Firearms schools are institutions that offer training in the handling, use, and maintenance of firearms. They are vital in promoting safety and responsible gun ownership in the United States. It also includes a list of firearm schools sorted chronologically, with their names, locations, date of creation, and a summary of the school.
Firearms schools are now widespread across the US and offer training programs ranging from basic gun safety to advanced tactical training for law enforcement and military personnel. The training programs can be categorized into three main areas: civilian training, law enforcement training, and military training.
Where the schools are
27 of the 30 schools have a fixed campus. Tap a pin for details; colors show civilian, law enforcement and military schools.
Civilian schools
Civilian training programs promote responsible gun ownership and safety, with courses on basic gun handling, concealed carry and self-defense.
Gunsite Academy
1976Paulden, Arizona
Gunsite Academy is one of the oldest and most respected firearms training facilities in the US. It was founded by Colonel Jeff Cooper, a veteran of the US Marine Corps and a pioneer in the field of handgun training. The academy offers a wide range of courses on pistol, rifle, shotgun, and tactical training. It emphasizes the development of combat mindset, marksmanship, and gun handling skills.
Thunder Ranch
1993Lakeview, Oregon
Thunder Ranch was founded by Clint Smith, a Marine Corps veteran and former police SWAT officer. The ranch offers courses on defensive handgun, shotgun and rifle, with a focus on situational awareness, decision-making and shooting skills in realistic settings.
Founded in Mountain Home, Texas; moved to Lakeview in 2004 and sold to two long-time students in 2023.
SIG SAUER Academy
1990Epping, New Hampshire
Sig Sauer Academy is a state-of-the-art training facility that offers courses on pistol, rifle, and shotgun training. It also offers specialized courses for law enforcement and military personnel. The academy is run by a team of experienced instructors who are dedicated to providing the highest quality training to students.
Firearms Training Associates
Corona, California
Firearms Training Associates is a premier training facility that offers courses on handgun, shotgun, and rifle training. It is led by a team of experienced instructors who are dedicated to providing personalized instruction to students of all skill levels.
Listed by the LA County Sheriff (2026) as an approved carry trainer in Corona. Founding year not confirmed.
Front Sight Firearms Training Institute
1996Pahrump, Nevada
Front Sight Firearms Training Institute is a world-renowned training facility that offers courses on pistol, rifle, shotgun, and self-defense training. The institute is led by Dr. Ignatius Piazza, a firearms expert who has trained thousands of students from all over the world.
Closed: bankrupt in 2022. The Pahrump campus now operates as PrairieFire Nevada.
Tactical Response
1996Camden, Tennessee
Tactical Response is a training facility that offers courses on defensive handgun, rifle, and shotgun training. The training emphasizes real-world scenarios and stress-induced shooting to prepare students for high-pressure situations.
Green Ops
2005Virginia
Green Ops is a training facility that offers courses on defensive handgun, rifle, and shotgun training. The instructors are all experienced law enforcement or military personnel who have a passion for teaching others how to defend themselves in real-world situations.
Exact town not confirmed.
Alliance Police Training
Alliance, Ohio
Alliance Police Training is a premier training facility that offers courses on defensive handgun, shotgun, and rifle training. The training is designed to prepare civilians for high-pressure situations and to teach them how to defend themselves and their loved ones.
Founding year not confirmed; its shoot house opened in April 2010.
Sentinel Concepts
2014Traveling
Sentinel Concepts was founded by Steve Fisher, a former primary instructor for Magpul Dynamics and staff instructor for Pat Rogers’ E.A.G. Tactical. Courses cover defensive handgun, carbine, shotgun and low light at host ranges.
Suarez International
Prescott, Arizona
Suarez International is a training facility that offers courses on defensive handgun, rifle, and shotgun training. The training is designed to prepare civilians for high-pressure situations and to teach them how to defend themselves and their loved ones using real-world tactics and techniques.
Founding year not confirmed. Training is now sold online as Suarez Tactics.
Law enforcement academies
Law enforcement academies give recruits and serving officers basic firearms training, tactical training and advanced firearms courses.
LAPD Academy
1925Los Angeles, California
The LAPD Academy provides training to new recruits who will become LAPD officers. The training covers a wide range of topics, including firearms proficiency, defensive tactics, and community policing.
1925 marks the police pistol range in Elysian Park; it became the academy in the mid-1930s.
FBI National Academy
1935Quantico, Virginia
The National Academy is a ten-week training program for law enforcement officers from around the world. The training focuses on leadership, communication, and specialized topics such as forensic science and terrorism.
Founded in 1935; moved to Quantico in 1940.
Texas DPS Training Academy
1935Austin, Texas
The Texas Department of Public Safety Training Academy provides training to new recruits who will become Texas state troopers. The training covers a wide range of topics, including criminal law, traffic control, and defensive tactics.
1935 is when the Texas Department of Public Safety was created.
Police Training Institute (PTI)
1955Champaign, Illinois
PTI provides training to law enforcement officers from across the state of Illinois. The training covers a wide range of topics, including firearms proficiency, driving, and defensive tactics.
