Best Concealed Carry Classes in Virginia – 2022 Reviewed

1. TAC-Solutions

Our Review of the Program

The 4-hour interactive class is taught by Dave Van Buren. The owner and lead instructor of TAC-Solutions. He is a retired Richmond SWAT team officer and a graduate of the F.B.I. Counter Sniper School with a lot of knowledge to impart.

He calls his course ‘can you survive 3 seconds’ and has created it after months of iterations. This is a classroom only course with no test, no gun and no shooting required.

The price of the classes is amazing considering the knowledge you'll acquire. The course includes state laws, strategies to avoid an encounter, drawing/holstering the weapon, and muscle memory. In short, you’ll receive the best theoretical knowledge you can find anywhere.

Taking the class will also qualify you for the Florida non-resident CCW permit if you want to apply. There’s quite a fair amount of class slots available, so the schedule will not be a problem.

There’s also an option for private one-on-one classes and some other advanced level courses if you want to be prepared. Taking instructions from a retired SWAT officer who has been in many encounters will definitely be useful.

2. Virginia Gun Class

Our Review of the Program

The Virginia Gun Class offers a comprehensive CCW course that offers realistic and very useful knowledge about carrying, handling, and using a weapon for self-defense. Plus its aftermath.

The course is available online and offline. The offline live class can be 2-2.5 hrs in length, whereas the online class has 12 modules of 10 minutes each. The online course is not some carousel of slides, but real information from a live instructor.

The classes are quite engaging and since the institute trains thousands of participants each year across VA. They absolutely know what to include in the course and how to keep it engaging.

The instructor will also help you with handgun selection if you don’t have one already. The most interesting lesson is the ‘violent encounters and their aftermath’, where you’ll get realistic expectations for proper inference of such situations and your expected actions.

The cost of this course is pretty low, and since you can take it from the comfort of your home. It becomes an even better value for money. Another interesting factor is that you can cancel anytime without incurring a cancellation fee.

3. 1st Virginia Public Safety Training Academy

Our Review of the Program

This institute is geared towards providing training for the purpose of employment. They train security officers, K9 dogs, armored car courses, and everything else you’ll find for private security personnel.

The institute is a very hospitable place, with all the staff being very friendly. The chief instructor is called Lt. and runs the place with his wife. They also offer women-only courses that open up good scope for a comfortable learning environment for women.

The course covers basic handgun knowledge, shooting fundamentals, cleaning and storage, and a range qualification. That’s what you don’t generally find in Virginia CHP classes. So if you are planning to take a real firearm and shoot it on the range, this course is for you.

The price is inclusive of the training and gear, so its quite reasonable. The women’s only course is a great combo that explains about handguns and chemical sprays. Which can come in handy in a real-life scenario.

4. Protect and Defend

Our Review of the Program

The highest-rated CHP training academy in Northern VA. You can check out their google reviews if you want. This is a one-stop-shop where you can find a great concealed handgun training course, along with buying or transferring firearms.

Their CHP course is a multi-state concealed carry course that meets the state requirements of VA, FL, and many other states. That’s what their fees imply and are totally justified for.

The instructor Andy covers all the aspects of firearm handling and CC etiquettes with some extra tips about properly carrying weapons and tackling a self-defense situation. You can also opt for the UTAH CC permit course for a small extra fee, after the conclusion of the class.

They also have a women-only course that is conducted on scheduled intervals and involves only women as learners and instructors. Additionally, the course class is conducted once a month and can be registered/paid for via online mode through their website.

5. Defensive Tactics of Virginia Inc

Our Review of the Program

This is a store plus training institute that offers comprehensive firearm services. Their employees are very respectful and diligently solve your queries without being condescending.

A concealed carry class for VA and UT is organized every second Saturday of the month. Where the instructor tries to impart practical knowledge about handling a gun and real-life situations.

The class is a common session to apply for the VA and UT permits and the price of the combo is just perfect. You can enroll in the classes via their website and pay upfront. The schedule of your class will be communicated beforehand if the classes are already full.

The staff assists you in purchasing firearms after you have taken your class if you wish.

6. Capital Defense Instruction LLC

Our Review of the Program

Capital Defense Instruction LLC packs a lot of good firearm training courses together, and one of them is the CCW class. It is a combined CCW class that’ll help you apply for the state of VA and UT.

The institute only accepts online registrations and prepayment. Their schedule is quite strict and not attending your class will result in forfeiting of your paid amount. There’s no availability for rescheduling, so make sure you make it in time.

The class has a very lively environment and you are allowed to ask questions anytime. The class covers all the basics of weapon handling and concealed carry.

Classes are conducted about 4-5 times each month and fill in fast. So you better register at the earliest possible time. The course fee is more than the other classes on this list. But quite justifiable since the course includes VA and UT certification, plus fingerprinting and photo processing.

The institute also offers women-only classes and fun events to keep female participants engaged during the course and after it. They even have a course to become an NRA instructor, so there is a lot of learning and even career options there.

7. Freedom Shooting Center

Our Review of the Program

The shop, range, and classroom of the Freedom Shooting Center is an amazing place to be. The environment is very energetic and their staff is the most polite representative you can find in a CCW class.

Coming to the course, they offer a 3-hour class that covers everything from law & basic handling to live firing exercise on the range. They have a state-of-the-art range with the best shooting equipment and ventilation. They also have an indoor obstacle course if you opt-in for other advanced courses.

The fees for their CCW course seems steep at first, however they include all the necessary items including gear, handgun, and ammo. Plus, the amazing indoor range you’ll get to experience shooting in.

Classes are available 6 days a week and can be enrolled via their website. They have another 12 advanced courses that can be taken if you want to train yourself to the next level.

You can also opt for a private one-on-one class if you have the need and budget to pay for it. Overall, their classes are very dedicated and comprehensive and cover every big and small factor in detail.

Other CCW Guides