use of lethal force
  • Open-book written competency exam
  • Live-fire qualification

Same requirements. Different emphasis.

Both tracks include the full statutory common core, written exam and live-fire qualification. Foundations gives newer shooters more hands-on handgun instruction. Experienced Shooter assumes existing handgun proficiency and goes deeper into law, judgment, de-escalation, threat recognition and practical concealed-carry scenarios.

FOUNDATIONS TRACK

Colorado CHP Foundations

Complete Colorado Initial CHP Course — beginner-friendly

Designed for students with limited handgun experience or anyone who wants a more deliberate, hands-on approach. This complete Colorado initial CHP course covers all required safety, firearm, legal, defensive-decision and live-fire subjects, with additional coaching in handgun operation, safe handling, loading and unloading, grip, sights, trigger control, range procedures and shooting fundamentals.

Best for: New shooters • New handgun owners • Occasional shooters • Anyone wanting additional hands-on coaching
Explore CHP Foundations
EXPERIENCED SHOOTER TRACK

Colorado CHP Experienced Shooter

Complete Colorado Initial CHP Course — for experienced handgun owners

Designed for experienced recreational shooters and handgun owners who can safely load, unload, clear, operate, and fire their handgun without instructor assistance. This course satisfies the same Colorado initial CHP requirements as the Foundations track. Required firearm safety, handling, shooting, storage, and legal subjects are fully covered, while the experienced audience allows greater instructional depth in practical carry, judgment, de-escalation, Colorado law, defensive decision-making, and real-world concealed-carry scenarios.

Best for: Experienced handgun owners • Regular range shooters • Long-time recreational shooters

Recommended prerequisite: You should already be comfortable safely loading, unloading, clearing, operating and firing your handgun without instructor assistance.

Not sure? Choose Foundations.

Explore CHP Experienced Shooter

Compare the Colorado Initial CHP tracks.

FoundationsExperienced Shooter
Colorado Initial CHP courseYesYes
Minimum course duration8 hours8 hours
Written exam80% minimum80% minimum
Live fire50+ rounds / 70%50+ rounds / 70%
Firearm handling instructionDetailed instruction + hands-on coachingRequired instruction presented for a proficient audience
Shooting fundamentalsDetailed instruction + coachingRequired instruction + refinement
Colorado/firearm lawFullFull + deeper discussion
Avoidance/de-escalationFullFull + deeper scenarios
Defensive judgmentFullGreater scenario/case-study emphasis
Best fitNewer shooterAlready proficient shooter

Both courses lead to the same type of Colorado initial CHP training certificate upon successful completion. Choose based on your existing handgun experience, not based on which class you think will be easier.

Class Locations

Classroom and live-fire locations.

Final classroom and range details are confirmed with registered students before class.

Classroom portion may be held at

  • Cherry Creek Gun Club — 1310 S Clinton St, Aurora, CO 80247
  • 4901 E Dry Creek Rd, Centennial, CO 80122

Shooting portion may be held at

  • Cherry Creek Gun Club — 1310 S Clinton St, Aurora, CO 80247
  • Shoot Indoors — 1310 S Abilene St, Aurora, CO 80012

Ready to choose a track?

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