NYPD Police Academy
1964College Point, Queens, New York
The NYPD Police Academy provides training to new recruits who will become NYPD officers. The training covers a wide range of topics, including firearms proficiency, defensive tactics, and community policing.
Current campus in College Point since 2015.
Georgia Public Safety Training Center
1980Forsyth, Georgia
The Georgia Public Safety Training Center provides training to law enforcement officers from across the state of Georgia. The training covers a wide range of topics, including firearms proficiency, driving, and defensive tactics.
Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy
1965London, Ohio
The Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy provides training to law enforcement officers from across the state of Ohio. The training covers a wide range of topics, including criminal law, firearms proficiency, and defensive tactics.
1965 marks the state training council; the London campus was dedicated in 1976.
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC)
1970Glynco, Georgia (plus other sites)
The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers provide training to law enforcement officers from over 90 federal agencies. The training covers a wide range of topics, including firearms proficiency, defensive tactics, driving, and investigative techniques.
Started in Washington, D.C. in 1970; moved to Glynco in 1975.
North Carolina Justice Academy
1973Salemburg, North Carolina
The North Carolina Justice Academy provides training to law enforcement officers from across the state of North Carolina. The training covers a wide range of topics, including firearms proficiency, driving, and defensive tactics.
State Police Academies
Every state
State police academies provide training to new recruits who will become state troopers. The training covers a wide range of topics, including criminal law, traffic control, and defensive tactics.
Military schools
Military schools train service members in marksmanship, small-unit tactics, survival and leadership.
U.S. Military Academy (West Point)
1802West Point, New York
The United States Military Academy, also known as West Point, is a prestigious four-year military academy that trains future officers for the US Army. The academy offers a rigorous academic program, as well as training in leadership, military tactics, and physical fitness.
U.S. Naval Academy
1845Annapolis, Maryland
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year military academy that trains future officers for the US Navy and Marine Corps. The academy offers a rigorous academic program, as well as training in leadership, military tactics, and physical fitness.
Marine Corps Recruit Training
1915Parris Island, South Carolina and San Diego, California
Marine Corps Recruit Training is a 12-week program that teaches basic military skills and physical fitness to new recruits in the US Marine Corps. The training is designed to prepare recruits for their next assignment and instill the values of honor, courage, and commitment.
Parris Island began recruit training in 1915; San Diego in 1923.
Army Airborne School
1940Fort Benning, Georgia
Airborne School is a three-week training program that teaches soldiers in the US Army how to parachute from airplanes. The training includes classroom instruction, physical fitness training, and parachute jumps from a variety of altitudes.
Army Officer Candidate School
1941Fort Benning, Georgia
Officer Candidate School is a program that trains enlisted personnel to become officers in the US Army. The training focuses on leadership, tactics, and physical fitness, and prepares candidates for their next assignment.
SERE School
1981Camp Mackall, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
SERE School is a program that teaches soldiers in the US Army how to survive and evade capture in a variety of hostile environments. The training includes classroom instruction, field training exercises, and simulated captivity exercises to prepare soldiers for the challenges of real-world scenarios.
Founded in 1981 by Col. Nick Rowe.
The Basic School (TBS)
1891Quantico, Virginia
The Basic School is a six-month training program for newly commissioned officers in the US Marine Corps. The training focuses on leadership, tactics, and physical fitness, and prepares officers for their next assignment.
Roots go back to 1891; named The Basic School by 1920, first official class 1922.
Army Ranger School
1952Fort Benning, Georgia
Ranger School is a three-month training program that teaches leadership, tactics, and physical fitness to US Army soldiers. The training is considered to be one of the toughest in the military, and includes a variety of challenging exercises and field training exercises.
U.S. Air Force Academy
1954Colorado Springs, Colorado
The United States Air Force Academy is a four-year military academy that trains future officers for the US Air Force. The academy offers a rigorous academic program, as well as training in leadership, military tactics, and physical fitness.
Navy BUD/S
Coronado, California
NSW BUD/S is a six-month training program for enlisted personnel in the US Navy who wish to become SEALs. The training is considered to be one of the most rigorous in the military, and emphasizes physical fitness, water survival, and mental toughness.
Navy demolition and diver training has run in Coronado since 1945; the first SEAL teams formed in 1962.
A short history
The history of firearm schools in the US dates back to the colonial era, where firearms were an essential tool for survival. In the 19th century, firearm schools were mainly focused on military training, with the establishment of the US Military Academy at West Point in 1802. The civilian population’s need for firearms training grew as the country expanded, and gun ownership became more widespread.
In the 20th century, firearm schools gained more popularity and diversified their training programs to cater to civilians and law enforcement agencies. The National Rifle Association (NRA), established in 1871, played a significant role in promoting firearm safety and training. It opened its first shooting range in 1903, and in 1949, it established the National Rifle Association Law Enforcement Activities Division to provide training to law enforcement agencies.
The 21st century has seen a surge in firearm ownership in the US, with an estimated 393 million guns in circulation. This has led to increased demand for firearms training, and the industry has responded by offering a wide range of training programs to cater to the diverse needs of gun owners.
More resources
For more civilian schools, founders and current status, see the Training Schools guide and the Training Schools Map. The people behind these schools are in the Firearm Instructors directory.
