Changes to Florida "K" Firearms Instructor License requirements for issue and renewal

Good to hear, unfortunately this change screws me ........... I got my license Under the NRA LE Handgun/Shotgun Instructors Certification which is now worthless.



 

GOOD NEWS





http://www.nrahq.org/law/florida_k_license.pdf
         TO: All current and prospective Florida "K” Licensee Holders


         FROM: Dave Gledhill


         Manager of Law Enforcement Training


         National Rifle Association


         SUBJECT: Recent legislative changes, (Florida HB7209), to the Florida Department of


         Agriculture’s "K” licensing requirements


         DATE: June 28, 2011


         On June 21, 2011, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed into law HB7209, which included


         changes and new licensing requirements as they relate to the regulation of private security


         firearm instructors, otherwise known as the "K” license. These new procedures are set to


         become effective Friday, July 1, 2011. (See Attachment A)


         A copy of HB7209 has been included in this document with the specific changes highlighted.


         These changes specifically affect the following statutes:


         • FS493.6105 – Application for licensing


         • FS493.6111 – Length of time the license is valid for


         • FS493.6113 – Requirements for renewal


         You may have already received a memorandum, dated June 24, 2011 from Grea Bevis, the


         Director of the Division of Licensing for the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer


         Services, outlining the changes. (See Attachment B)


         We at the National Rifle Association’s Law Enforcement Division would like to help clarify


         some issues we know many of you may be concerned about or dispel any rumors you may have


         heard.


         First of all, FDACS, beginning July 1, 2011, is simply now requiring documentation of current


         "CERTIFICATION” as a Private Security Firearm Instructor, by the organization from whom


         you’ve been trained and certified through at your time of application. Simply providing a


         "course completion” certificate will no longer be sufficient. FDACS is simply recognizing the


         "certification” instead of just the course attendance and completion.


         Second, FDACS has changed their "renewal” period for your "K” license from every two years


         to every three years. They are just extending the renewal period by one year. The cost to renew


         your "K” license hasn’t changed.


         Lastly, when you apply to "renew” your "K” license with FDACS, beginning July 1, 2011, you


         will now be required to provide documentation of your continued "CERTIFIED” status as a


         Private Security Firearm Instructor.


         Great! I’ve already been to an NRA Law Enforcement Division firearm instructor school.


         How does this affect me now?


          For any of you who had successfully completed any NRA "Police”, "Security” or


         "Law Enforcement” Firearm Instructor School, and who has MAINTAINED their


         "certification” with us, will need only request a "NRA Private Security Firearm


         Instructor” certificate be created and mailed to them for the purpose of renewing


         their Florida "K” License. This can be done via email by making your request to the


         NRA Law Enforcement Certifications Coordinator, Ms. Terri Van Scoyoc, at


         [email protected]. (See Attachment C)


          New NRA Law Enforcement "Recertification Application” forms will have a very


         prominent checkbox on them whereby you will notify us of your need for the new


         Florida "K” certification certificate. (See Attachment D)


          In the future, these "certificates will automatically be generated at the time of


         "Certification” or "Recertification” with the NRA’s Law Enforcement Division. (See


         Attachment E)


          Those who initially certified with us, but whose certification is expired less than 12


         months, may still recertify with us via our 24 hour continuing education requirement.


         At the point of successfully recertifying with us, A Florida "K” certification


         certificate will be generated and sent to the instructor.


          Those who certified with us and whose certification is more than 12 months expired,


         but less than 5 years expired, DO NOT have to necessarily attend another NRA Law


         Enforcement Handgun/Shotgun Instructor School, but may attend ANY of the other


         six NRA Law Enforcement Firearm Instructor disciplines taught. Upon successful


         completion of this other school and subsequent application for certification with us,


         your original Handgun/Shotgun certification, (the old "Police”, "Security” or current


         "Law Enforcement” firearm instructor certification), will renew. At the point of


         successfully recertifying with us, A Florida "K” certification certificate will be


         automatically generated and sent to the instructor.


          For those who never certified with us, or whose certification is expired by 5 or more


         years, your only option will be to attend our current 5-day NRA Law Enforcement


         Handgun/Shotgun Instructor Program. Upon successful completion, you must then


         apply for certification with us, at which time the requisite Florida "K” certification


         certificate required by FDACS will be generated and sent to you. (See Attachment E)


         What else do I need to know about current NRA Law Enforcement Firearm Instructor


         programs and their certification?


          Once you’ve received your certification, it will remain valid for 3-years from the date


         of completion of your school.


          NRA "Membership” is a required condition of certification as an NRA Law


         Enforcement Firearm Instructor and must be maintained throughout your 3-year


         certification period. Should your membership expire, your certification will become


         suspended automatically until such time as you have renewed your membership. (See


         attachment F)


          NRA "Agency Enrollment” of the company or organization employing the "K”


         licensed firearm instructor is a required condition of our certification and must be


         maintained throughout your 3-year certification period. (Note: Mandatory NRA


         "Agency Enrollment” is NOT required of the U.S. Military or any federal, state or


         municipal SWORN law enforcement agencies). (See Attachment G)


          To "recertify” as an NRA Law Enforcement, (or Private Security), firearm instructor, you


         must now submit proof of having obtained a minimum 24 hours of CONTINUING


         EDUCATION, related to either "firearms training” or "instructor development training”


         anytime during the 3-year certification period that is expiring. This continuing education must


         be training you have attended in person and as a student. (See Attachment H)


         "Continuing Education”? Why do I need that? I’ve been a firearm instructor for 25 years.


          To remain certified with the NRA as a Law Enforcement, (or Private Security)


         Firearm Instructor, we now require you to continue your own education. Doctors,


         lawyers, engineers and others working in a technical profession are now required to


         continue their education in their chosen profession. Whether it’s a federal or state


         agency regulation or simply required by a virtue of one’s involvement with a


         professional association, this allows you, the professional, to stay abreast of ever


         changing and new technology and/or trends, and will significantly reduce any


         potential liability you may expose yourself to.


         What exactly do I need to do and where can I get this "Continuing Education”?


          "Firearms Training” is defined as "hands-on”, "practical” or "skills based” training


         actually involving the use and/or shooting of firearms. This would typically be indicative of


         training designed to improving ones handling proficiency, marksmanship ability, tactics or


         other skills as they directly relate to the safe use of firearms.


          "Instructor Development Training” would be defined as instruction, schooling or


         education one has obtained designed to enhance, augment and/or improve one’s


         "presentation”, "teaching” or "public speaking” capabilities. Additional information on


         exactly what kind of training is acceptable can be found in our "Continuing Education


         FAQ’s” document. (See Attachment I)


         I’ve got a question I haven’t gotten answered here yet. Who can I call?


          Questions concerning the new statute and "K” license regulations should be


         directed to the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumers Affairs Public


         Inquiry Section at 850-245-5691.


          Questions concerning your NRA Law Enforcement firearm instructor certification


         status should be directed to the NRA’s Law Enforcement Training Department at


         703-267-1640, (Option 3)