Md. Code Regs. 12.04.06.12

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 12, June 14, 2024

Section 12.04.06.12 - Certification - Firearms Provisional Instructor, Line Instructor, and Firearms Instructor

A. Certification Requirements - General. A training authority may submit an application to the Commission for certification of an individual as a Firearms Provisional Instructor, Line Instructor, or Firearms Instructor when the individual meets the certification requirements established under this regulation for the particular instructor classification and has:

(1) Two or more years employment as a law enforcement or correctional officer within the last 5 years, during which employment the individual was authorized to use or carry a firearm for a minimum of 2 years; and

(2) Within 60 days immediately before the date of the application for instructor certification, successfully completed the qualification course of fire required by §D(5) of this regulation for the firearm type for which the individual is requesting instructor certification.

B. Certification Requirements for Firearms Provisional Instructor; Line Instructor; and Firearms Instructor.

(1) Firearms Provisional Instructor Certification Requirements. Before an individual may be certified as a Firearms Provisional Instructor, the Commission requires, at a minimum, that the individual:

(a) Meets requirements established under §A of this regulation; and

(b) Within 2 years before the date of the application for Firearms Provisional Instructor, successfully completed classroom instruction, training, and the qualification course of fire required under §D(2) and (3) of this regulation that was provided by:

(i) The Commission;

(ii) A Commission-approved program;

(iii) The United States Government or Armed Forces;

(iv) National Rifle Association; or

(v) A firearms instructor school approved by the Deputy Director.

(2) Line Instructor Certification Requirements. Before an individual may be certified as a Line Instructor, the Commission requires, at a minimum, that the individual:

(a) Meets requirements established under §A of this regulation;

(b) Successfully completed the requirements for Firearms Provisional Instructor certification established under §B(1) of this regulation;

(c) Received at least two satisfactory evaluations performed by a Firearms Instructor for the individual while providing firearms firing line training and qualification; and

(d) Provided firearms firing line training and qualification instruction that is:

(i) A minimum of 8 hours;

(ii) Provided for Commission-approved courses;

(iii) Supervised by a Line Instructor or Firearms Instructor; and

(iv) Provided for the firearm type for which the individual is requesting Firearms Line Instructor certification.

(3) Firearms Instructor Certification Requirements. Before an individual may be certified as a Firearms Instructor, the Commission requires, at a minimum, that the individual:

(a) Meets requirements established under §A of this regulation;

(b) Successfully completed a Commission-approved Academic Instructor training program;

(c) Received at least two satisfactory evaluations performed by a Firearms Instructor for the individual providing firearms classroom instruction during the Academic Instructor training program;

(d) Successfully provided at least four hours of firearms classroom instruction;

(e) Received at least two satisfactory evaluations performed by a Firearms Instructor for the individual while providing firearms firing line training and qualification; and

(f) Is currently a Commission-certified Line Instructor, or a Commission-certified Firearms Provisional Instructor who has successfully provided firearms firing line training and qualification instruction that has been:

(i) A minimum of 8 hours;

(ii) Provided for a Commission-approved course;

(iii) Supervised by a Line Instructor or Firearms Instructor; and

(iv) Provided for the firearm type for which the individual is requesting Firearms Instructor certification.

C. Experience Accepted by the Commission for Training Requirements.

(1) The Commission may accept documented firearms-related experience toward meeting the minimum training requirements for Firearms Provisional Instructor, Line Instructor, or Firearms Instructor certification.

(2) Examples of documented firearms-related experience that the Commission may accept include military training or counter sniper training.

D. Classroom Instruction, Firearms Training, and Firearms Qualification Course of Fire Requirements.

(1) Firearms classroom instruction and firearms training and qualification course of fire required by this regulation shall be approved by the Commission before being conducted.

(2) The following establishes minimum requirements for classroom instruction and firearms training and qualification course of fire for the certification of instructor classifications under this regulation:

Requirement	Handgun	Red Dot Sight	Type 1 Long Gun	Type 2 Long Gun	Type 3 Long Gun	Type 4 Long Gun
(a) Total minimum hours for classroom instruction, training and course of fire for qualification	35 hours	8 hours	35 hours	35 hours	14 hours	7 hours
		24 hours when combined with red dot conversion		56 hours when also seeking certification for one handgun type and also a type 4 long gun; 65 hours when also seeking certification for two handgun types and also one long gun type, of a type 2, 3, or 4 long gun		35 hours when also seeking certification for one handgun type; 49 hours when also seeking certification for two handgun types
(b) Training and qualification courses of fire total minimum rounds to be discharged	350 rounds for one handgun type; 250 rounds each for two handgun types	200 rounds 600 rounds when combined with red dot conversion	150 rounds	350 rounds	350 rounds	50 rounds
(c) Qualification course of fire minimum rounds to be discharged	30 rounds	30 rounds	20 rounds	30 rounds	30 rounds	10 rounds
(d) Minimum passing score Commission-approved instructor qualification course of fire	90 percent	90 percent	100 percent	90 percent	90 percent	90 percent
(e) Minimum passing score each written test	80 percent	80 percent	80 percent	80 percent	80 percent	80 percent

(3) Firearms Provisional Instructor classroom instruction shall meet the requirements established under §D(2) of this regulation, and at a minimum include instruction on:

(a) Firearms safety;

(b) Firearms nomenclature;

(c) Firearms fundamentals and marksmanship;

(d) Firearms cleaning and maintenance;

(e) The problem shooter;

(f) Target analysis;

(g) Ballistics;

(h) Legal issues concerning the use of force;

(i) Deadly force policy;

(j) Judgmental or decision training;

(k) Reduced light discipline;

(l) Emotional, mental, and psychological issues related to critical incidents;

(m) Commission policy and procedures;

(n) Malfunctions; and

(o) Exposure to or practical application of, or both:

(i) Designing a course of fire;

(ii) Lesson plan development; and

(iii) Classroom presentations.

(4) Firearms training shall meet the requirements established under §D(2) of this regulation, and at a minimum, include exposure to and practical application of:

(a) Firing line operations, that include:

(i) Instruction on the firing line; and

(ii) Instruction from a location overseeing the firing line;

(b) Malfunction drills;

(c) Stress training;

(d) Judgmental or decision training;

(e) Range preparation and cleanup;

(f) Scoring;

(g) Target analysis;

(h) Safety; and

(i) Marksmanship fundamentals.

(5) Red Dot Sight classroom instruction and training required for an instructor level as established under §D(2) of this regulation includes, at a minimum, the following information and practical applications:

(a) Introduction to red dot sights and differences;

(b) Proper mounting and zeroing procedures;

(c) Maintenance of the device;

(d) Drawing and presentation - finding the dot (practical);

(e) Common malfunctions and inclement weather issues;

(f) Co-witnessing with iron sights (practical);

(g) Target-focused shooting (practical);

(h) Close quarters vs. distance techniques (practical);

(i) Identifying and fixing common red dot sight shooter errors; and

(j) Obscured sight techniques (practical).

(6) An individual seeking instructor certification under this regulation shall successfully complete one firearms qualification course of fire that meets the requirements established under §D(2) of this regulation for each firearm type for which the individual is seeking instructor certification.

(7) An individual seeking instructor certification under this regulation shall successfully meet:

(a) For a handgun, requirements 3 through 9 of the "Handgun Day-Fire Required Course of Fire for Qualification" in the table under COMAR 12.04.02.05B;

(b) For a particular type long gun, requirements 3 through 7 of the table under COMAR 12.04.02.07B.

Md. Code Regs. 12.04.06.12

Regulation .12 amended effective 49:7 Md. R.468, eff. 4/4/2022