San Diego County · Initial and renewal CCW permits
You've decided to carry.
We'll make sure you're ready.
You’ll leave with the certificate the Sheriff needs and the skills to back it up.
Most people here have never taken a firearms class, and nobody gets rushed.
Next class: Friday, September 11 · Classroom, La Mesa · $249
Multi-state permit certificate included free with the California class
5.0 stars, 300+ reviews
on Yelp and Google
Teaching since 1991
in San Diego County
NRA Law Enforcement
Affiliated Agency
Five training locations
across San Diego County
The part nobody explains
California makes this harder by design. We'll walk you through it.
Three things people tell us they were worried about before they called.
“I don't know what I'm supposed to do first.”
Either order works. Training has no expiry date, so a class you take today still counts when you apply, even years later. We would rather you trained early: the sooner you learn it, the longer you have to practice before you carry.
“I've never taken a firearms class. I don't want to look stupid.”
Most of our students haven’t either. Nobody gets rushed and nobody gets embarrassed. Ask the question.
“What if I don't pass the range qualification?”
Almost everyone does, with coaching, on the day. That’s what the range time is for.
Your instructor
Teaching since 1991. Still teaching every class himself.
When you book a class, Bill is the one teaching it. Not an assistant, not a rotating staff instructor. It’s a fair question to ask anyone else you’re considering.
He’ll tell you himself that a one or two day class teaches you the standards, not proficiency. What it does is make sure you start with good habits instead of habits you’ll have to unlearn later.
- Certified instructor since 1992
- California BSIS and DOJ certified
- NRA Training Counselor
- POST concealed carry tactics
- U.S. Navy Force Protection
Training is much more than meeting an arbitrary minimum standard.
Bill Desy, owner and lead instructor
Bill Desy, owner and lead instructor. Teaching firearms safety since 1991.
Step by step
Three steps. The first one isn't the class.
San Diego County issues permits through the Sheriff. Here’s the order it happens in.
Apply with the Sheriff
Start it now. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t trained yet or don’t own a gun, you can still get the application in and wait for conditional approval.
Apply first, train second. Booking a class before you’re approved is the most expensive mistake people make.
Book your class
Classroom on Friday, range on Saturday. One weekend and your training requirement is done. Renewing? You only need the range day.
Qualify and carry
Qualify, collect your certificate, finish with the Sheriff. Your multi-state certificate comes with it, free.
Next classes
Here's what's on the calendar.
Not sure what you need? CLICK HERE
Classroom and range days are scheduled back to back. Book both and your whole training requirement is done in one weekend.
Getting your first permit? Both days, 16 hours total, $499 booked together.
Renewing? You need the range day only, $299.
Before you arrive
You can start before you own a gun.
Classroom day is law, safety and decision-making. No shooting at all. Range day is fundamentals, then drills, then your qualification. Around 100 rounds for an initial permit, 50 for a renewal.
Don’t own a handgun yet? Take the classroom day now and come back for the range day once you do. Plenty of people do it that way.
Bring a gun you have actually fired. Range day is not the place to try a handgun for the first time. Bring every gun you want listed on the permit.
Cancel more than 72 hours out and you get full credit toward another date.
What to bring
- Your Sheriff's conditional approval
- Eye and ear protection
- A strong-side hip or appendix holster, and a proper gun belt
- 100 rounds per firearm for an initial permit, 50 for a renewal
- Lunch, or cash for it
Some things don't get fixed in a group.
Your draw. Your grip. A gun that doesn’t fit your hand. A new red dot you can’t get on target. The specific thing you already know you need to work on. That’s where a private class is perfect.
Just Bill and you. Two hours to a full day, indoors or at a private outdoor range. Bring your spouse, your kids, or your church group.
From $300 for two hours, plus $100 per person.
Full-day one on one, $1,500. Two-day elite CCW package, $3,000.
619-871-9834. Tell him what you want to work on and he will tell you what it takes.
5.0 stars on Yelp and Google, across 300+ reviews.
“Lots of CCW trainers out there and it’s hard to know which to choose. Glad I chose this one… I feel the range day coaching went FAR beyond just qualifying for the CCW license. My shooting greatly improved… I will be continuing my training journey with them.”
Michelle B.
Yelp · May 2026
“Being new to handguns, I have to admit I was a bit nervous. However my nerves calmed as the instructors were very knowledgable, helpful, well spoken, and safety focused… By the time we left for the day, my shooting as well as my gun handling, and confidence, had improved!”
Dale C.
Yelp · February 2025
“I recently took my renewal class through Bill and it was a pleasure. I have taken Bills class three times now, but this class in particular is located on a private outdoor range and creates a perfect setting… I highly recommend taking his CCW class and weapons training as well.”
EJ P.
Yelp · December 2024
The year Bill started teaching people to safely own and operate firearms
Instructor certifications Bill holds, from the NRA, California DOJ, BSIS and POST
Five star reviews across Yelp and Google
Choosing an instructor
You don't have to train with me. But vet whoever you pick.
What to ask
CCW USA
What to watch for
Who actually teaches the class?
Bill Desy. Teaching since 1991, certified since 1992
Rotating contract instructors
What kind of range?
Private outdoor ranges, Escondido and Alpine. Steel targets
Public indoor lane rental
How do you add a gun later?
Monday evening qualifications, year round. $60 for the first pistol, $20 for each one after.
Wait for the next full class to come round.
Is the multi-state permit included?
Included with the California class
Sold separately, often $100
Is there a path for new shooters?
Classroom and range split across two days. Private lessons available
One fixed schedule, no beginner path
Questions people ask before they book.
Do I need to apply with the Sheriff before I take the class?
Yes, and this is the one that trips people up. Apply through the Sheriff first and wait for conditional approval, then book your class. The other way around can mean paying for training you cannot use yet.
I have never fired a gun. Can I still take this?
Yes. Most of our students are in exactly that position. Classroom day comes first and there is no shooting on it. Range day is coached from the fundamentals up and nobody moves on until you’re comfortable. If you don’t own a handgun yet, take the classroom day and come back for the range day once you do.
What does it cost, and what is included?
$249 classroom day, $299 range day, $499 for the full 16 hours booked together. Renewals need the range day only. Range fees and the multi-state certificate are included. You bring your own ammunition.
How long does the whole permit process take?
The training is one weekend. The Sheriff’s side is the long part. Renewing? Take your class up to six months before your permit expires, and file 90 days out.
I am renewing. What do I actually need?
The range day, $299. You do not repeat the full 16 hours. Book up to six months before you expire. Let it lapse and you start over as a new applicant, at full price.
Where are the classes held?
Indoor classrooms in La Mesa and El Cajon, private outdoor ranges in Escondido and Alpine. Exact addresses come with your registration confirmation.
Not ready to book yet?
Eleven short videos from Desy and Drammissi.
Holsters and belts that actually work. Whether to carry with a round in the chamber. What those no-guns signs really mean. How to pass the California range qualification. One video at a time, straight to your inbox.
Free, and most run under four minutes. We send the class schedule monthly too, so you can book the week your approval lands.
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