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)