To become an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, one of the key requirements is demonstrating safe gun handling and marksmanship. The shooting qualification for the NRA Basic Pistol Instructor course ensures that instructor candidates meet a minimum standard of accuracy and consistency.
Whether you’re preparing for certification or looking to test your skills, this drill is a great way to assess your shooting fundamentals.
The Drill: NRA Basic Pistol Instructor Qualification
This qualification is fired from a standing position at 15 yards (45 feet) with no time limit. Candidates must fire 20 rounds total. The goal is to place at least 16 out of 20 shots inside an 8-inch circle, and all of those must also fall within a 6-inch group. This ensures not only accuracy but consistency in shot placement.
Target Setup
Use a standard 8-inch circle printed or drawn onto an 8.5 x 11-inch piece of paper. You can print one by downloading our PDF version of the 8-inch circle target below.
Place the target at 15 yards (45 feet).
🎯 Download and print: See Below
Qualification Chart
String
Distance
Rounds
Time Limit
Scoring Standard
1
15 yards
20
No time limit
16/20 hits in 8″ circle; within 6″ group
What This Drill Teaches
✅ Fundamental accuracy ✅ Sight alignment and trigger control ✅ Consistency of shot placement ✅ Readiness for instructor certification
Tips for Success
Focus on your grip, stance, and breathing.
Use slow, deliberate trigger presses.
Watch for consistency—tight groups matter more than speed.
Want to Train for This Drill?
We offer professional firearms training that helps students prepare for instructor-level performance. Whether you’re a new shooter or on the path to becoming an NRA instructor, we’ve got you covered.
Official Colorado Law Enforcement Shooting Course (30-Round)
The Colorado POST Handgun Qualification Course is used by law enforcement statewide to test marksmanship and shooting fundamentals under stress. While we do not offer POST certification or police training, we encourage civilian shooters and security professionals to train to the same standard.
This 30-round course challenges your ability to draw, reload, and engage targets at distances from 1 to 25 yards — under time constraints. It’s one of the toughest state-level handgun quals in the country.
🔷 Course Overview
Total Rounds: 30
Target: POST Q silhouette (scored 10, 9, 8, 5 points)
Scoring:
Max score: 300
Passing score: 210 (70%)
💥 Any missed shots result in a DQ (law enforcement standard)
Time Limits: Yes (per string)
Reloads Required: Yes
Start Position: From duty holster
Gear: Semi-auto or revolver, 2+ mags/speedloaders
⚠️ For law enforcement qualification, any miss is a disqualification. For civilian use, use 70% (210/300) as a benchmark passing score.
📋 Full Breakdown: Colorado POST 30-Round Course of Fire
✅ Stage 1: Close Contact Engagement
Distance: 1 yard
Rounds: 2
Drill:
From holster
Fire 1 round with dominant hand only
Transition and fire 1 round with support hand only
Time: 6 seconds
✅ Stage 2: Fast Pairs at 3 Yards
Distance: 3 yards
Rounds: 6
Drill:
String 1: Draw, fire 3 rounds
String 2: Repeat
Time per string: 4 seconds
✅ Stage 3: Combat Reload at 7 Yards
Distance: 7 yards
Rounds: 12
Drill:
3 strings of 4 rounds
Each: Draw, fire 2 rounds, reload, fire 2 more
Time per string: 8 seconds
✅ Stage 4: Mid-Range Accuracy
Distance: 15 yards
Rounds: 6
Drill:
2 strings of 3 rounds
Each: Draw, fire 3 rounds
Time per string: 8 seconds
✅ Stage 5: Barricade Shooting at Distance
Distance: 25 yards
Rounds: 4
Drill:
From cover:
Fire 2 rounds from kneeling
Fire 2 rounds from standing
Time: 15 seconds
🎯 Scoring & Target Zones
The POST Q target is scored as follows:
10 ring = 10 pts
9 ring = 9 pts
8 ring = 8 pts
Outside of 8 ring but on silhouette = 5 pts
Miss = 0 pts and disqualification if you’re a sworn officer
As a civilian or security shooter training to this standard, we score your hits honestly — but you won’t be DQ’d unless you’re training to certify for a POST agency.
