Top Shot Academy

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16-Hour Illinois Concealed Carry Permit Class

This is our full 16-hour Illinois Concealed Carry Class

This class is for students that have no prior training or 4 hours of prior training that is acceptable to the standards of the Illinois State Police, per the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Students with 4 hours of credit must bring a certificate of completion from a previous class to receive a $25 reduction in the price of the class. The documentation must be in your possession when registering for this class. If you have 8 hours of credit, you may register for our 8-Hour Compliance Class instead.

Training Certificates of Completion

NRA Basic Pistol 8 hours
NRA Personal Defense Inside the Home 8 hours
NRA Personal Defense Outside the Home 8 hours
Illinois Hunter Safety Course 4 hours
Chicago Firearms Safety Course 4 hours

Concealed Carry Permits/Certificates

Utah 4 hours
Florida 4 hours
Nevada 4 hours
Missouri 4 hours
Kentucky 4 hours
Michigan 4 hours

Military Service

Honorable Military Discharge (DD-214) 8 hours
Active Duty Military (Current Duty Orders) 8 hours
Military Reserves 8 hours

We offer the most training options to fit your schedule.

  • Saturday & Sunday take our 2 day TSA Fast Track Course
    (Saturday 9am to 6pm and Sunday 10am to 6pm)
  • Tuesday - Friday, take our 4 day TSA After Work Course
    (5pm to 9pm each day)
  • Mondays, take our TSA Once a Week Course
    (5pm to 9pm for 4 consecutive Mondays)

Don't wait! A right delayed is a right denied.

The state requires a total of 16 hours training.
Some students will qualify for credit of up to 8 hours.

If you were in the Military you will get eight hours credit for that service for items 1, 2, and 3.

Items 4 and 5, the second eight hours, are required for everyone.

16/8-HOUR CURRICULUM

Initial Firearms Curriculum must be at least 16* hours of in-person instruction and cover the minimum requirements listed below.

  1. Firearm safety (Classroom)
    1. 4 basic firearm handling safety rules
    2. Home storage
    3. Vehicle storage
    4. Public Storage
  2. Basic principles of marksmanship (Classroom/Range)
    1. Stance
    2. Grip
    3. Sight Alignment
    4. Sight Picture
    5. Trigger Control
  3. Care, cleaning, loading, and unloading of a concealable firearm (Classroom)
    1. Gun identification: revolver, semi-automatic, misc.
    2. Ammunition identification and selection
    3. Safety and cleaning protocols
    4. Cleaning equipment
    5. Loading and unloading
  4. All applicable State and Federal laws relating to the ownership, storage, carry, and transportation of a firearm (Classroom)
    1. The Act in its entirety,
      1. With emphasis on 430 ILCS 66/10(h) which includes instruction on the appropriate and lawful interaction with law enforcement while transporting or carrying a concealed firearm.
      2. With emphasis on 430 ILCS 66/65 which includes instruction on prohibited areas and the parking lot exception.
    2. The FOID Act 430 ILCS 65/1 et. seq.
    3. Relevant portions of the ILCS including but not limited to
      1. 720 ILCS 5/7-1. Use of force in defense of a person**
      2. 720 ILCS 5/7-2. Use of force in defense of dwelling**
      3. 720 ILCS 5/7-3. Use of force in defense of other property**
      4. 720 ILCS 24/1 et. seq. Unlawful Use of Weapons**

      ** Must define dwelling, aggressor, forcible felony and unlawful use of weapons pursuant to the ILCS.

  5. Weapon Handling
    1. Dry fire practice drills, handgun fundamentals
    2. Dry fire practice drills from concealment
    3. Live fire practice drills, handgun fundamentals
    4. Live fire qualification with a concealable fi rearm consisting of minimum of 30 rounds which must include 10 rounds from a distance of 5 yards; 10 rounds from a distance of 7 yards; and 10 rounds from a distance of 10 yards at a B-27 silhouette target approved by the Illinois State Police. (See www.isp.state.il.us/firearms/ccw/ccw-faq.cfm)

* The Department will accept up to 8 hours of in-person training already completed toward the 16 hour training requirement as outlined in Section 75 (i) [training course must be approved by the ISP] of the Act provided those 8 hours cover the classroom and range subject matter of components #1 through #3. The additional 8 hours of training required by Sections 75 (g) and (i) of the Act will be comprised of components #4 and #5.