3 Lessons From Concealed Carry Renewal Classes

In my state, concealed carry permits expire every 5 years. But until recently, you only had to take a renewal class about every 10 years.

That changed earlier this year. Now, every renewal requires a class. This has increased the number of renewal students coming through my classes significantly.

You might expect that renewal students would show up sharper than new applicants. After all, they’ve gone through the training before, and many have been carrying for years. But what I see in class often tells a different story.

Based on my observations, here are three quick but important observations from teaching renewal students.

1. Almost Nobody Owns a Shot Timer

I always ask students if they own a shot timer. I don't think 1 in 75 of my renewal students have a timer.

That’s shocking when you consider how critical a timer is to skill development. Shooting without a timer is like lifting weights without ever knowing the weight on the bar. You can feel like you’re improving, but you don’t know.

A shot timer is the only objective way to measure speed, track progress, and add accountability to your training. Without one, you’re basically guessing and furthermore you restrict yourself from being able to run about any industry standard drill or exercise since most require a timer.

We’ve written extensively about why every serious shooter should own one:

• Debunked: Reasons Why People Don’t Buy a Shot Timer

• What Is a Shot Timer and Why You Need One

👉 Our Recommendation: Start with the RangeTech Shot Timer. It’s the best first shot timer because it comes in about $50 more affordable than the next closest competitor and offers features you won’t find elsewhere at that price. The RangeTech makes it simple to save your shooting data to the cloud for free, so you can review your performance over time and clearly see your progress.

2. Almost Nobody Carries Medical Gear

Less than 1 in 50 students who walk into my class has even the basics of medical gear on them—or the training to use it.

This is a huge blind spot in the self-defense community. We spend time and money on guns, ammo, and holsters, but often overlook the tools that save lives after the shooting stops.

Statistically, you’re more likely to use a tourniquet than your handgun. Yet very few gun owners prioritize medical training. That has to change.

If you want a good starting point, check out our article:

• Introduction to Trauma Medicine: A Critical Element of Responsible Gun Ownership

👉 Our Recommendation: Every gun owner should carry at least a basic trauma kit. We’ve put together a full selection of First Aid Kits and IFAKs here. Start with something simple, carry it daily, and add training so you know how to use it.

3. Almost Nobody Conducts Dry Fire Practice

When I ask students about their training habits, less than 1 in 50 says they conduct any dry fire practice.

That’s tragic, because dry fire practice is the single most efficient, cost-effective way to improve shooting skill. It doesn’t cost a dime in ammo, and it can be done safely at home in just a few minutes a day.

Renewal students—people who have carried for years—should be the ones most committed to staying sharp. Instead, most of them admit they’ve barely touched their gun outside of the required qualification shoots. And believe me, the majority of these renewal students could use some practice.

If you’re not conducting dry fire practice, you’re leaving serious skill on the table. To help you get started the right way, check out these resources:

• Strategies for Safe Dry Fire Practice

• Tools of Dry Fire Firearm Training

👉 Our Recommendation: Join our Concealed Carry EDC Challenge. It’s designed to keep you accountable and give you structured, effective drills to make the most of your dry fire practice.

Final Thoughts

The concealed carry renewal process makes it clear which gun owners stay engaged and which ones just do the bare minimum. The students who stand out as truly prepared and capable are the ones who stay active in their education—whether that’s subscribing to our podcast, attending additional classes, joining Guardian Nation, or otherwise making firearms training an ongoing part of their lifestyle.

Carrying a gun isn’t a one-and-done achievement. It’s a responsibility that requires continuous learning and practice.