The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) offers a Citizen’s Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) for Okaloosa County residents who are at least 21 years of age. This two day course consists of a classroom portion and a range portion.
During the classroom portion, our instructors will help you become familiar with your firearms, its safety features along with current state laws. The classroom portion is typically held on Monday evenings at our agency firing range in Crestview. The range portion is designed to allow you to fire 50 rounds through your firearm at our agency firing range in Crestview (ammunition not provided by OCSO, participant must provide ammunition). Instructors will be present to assist with familiarization and correct techniques. The range portion is typically held the Saturday morning following the classroom portion. You must be able to complete the classroom and range portion during the same week. The firing range is located at the Sheriff Larry Ashley Training Complex at 650 Chappie James Street SW in Crestview.
The OCSO sets the dates of our CFSC as we go based on range and instructor availability; classes are usually held every other month. If you are interested in attending our Firearms Safety Course, we request you complete an application and we will notify you when the dates for the next available session are set. Completed applications may be returned to Roberta Holloway via email rholloway@sheriff-okaloosa.org , faxed to 850-689-0085, mailed to OCSO at 50 2nd Street, Shalimar, FL 32579 or they can be dropped off at any substation. Please contact Roberta Holloway at 850-613-2217 with any questions.
***Due to the high volume of applicants for this class, we will no longer be able to accept applications from individuals who have already taken a Florida Firearms Safety Course, those who already hold a Florida concealed weapons license, or those who have current or prior military service. If you are a current or prior military member, you are not required to take a safety course to obtain your concealed weapon license. Visit The Florida Department of Agriculture’s web site under Question number 6 for further information regarding military applicants.***
Equipment restrictions/guideline
- No firearms smaller than a 22 caliber handgun
- No firearms larger than a 45 ACP
- No 44 Magnum revolvers
- No single action revolvers allowed
You must bring a firearm to class (it does not have to be yours, you may borrow one). Up to 2 people may share a firearm. You will need a holster for your firearm that is made for wear on a belt (no thigh, ankle, shoulder, inside the waistband, small of the back, or purse holsters will be allowed). The holster must have at least one point of retention (snap, lever, etc) for safety reasons.
