NRA Personal Protection Outside the Home 2025

This NRA Certified Course teaches students the knowledge, skills and attitude essential for avoiding dangerous confrontations and for the safe, effective and responsible use of a concealed pistol for self-defense outside the home. Personal Protection Inside the Home is a required prerequisite for this course.

The NRA Personal Protection Outside the Home offers the essential knowledge and skills that must be mastered in order to carry, store, and use a firearm safely and effectively for personal protection outside the home. After the classroom portion, students will spend time on the range and shoot approximately 100 rounds. The ammunition requirements are minimum and may be exceeded. The NRA Basics of Personal Protection Outside the Home is for adults who are not disqualified from possessing a firearm as defined by applicable federal, state, or local law and are of good repute and possess the defensive pistol skills as presented in the NRA Personal Protection Inside the Home Course. Participants must also understand the basic legal concepts relating to the use of firearms in self-defense and must know and observe not only general gun safety rules but also those safety principles that are specific to defensive situations.

Equipment needed for this course:

1. Any centerfire handgun in good operating condition that is suitable for self-defense and fires non-magnum ammunition.
2. A good quality strong side hip holster is a requirement for this class. No inside waistband holsters.
3. A good quality magazine carrier for 2 extra magazines.
4. A sturdy belt to hold the holster and magazine carrier in place.
5. Two extra magazines (semi-automatics) or speed loaders (revolvers). A total of at least 3 magazines.
6. Approximately 150 rounds of ammunition.

A minimum of three students is required for this course.

Host or Publisher Michael Richards