Colorado's Firearms Safety Program applies to people purchasing or transferring a specified semiautomatic firearm under the requirements effective August 1, 2026. Before enrolling, you must complete the state application process and receive a Firearms Safety Course Eligibility Card from a Colorado sheriff.
Choose Basic (4 hours) if Colorado Parks and Wildlife can verify your qualifying hunter-education credentials. Choose Extended (12 hours over at least two days) if you do not have qualifying, CPW-verified hunter education.
Basic Firearms Safety Course — 4 hours
The Basic course is for students whose hunter-education credentials have been verified in CPW's records. Hunter education by itself does not replace the Firearms Safety Program course; it changes which version of the course you take.
Extended Firearms Safety Course — 12 hours
If you have not completed qualifying hunter education—or CPW cannot verify it—you will need the Extended course. CPW requires the twelve hours of instruction to be delivered on at least two different days.
What every FSP student needs first
- Complete the application through the Colorado Firearms Safety System.
- Follow your county sheriff's process for its review requirements.
- Receive your sheriff-issued Firearms Safety Course Eligibility Card.
- Register with an approved FSP instructor for the course shown in the state system.
A concealed-handgun permit class or another general firearm-safety course does not substitute for the Colorado FSP Basic or Extended course.
This article provides general educational information, not legal advice. Requirements and agency procedures can change; confirm current information with CPW and your county sheriff.