Firearms Instruction Research and Education

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Credentialing Process

In order to enroll in any course sponsored by the FIRE Institute, you must be able to demonstrate you fall within one of the following groups:

  1. Active duty in the armed forces of the United States. This can be shown with a current military identification card. Enclose a copy of the card with your application, and bring it with you to the course.

  2. Active duty police officer. This can be shown with a current identification card and badge. Enclose a copy with your application, and bring the card and your badge to the course.

  3. A civilian with no criminal history. For this purpose, "criminal history" means conviction of any felony, any misdemeanor, or any summary offense involving the use of force, threats or physical violence within the past ten years.

This can be shown by -

  1. Proof that you are a member of a profession which is regulated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and with respect to which conviction of a crime would result in revocation of a license or certification (e.g., attorneys, medical doctors, security personnel).

  2. A currently valid permit to carry a concealed weapon issued pursuant to state law.

  3. By way of a certificate of no criminal history from your local police department.

  4. By way of a certificate of no criminal history from the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). The Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History page on the PSP website provides an on-line criminal history background check for a $10.00 fee. Once the process is complete the certificate can be printed directly from the PSP website.

For those who will have to obtain the certificate from their local police department, your local police will be familiar with what you need (these certificates are commonly required for many types of job or public office). A telephone call to your local police should tell you all you will need to know. They are generally free or available for only a few dollars.*

You must enclose a copy of your professional license, your carry permit or the original of the certificate of no criminal history with this application. Those relying upon a professional license or carry permit must bring the original with them on the first day of the course.

All students must be 18 years or older.

If you have any questions with respect to your individual situation, feel free to call Peter Georgiades at 412-381-8035 and discuss the matter.

NOTICE: THE SPONSORS OF THIS COURSE ARE RELYING UPON YOUR REPRESENTATIONS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR COURSE CREDENTIALS, AS SET FORTH ABOVE. MATERIALLY FALSE STATEMENTS IN THIS REGARD CONSTITUTE FALSE PRETENSES AND CIVIL FRAUD.

The Firearms Instruction, Research and Education Institute, Inc. reserves the right to amend or modify these requirements at any time or with respect to any individual. FIRE will be, in its sole discretion, the final arbiter of the sufficiency of credentials. In the event an applicant has paid tuition and his or her credentials are subsequently rejected, tuition will be promptly refunded in full.

* For example, Pittsburgh residents will have to report to the Municipal Court Building, on Second Avenue next to the County Jail, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Go to the third floor, turn left off the elevators, and go to the end of the hall. This is the "I.D. Section". A police officer there will take your fingerprints, and direct you to the counter where you have to fill out a short request form. There is a $12.00 charge in Pittsburgh. You can call the Pittsburgh Police Information Bureau at 412-255-2940 if you have questions.

© 2003 F.I.R.E. Institute