Patrol Rifle / Patrol Shotgun Instructor Course
50-Hour (5-Day) Instructor Certification Program

This intensive 50-hour instructor development course exceeds the requirements of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) Patrol Rifle Instructor Course #3323 while also providing Patrol Shotgun Instructor certification. While shotgun instructor certification is not required by TCOLE, agencies continue to deploy shotguns for lethal, less-lethal, and breaching applications, making competent instruction essential for officer performance and liability reduction.

This course is designed to develop firearms instructors who can do more than teach a qualification course. Students will learn how to build shooters, diagnose performance issues, develop effective training programs, and coach officers using modern practical shooting principles. Emphasis is placed on visual discipline, recoil management, confirmation levels, efficient weapon manipulation, and applying marksmanship skills under realistic law enforcement conditions.

Instructor development is a primary focus throughout the course. Students will learn how to conduct meaningful diagnostics, provide corrective coaching, manage instructor teams, develop drills and courses of fire, and build training programs that create measurable improvement. The curriculum also incorporates dry-fire training methods, shooter self-diagnostics, and performance-based learning concepts that instructors can immediately implement within their agencies.

The course examines officer-involved shootings (OIS) to identify performance trends, equipment considerations, and training lessons learned. Students will also explore policy development, equipment selection, qualification design, documentation, and liability concerns to help build defensible firearms training programs that meet and exceed state standards.

Topics Covered Include:

• Patrol rifle and patrol shotgun deployment
• Practical shooting concepts for law enforcement
• Fundamentals of marksmanship
• Visual discipline and confirmation levels
• Recoil management and weapon control
• Dry-fire training development
• Shooter self-diagnostics and student diagnostics
• Instructor development and coaching techniques
• Managing instructor teams
• Drill and course design
• Rifle and shotgun manipulations
• Reloads and malfunction clearances
• Rifle zeroing and ballistic concepts
• Shotgun patterning and ammunition selection
• Less-lethal and breaching considerations
• Equipment selection and approval processes
• Optics, weapon lights, slings, and accessories
• TCOLE standards and qualification requirements
• Policy development and liability reduction
• Day and low-light standards
• Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) analysis
• Training documentation and defensibility

This course is designed to produce better shooters, better coaches, and more capable firearms instructors who can effectively prepare officers for the realities of patrol rifle and shotgun deployment.

Course Prerequisites: 

• Have successfully completed the TCOLE Firearms Instructor Certification course

• Be a rifle operator with your department

Equipment List:

• AR15 style Patrol Rifle (optics are highly advised. Red dots or LPVO)

• Semi or pump action shotgun (ghost ring sights/optics advised) 

• Reliable pistol with holster 

• Range/duty belt 

• Min 3 Rifle/pistol Magazines, and ability to carry them (belt/vest or otherwise) 

• Note taking material (laptop/tablets recommended)

• Thumb drive or external hard drive for course material. 

• Eye and ear protection 

• Appropriate Range clothing for forecasted weather

• 1200 rounds of rifle ammunition (no green tip or armor piercing)

• 50 slug 50 buck 50 birdshot for shotgun

• 250 rounds of pistol ammunition 

• Rifle/shotgun sling (preferably 2 point)

• Rifle mounted weapon light at min (also recommend shotgun mounted light)

• Handheld light 

If you are paying by, check please specify this course name and in the notes. Mail check to TTPOA PO Box 304 Burnet, TX 78611 and reference in the note “Patrol Rifle / Patrol Shotgun Instructor - San Antonio”

Last day for refunds is Feb 1.

No meals provided

TTPOA believes in bringing in some of the best instructors in the country to share their knowledge and experience. If you have requests for a specific instructor or course, contact your Regional Director.