Most entry-level handgun courses provide a solid foundation in the fundamentals of marksmanship (how to hit what you’re aiming at). We need to expand our training if we hope to safely and responsibly apply those skills in a home defense context. The NRA Personal Protection Inside the Home (“PPITH”) is a great starting point.


Topics Covered


Frequently Asked Questions


Course Details

What You’ll Learn

The NRA’s PPITH course teaches the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude essential to the safe and efficient use of a handgun for protection of self and family within a private residence or business. Topics include:

  • Introduction to defensive shooting
  • Basic defensive pistol skills / defensive accuracy
  • Firearms and the law: Possession, ownership and deadly force
  • Strategies for home safety and responding to violent encounters
  • Defensive pistol selection, safe storage, and proper maintenance
  • Further development of shooting skills for home-based defensive contexts

Frequently Asked Questions

Who’s eligible?

This course is for law-abiding adult citizens, as defined by applicable federal, state, or local law, and experienced shooters (shooters able to show mastery of the basic skills of safe gun handling, shooting a group, zeroing the firearm, and cleaning the firearm). Prospective participants can demonstrate that they have the requisite knowledge, skills, and attitudes by producing an NRA Basic Pistol Course Certificate, NRA FIRST Steps Course Certificate, NRA pistol competitive shooting qualification card, military DD 214 with pistol qualification, or passing the Pre-Course Assessment. 

What should I expect?

This is an eight-hour course. Students should expect to shoot approximately 100 rounds of ammunition. Students will learn basic defensive shooting skills, strategies for home safety and responding to a violent confrontation, firearms and the law, how to choose a handgun for self-defense, and continued opportunities for skill development. Students will receive the NRA Guide to the Basics of Personal Protection In The Home handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, the Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification booklet, and course completion certificate.

Who teaches the legal stuff?

Lesson III of this course: Firearms and the Law, and Legal Aspects of Self-Defense, is conducted by an attorney licensed to practice law within the state in which this course is given and who is familiar with this area of the law, or a Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) who possesses an intermediate or higher Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certificate granted within the state, or an individual currently certified to instruct in this area of the law by the state in which this course is presented. NRA Certified Instructors may conduct this lesson only if they meet the requirements stated above and then only in their capacity as an attorney, or other state certified individual not in their capacity as an NRA Certified Instructor.

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