Specified Semiautomatic Firearms
The link to the Firearms Safety System application will be available on July 20, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. MST. Some Sheriff offices may not review applications until August 1, 2026.
This law only affects those who will purchase and/or transfer SSFs on or after August 1, 2026.
Specified Semiautomatic Firearms
The link to the Firearms Safety System application will be available on July 20, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. MST. Some Sheriff offices may not review applications until August 1, 2026.
This law only affects those who will purchase and/or transfer SSFs on or after August 1, 2026.
How to Purchase a Specified Semiautomatic Firearm: Customer Journey
Step 1: Customer Application
Go to the Firearm Safety System application web link (will not go live until July 20) to complete an application which then creates a user account. Once you hit submit, your application will be sent to your county Sheriff’s office queue. It will not be processed until the next step. If you have Hunter Education, you will add the information to your application during this step.
Step 2: Sheriff's Office Visit
You must provide: name-based background check and government –issued photo ID to your county Sheriff’s office for your application to be processed. Contact your Sheriff's Department for information regarding the name based background check and how to submit the required documents for their review. FEES ARE COLLECTED DURING THIS STEP. CPW = $52.00. Contact Sheriff as each can set their fee to whatever they decide.
Step 3: Sheriff Review and Eligibility Card Issuance
The sheriff reviews the documentation, determines eligibility and issues an eligibility card (EC) that is good for 5 years. Your eligibility card information is entered into the FSS by the Sheriff. Whether approved or denied you will receive an auto generated email. If denied an EC, you will be contacted by your local sheriff’s office.
Step 4: Course & Exam
Find an approved instructor and enroll in course. A fee may be associated with this step. A list of Firearms Instructors will be provided soon. You may take the course from any Verified Firearms Instructor in the state of Colorado. The instructor will verify your eligibility to take the Basic (4hrs) or Extended (12hrs) course. During this step, you will need to pass an exam and hands-on practical with a 90% or better.
When the instructor enters pass/fail, you will receive an email immediately. If you pass the course, you have 5 years to purchase specified semi-automatic firearms (SSF).
Step 5: Purchase & FFL Verification
The gun dealer will confirm your eligibility in the FSS and begin the purchase process.
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Collecting Agency | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheriff's Office Fee |
Varies by county | Sheriff's Office | If the application is approved, a Firearms Eligibility Card is issued to the applicant. |
| Firearms Training and Safety Course Record Fee | $52 | Collected by Sheriff's Office and sent to Colorado Parks and Wildlife | The Parks and Wildlife Commission approved the fee to cover the Firearms Safety Program’s administrative costs. The commission may adjust the fee, but not more than once per year. This fee is separate from any fee assessed by the sheriff for their administrative purposes and any fee charged by a private firearms instructor for the purpose of conducting firearms training classes for applicants. You will be charged these application fees whether or not your application is approved. |
Firearms Safety Course
Once the application is approved, you will contact a verified (by the Sheriff) Firearms Safety Instructor to sign up for the appropriate class. The instructor will have access to CPW’s database to determine whether you are eligible for the Basic Firearms Safety Course or if you must take the Extended Firearms Safety Course. A list of Verified Firearms Instructors will be provided starting July 20. You may take any of the Firearm Safety courses anywhere in the state, from the Instructor of your choice, as they will teach a standardized curriculum provided by CPW, that meets the training requirements of the law.
Courses will instruct students on safe handling of Specified Semiautomatic Firearms and ammunition magazines, child safety and safe storage of firearms, firearm deaths associated with mental illness, extreme risk protection orders, and victim awareness and empathy along with other firearms safety related topics.
- Courses must be taught by an instructor verified by a Sheriff.
- Courses must be in-person only, with the instructor on site.
- Students must pass the course with a minimum score of 90% on their final exam.
- Firearms Safety courses expire after 5 years. After expiration, you must take another basic course to purchase SSFs.
Completion of a hunter education course certified by CPW will not qualify you for purchasing a SSF. In addition to your hunter education course, you will need to complete a basic firearm safety course with a minimum of four hours of instruction. You must have your hunter education credentials verified in CPW's records system. All out-of-state courses must be CPW-certified; if you took a course outside of Colorado, you must bring your hunter education card or record to a CPW office to verify your credentials.
Completion of any other firearm safety course does NOT satisfy the requirements to purchase SSFs. You will need to take Hunter Education and the Basic (4 hour) class, or just the Extended (12 hour) class without taking Hunter Education. All background checks and courses taken for a concealed carry weapon (CCW) are not reciprocal for the Firearms Safety Program.
If you have never taken a hunter education course or CPW firearms safety course, you must enroll in an extended firearms safety course. The course is a duration of 12 hours of instruction, which must be provided on at least 2 different days.
Students must pass the course with a minimum score of 90% on their final exam. When the course is completed, the Instructor will input students' scores in the CPW Firearms Safety database within 3 business days.
Resources for Sheriffs and Firearm Instructors
We will hold both in-person and virtual trainings to introduce the curriculum and establish our teaching and testing guidelines and protocols. This training will be free of charge.
This is step one of a two-part training for firearms instructors. Upon completing the Train the Trainer, you will receive a certificate with a Firearm Safety Program (FSP) instructor number. This number grants you access to the Firearm Safety System (FSS), where you can register students for your classes. Step 2 will consist of a virtual training on system operation and function. You must complete step one to reach step two. System training dates are not finalized yet, more information will follow.
To sign up for step one training you must currently be a verified instructor by a county Sheriff.
Upcoming Trainings
June 7, 2026
3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Drake Centre
802 W Drake Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80526
June 9, 2026
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
La Plata County Fairgrounds
2500 Main Ave, Durango, CO 81301
June 11, 2026
12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
HE Building
711 Independent Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81505
June 20, 2026
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Hunter Education Building
6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216
June 25, 2026
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
HE Building
2600 W. Mesa, Pueblo, CO 81004
June 27, 2026
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Salida Gun Shop
7345 West US Highway 50, Salida CO, 81201
June 30, 2026
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Virtual
April 2 Webinar
The webinar discusses SB25-003 and the implementation of the law come August 1, 2026. CPW presents a powerpoint of the facts of SB25-003, CPW's involvement, other stakeholder involvement, the journey of a customer and answers questions from those in attendance.
April 2 Webinar Recording
