Class sign-up link is at the bottom of the page, but read everything first!

New regulations from SB25-003 are in effect as of August 1st, 2026! You must now go through a multi-step approval process and take a class in order to become eligibile to purchase restricted firearms (such as AR15's and other specified semiautomatic firearms)

Do some initial steps on your own and then come take the 4-hour course with us in a safe and welcoming environment for all, including LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and otherwise marginalized people.

Click Here if you want to read Colorado Parks and Wildlife's page about SB25-003

Click Here if you want to view the 07/30/2026 list of firearms that are considered "Specified Semi-automatic Firearms"

A full explanation of the process is detailed down below, but first here is a very condensed summary of our recommended process for obtaining your eligibility card and to be compliant with SB25-003:

• Get a background check on yourself and request permission from a county Sheriff to take the course

• Take a New Mexico online hunter’s ed course and get it validated (if you already have a valid Colorado hunter’s ed certificate, you can skip this step)

• Take a 4-hour course with us!

• After jumping through all the hoops, you are eligible to purchase specified semi-automatic firearms as outlined by SB25-003

Make sure you start the above process at least two weeks prior to attending a course with us, to be sure you are eligible in time!

Upcoming Course Details:

Where: D3 Arts, 3632 Morrisson Rd, Denver CO 80219

When: October 25th, 9:45 AM - 2PM (must be on time!)

Cost: $40, but if your finances are limited let us know and we will work something out!

Class sign-up link is at the bottom of the page, but read everything first!

Detailed Instructions

STEP 1

Start the required background check using the company "TruDiligence".
The cost is $30 per name (plus sometimes additional applicable court fees).
Waiting time to complete can be up to a few days - https://www.trudiligence.com/sb25-003-specified-semiautomatic-firearms/

NOTE: You can proceed with Step #2 then Step #3 while waiting to receive background check results. If you are already Colorado hunter's ed certified, you can skip steps 2-4 below and go straight to 5.

STEP 2

Take the New Mexico Hunter Safety Exam:

a. Obtain a New Mexico Department of Wildlife customer ID (CID) at https://onlinesales.wildlife.state.nm.us/ 

b. Take a New Mexico Hunter Safety Course to obtain a Hunter’s safety certificate. Below are some examples of courses you can take:

1. • I Learn to Hunt: Cost: ~$40. Online-only course that takes roughly three hours and an exam must be passed https://www.ilearntohunt.com/newmexico/

   • NRA Hunter Education - New Mexico: Cost: Free. Takes much greater than 3 hours. Very structured, multiple mini-quizzes with one 60 question test at the end.
     https://nra.yourlearningportal.com/Course/HuntersEdActivityInfoPage
     IMPORTANT: Make sure you select the New Mexico safety class.

c. Download the certificates and stow them in a safe location on your personal computer. The NRA course will not email you your certificate. 

NOTE: For online discussion of this topic, see https://www.reddit.com/r/COGuns/comments/1vfoh47/comment/p1qmfwr/

STEP 3

Download your New Mexico CIN Card:

a. Go back to https://onlinesales.wildlife.state.nm.us/ and log in.

b. Select Print NMDOW CIN Card on the left menu. Also save a backup of the PDF it generates.

STEP 4

Request verification of your out of state hunter’s education:

a. Create a Colorado CPW individual account and get a Customer ID (CID) at https://www.cpwshop.com/customeraccount.page 

b. Create an Email addressed to dnr_wildlife.huntered@state.co.us

You need to include: 

• Your name 

• Colorado CID

• Attach your New Mexico certificate showing the Hunter’s Ed completion 

• Attach New Mexico CID card 

The easiest way to do this is on the CPWShop page, Select My Account. Under Account Summary, copy and paste the Personal Information into your email’s body. Reformatting cleanup is suggested. Anything that makes the process easy for the reviewers will quicken processing.

For example, your email might look something like:

Subject: Out of State Hunter Verification

Greetings,

I'd like to have my hunter education and hunting license information from New Mexico verified for use in Colorado, documents attached. 

My information is as follows,

CID #: <insert CO CID>

First Legal Name: 

Middle Initial: 

Last Legal Name: 

Home Phone #:

Home Phone #:

Please let me know if you need any other information. 

Thanks.

NOTE: More information can be found here: https://cpw.state.co.us/activities/hunting/education-and-outreach/proof-hunter-education, 

STEP 5

After CPW has verified your hunter's ed certificate in their system, AND you have received your background check from Step #1:

Go to CPW and set up your FSS account at https://www.coloradofss.com/Signup then create and submit a new application, the application should show hunter education certification as verified. You will likely need to download the application itself and use that document for the next step. There should be no delays for this step unless you have difficulty getting the system to recognize that you have a verified hunter's ed certificate.

After you have submitted your FSS application and have a copy of the submitted application, which shows hunter education certificate as verified, proceed to Step #6.

STEP 6

Go to the website of your Sheriff's office and request an FSS eligibility card, for example for Jefferson County at https://app.permitium.com/online-portal/cojeffersoncountysheriff - with Jefferson County it is reported to take a few days and costs $102, but cost and process vary by county, and can change.

After your local Sheriff has approved your application, you have received your Firearm Safety Course Eligibility Card (might need to be picked up in person), and you have seen that your FSS account reflects that you have been approved by the relevant Sheriff's Dept.

STEP 7

Arrange to take the 4-hour class with an approved instructor. You will need to provide information to the instructor in order for them to check that you are eligible, and to inform the FSS after completing the course and passing the exam. 

STEP 8

That's it. if you successfully completed all steps above you are elibible to purchase "specified semiautomatic firearms" in Colorado. When making a purchase, the FFL will check that you are eligible to purchase and then will proceed with the usual purchase steps (forms, background check, three day wait period, etc.)

Make sure you start the above process at least two weeks prior to attending a course with us, to be sure you are eligible in time!

>>>Click here to sign up for the course!<<<

Click Here to add this event to a Google Calendar

Note: If there are any differences/discrepancies you discover while going through the process, please reach out in the form attached to this webpage or email us at cossf4a@gmail.com. Otherwise feel free to use the form for any questions, comments, or concerns.