What should I expect during my first firearms training course?

Walking into your first firearms course can feel like a lot, so knowing the structure ahead of time helps. Most first-time students start with the Basic Pistol for the Armed Professional Course (BPAP) before moving into BSIS Exposed Firearms Certification.

Here's what the experience typically looks like:

• Classroom instruction first – You'll cover firearm safety, the legal and moral use of force, and tactical decision-making before ever touching a weapon.
• Fundamentals of marksmanship – Instructors walk you through grip, stance, sight alignment, and trigger control in a low-pressure setting.
• Live fire or simulator range training – Depending on the course, you'll apply what you've learned either on a live range or using digital force option simulators.
• Scenario-based practice – Courses increasingly incorporate real-world decision-making, not just target shooting.
• Bring your own equipment – For certification courses, you'll need your own firearm, ammunition, and duty gear; GTC does not rent equipment.

Most students find that once they get past the first hour, the structured, step-by-step approach makes the process far less intimidating than expected. Our instructors have real-world military and law enforcement backgrounds, so you're learning from people who've applied these skills outside the classroom, not just taught them in one.