Firearms education
The things nobody covers in a permit class.
A permit course teaches what your state requires for a license. These cover what comes up afterward — crossing a state line with a firearm in the car, a traffic stop, the holster that quietly made you stop carrying, a child in the house, bleeding that kills in four minutes.
Start where you are
Which of these sounds like you?
Suggested sequences, not requirements. None of these courses is legally required to own or carry a firearm — they're here because the knowledge gets used.
I just bought my first handgun
It's in the house and you'd rather be competent with it than merely in possession of it. Start with how it works and how to store it.
- 1Firearm Safety Rules
- 2Handgun Owner Foundations
- 3Handgun Ammunition 101
- 4Range Safety & Etiquette
- 5Firearm Security & Storage
A suggested order, not a legal requirement. None of these courses is mandated for firearm ownership.
I just got my permit — now what?
The license came through. These cover the parts a permit class doesn't have time for: holsters that don't defeat you, where carry is off-limits, and what to do at a traffic stop.
- 1Holster Selection
- 2Prohibited Areas for Firearms
- 3Police Encounters While Armed
- 4Handgun Marksmanship Fundamentals
- 5First Aid for Gunshot Wounds
Educational courses that complement a permit. They do not replace your state's licensing requirements.
I'm driving out of state with a firearm
Your risk here isn't marksmanship. It's crossing into a state whose transport rules you never checked — including the ones you only drive through.
- 1Transporting a Firearm
- 2Prohibited Areas for Firearms
- 3Police Encounters While Armed
- 4Buying & Selling Firearms
Educational information only. Always verify the law of the states you enter — see our multi-state permit guide.
There are kids in the house
Storage and access deserve more thought than the firearm did. How to keep it genuinely out of reach while it's still available to you.
- 1Firearm Security & Storage
- 2Firearm Safety Rules
- 3Handgun Owner Foundations
- 4First Aid for Gunshot Wounds
A suggested sequence. Check your state's storage laws, which vary and can carry criminal penalties.
After the decision
These courses cover the decision. There's a second half to it.
Police encounters, prohibited places, transport — all of it is about staying on the right side of the law while nothing has happened yet.
If something ever does, a separate and expensive set of questions begins. Worth knowing what your options are before you need to.
U.S. LawShield is an independent company. We're one of their instructor partners and may be compensated for referrals.
Course library
Browse by topic.
Fifteen courses across six areas, delivered online by U.S. LawShield. Most run an hour or two, and you keep access.
New gun owner
The things nobody tells you before your first handgun purchase.
Handgun Owner Foundations
The baseline every handgun owner should have before anything else.
Buying & Selling Firearms
Private sales, dealer transfers and how not to commit a felony.
Maintenance & Cleaning of Handguns
Keep a defensive handgun reliable without over-thinking it.
Handgun Function & Fundamentals
How the machine works, so malfunctions stop being mysteries.
Concealed carry
Carrying daily is a set of habits and decisions, not just a permit.
Law & responsible carry
Where firearm law actually touches ordinary life.
Transporting a Firearm
Moving a firearm legally — in a car, across state lines, and on a plane.
Buying & Selling Firearms
Private sales, dealer transfers and how not to commit a felony.
Skills
Marksmanship and gun handling built on fundamentals.
Handgun Marksmanship Fundamentals
Grip, sights and trigger — the three things that fix most problems.
Maintenance & Cleaning of Handguns
Keep a defensive handgun reliable without over-thinking it.
Handgun Function & Fundamentals
How the machine works, so malfunctions stop being mysteries.
Safety
Storage, range conduct and the rules that prevent tragedies.
Emergency preparedness
What to do in the minutes before help arrives.
These are education, not licensing
None of the courses on this page satisfies a state permit requirement, and none is legally required to own or carry a firearm. If you are looking for coursework that counts toward a concealed carry permit, see our state permit training instead.
Courses are delivered by U.S. LawShield. The Ammo Academy earns a commission on courses purchased through our links, at no additional cost to you.
In Michigan?
Some things don't transfer through a screen.
Grip, trigger control and the way you move under stress are best fixed by someone standing next to you. That part we do in person.