🖨️ Downloadable Target & Usage Guide
Colorado POST Q Target (Scaled for 8.5″ x 11″)
This is a scaled-down version of the official Colorado POST Q Target, designed to let you train at indoor ranges or shorter distances. It simulates the scoring zones used in the full-size target:
Original Distance
Scaled Distance
Used For
1 yard (3 feet)
1 foot
Close-quarters (Stage 1)
3 yards (9 feet)
3 feet
Speed pairs (Stage 2)
7 yards (21 feet)
6 feet
Reload drills (Stage 3)
15 yards (45 feet)
13 feet
Mid-range precision (Stage 4)
25 yards (75 feet)
21 feet
Long-range barricade (Stage 5)
✅ Tip: These distances fit within most indoor shooting lanes and simulate the difficulty of the full-size POST target at regulation range.
Always verify your range allows drawing, movement, and rapid fire before running this course.
⬇️ See Below to Download Your Scaled Target ⬇️
📣 Ready to Train Like the Pros?
🥇 Take a Concealed Carry Class We offer live-fire CCW classes designed to meet Colorado’s new 2024 standards. From beginners to advanced shooters, our courses help you shoot with skill and confidence.
🛡 Compare Self-Defense Insurance Plans Involved in a use-of-force incident? Don’t navigate the legal aftermath alone. We compare leading insurance plans that help cover criminal defense, civil liability, and attorney fees.
⚖️ Hire Mark Schneider as an Expert Witness Need a knowledgeable expert in CCW, security, or use-of-force policy? Mark Schneider offers expert testimony grounded in real-world experience, law, and best practices.
📚 Know the Law: Colorado Self-Defense Statutes Learn your rights under Colorado law—including CRS 18-1-704, 705, and 706—with plain-language summaries of what you can and cannot do in self-defense.
The Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) operates under the demanding standards of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Their handgun qualification course isn’t just a shooting test—it’s a simulation of real-world encounters that requires quick thinking, close-quarters tactics, and precision under pressure.
If you’re a civilian gun owner, CCW holder, or security professional, this guide breaks down the 40-round MDPD qualification course so you can train to the same level as law enforcement.
🔫 What is the Miami-Dade Police Shooting Qualification?
The qualification course is designed to evaluate the officer’s ability to safely and effectively use their handgun under simulated combat conditions. It incorporates:
Draw and fire 6 rounds from a stable two-handed stance.
Time Limit: 15 seconds total
🎯 Scoring and Target Info
Target: B-21E or FDLE silhouette
Scoring Zones: Only hits in the 4 or 5-point zones count
Minimum to Pass: 32 out of 40 hits (80%)
📌 Target Placement Guide for 8.5” x 11” FDLE Printable
If you want to download and print the scaled FDLE target on standard 8.5” x 11” paper below, you’ll need to adjust your shooting distances to match the visual challenge of the full-size qualification. Below are the corrected distances for use with your printed target:
Original Distance
Scaled Target Distance
1 yard (3 feet)
1 foot
3 yards (9 feet)
2.5 to 3 feet
7 yards (21 feet)
6 feet
15 yards (45 feet)
13 feet
25 yards (75 feet)
21 feet
🎯 Instructions: Place your printed target on a safe backstop or cardboard stand. Use a measuring tape, laser rangefinder, or floor markings to ensure you’re standing at the correct scaled distance for each stage of the qualification. This maintains a proportional sight picture and keeps your training realistic.
⬇️ See Below to Download Your Scaled Target ⬇️
🧠 Civilian Takeaway: Why This Matters
If you carry a firearm for self-defense, this is what minimum police proficiency looks like. You should aim to meet—or exceed—this standard. That includes:
Practicing holster draws
Shooting with both hands, and one-handed
Performing reloads under time pressure
Engaging targets at multiple distances
Moving while shooting
📣 Ready to Train Like the Pros?
🥇 Take a Concealed Carry Class
We offer live-fire CCW classes designed to meet Colorado’s new 2024 standards. From beginners to advanced shooters, our courses help you shoot with skill and confidence.
Involved in a use-of-force incident? Don’t navigate the legal aftermath alone. We compare leading insurance plans that help cover criminal defense, civil liability, and attorney fees.
Need a knowledgeable expert in CCW, security, or use-of-force policy? Mark Schneider offers expert testimony grounded in real-world experience, law, and best practices.
The Miami-Dade Police qualification is not just a test—it’s a template for responsible carry. These 40 rounds represent real-life situations where training makes the difference between life and death. If you’re carrying a firearm, it’s your responsibility to be ready.
