1. (1) Each Enhanced Handgun Safety Course shall consist of two (2) separate, but interrelated areas of instruction: classroom and firing range.

2. (2) Each Enhanced Handgun Safety Course shall be approximately six (6) hours of instruction including a ten (10) minute break each hour. The course shall be divided into two areas of instruction;

   1. (a) Four (4) hours of classroom instruction; and
   2. (b) Two (2) hours on the range, depending on class size and instructor to student ratio. The range portion shall provide adequate time for students to display proper safety procedures.
3. (3) Enhanced Handgun Safety Schools shall utilize the current standardized instructional outline material, and other media provided by the Department. No other material may be presented or delivered to any student during the class.
4. (4) Current standardized instructional outline, material, and other media will be provided to each approved Enhanced Safety School.

5. (5) Enhanced Handgun Safety Schools may utilize other instructional material specifically regarding facility/range safety or firearm safety provided they:

   1. (a) Submit a written request to the Director and receive written approval;
   2. (b) Furnish the Department a copy of the proposed material, lesson plan on incorporating the material, and source documents, if any; and
   3. (c) The Director has discretion to approve or disapprove any requests for additional instructional material. HANDGUN SAFETY PROGRAM

6. (6) Only state certified instructors and attorneys delivering the legal portion of the class may present during the class.

   1. (a) Outside vendors and sales presentations may not participate during any portion of the instruction.
   2. (b) Nothing prohibits presentations before or after a class, so long as it is not mandated that students participate in order to receive credit for the Enhanced Handgun Safety class.

7. (7) A written examination and handgun firing qualification shall be administered to each student.

   1. (a) The written exam shall consist of a core of standardized questions provided by the Department;
   2. (b) The handgun firing qualification shall, as a minimum, include the course of fire specified by the Department;
   3. (c) A minimum score of seventy percent (70%) must be achieved on the written examination and firing qualification separately to successfully pass the Enhanced Handgun Safety Course; and
   4. (d) A copy of all scores shall be maintained by the Enhanced Handgun Safety School for a minimum of five (5) years from the date of the examinations.

8. (8) Class size:

   1. (a) The classroom shall be of sufficient size to adequately accommodate the total number of students;
   2. (b) There shall be a minimum of one (1) instructor per fifty (50) students during the classroom instruction;
   3. (c) There shall be a minimum of one (1) instructor per five (5) students during the actual live fire portion of the range instruction. Nothing shall prohibit Range Safety Officers from providing safety for the range. Range Safety Officers may not count as instructors unless certified by the Department as an instructor; and
   4. (d) In no case shall the number of students on the firing line exceed the number of established firing positions.

9. (9) Students must meet the eligibility requirements outlined in T.C.A. § 39-17-1351(b) in order to attend an Enhanced Handgun Safety Course;

   1. (a) Students who will qualify to apply for the Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit within one year of taking the Enhanced Handgun Safety Course will be eligible to take the course.
   2. (b) Instructors will validate the students’ age requirements prior to enrolling them into the Enhanced Handgun Safety Course.
10. (10) While on, or within close proximity of an active firing line, all students, instructors, and observers must wear Department approved hearing and eye protection.

11. (11) Type of ammunition: HANDGUN SAFETY PROGRAM

    1. (a) All ammunition used by students during training shall be of quality, commercial manufacture.
    2. (b) Reloaded ammunition is acceptable only if it is of commercial manufacture.
    3. (c) Ammunition must comply with restrictions set forth by individual ranges.
    4. (d) No black powder ammunition or multiple projectile ammunition is allowed.

12. (12) Type of handguns:

    1. (a) Handguns used by students shall be of quality manufacture and free from operational defects;
    2. (b) All handguns must be inspected by an instructor prior to the firing range portion of the instruction, and if the handgun is deemed unsafe by the instructor, the handgun may not be used.
    3. (c) No black powder handguns and only handguns that fire a single projectile with each trigger pull may be used. The Department shall not otherwise establish restrictions on the make, model, or caliber of handguns used by students in an Enhanced Handgun Safety Course; however, each School or range may establish restrictions on the caliber or type of handgun used in their course.
13. (13) Scores must be submitted by an instructor to the Department within 72 hours from the conclusion of the class or the instructor must request an extension. Score submission may be done electronically online, email, or fax. In emergency situations in which there is no internet access, submissions may be made by phone and U.S. Mail.
14. (14) It is not necessary for a student to take a Handgun Safety Course in their county of residence.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-3-2009 and 39-17-1351. Administrative History: Original rule filed January 25, 1995; effective April 10, 1995. Amendment September 16, 1996; effective January 28, 1997. Amendments filed December 19, 2024; to have become effective March 19, 2025. However, the Government Operations Committee filed a 15-day stay of the effective date of the rules on February 26, 2025; new effective date April 3, 2025.