Edited November 14, 2025| 7:30 p.m.

The Delaware State Police, through the State Bureau of Identification (SBI), announces the launch of the Permit to Purchase Firearms Instructor Certification Portal, providing a pathway for firearms trainers to become certified to instruct individuals applying for a handgun qualified purchaser permit.

Certification Process for Instructors

To become certified as a Permit to Purchase Firearms Training Instructor, the applicant must:

1. Review the Permit to Purchase Training Course Guidelines
2. Complete the instructor application in the Firearms Instructor Portal
3. Submit all required documents with the application, including:
   • A valid firearms instructor certificate showing expiration date, issued by a nationally recognized organization or law enforcement agency that meets Delaware POST standards
   • Instructor identification card
   • Training course syllabus

Click Here for the Permit to Purchase Instructor Portal

Once instructors are certified, they will be added to a publicly available list of certified trainers on the Permit to Purchase website.

Training Course Requirements

Certified instructors must conduct courses approved by SBI that include instruction on:

• Firearms and ammunition knowledge, safe handling, and storage (including child safety)
• Shooting fundamentals and live fire exercises (minimum 100 rounds)
• Federal and state firearms laws, including Delaware law on the use of deadly force
• Techniques for avoiding criminal attacks, conflict resolution, and managing violent confrontations
• Suicide prevention and awareness

After successfully completing the firearms training safety course, permit to purchase applicants will receive a signed Firearms Training Course Certification Form from their instructor, which must be submitted with their handgun qualified purchaser permit application.

Contact Information for Trainers:

• Email: DSP_P2P_Instructor@delaware.gov
• Phone: (302) 741-2800

The Delaware State Police encourages all qualified firearms instructors to begin the certification process now to ensure they are able to provide training before the Permit to Purchase law is implemented.

Exemptions to the firearms training requirement are outlined in Delaware law and can be found here: Delaware Code Online

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