An applicant for an initial permit to carry weapons shall demonstrate knowledge of firearm safety by any of the following means:
- Completion of any national rifle association handgun safety training course or a handgun safety training course offered by an instructor certified by an organization approved by the department of public safety pursuant to section 724.9.
- Completion of any handgun safety training course available to the general public offered by a law enforcement agency, community college, college, private or public institution or organization, or firearms training school, utilizing instructors certified by the national rifle association or an organization approved by the department of public safety pursuant to section 724.9 or another state’s department of public safety, state police department, or similar certifying body.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety has approved the following organizations to certify individuals as handgun safety training instructors eligible to offer a handgun safety training course under section 724.9A.
Organizations Approved to Certify Handgun Safety Training Instructors: (Use links to verify instructor credentials.)
National Rifle Association (NRA)*
United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA)
*Approval to certify instructors provided pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 724.9 and exempt from the Iowa Department of Public Safety training organization approval process.