A Few Frequent Questions
Q: I'm amazed that you offer so much, so fast, for so much less than any other University. How do you do it?
A: Phoenix State University is the leading accredited online trade school in the U.S. Because of our association with Smith Tactical (the largest employer of gunsmiths in the U.S., and a leading firearms instruction contractor) and ETI (One of the world's largest LE/Military Distributors), we can offer far more to our students than just a great start. We simply don't stop until our grads are successful educationally AND financially!
Q: Do I need my FFL to become a firearms instructor?
A: There are many flavors of firearms instruction, and it depends on your situation, location and business goals. You can visit our HomeFFL.com site for more discussion, or Click HERE for info on our FFL support. Our famous HomeFFL.com site has been on the cover of SHOTGUN NEWS for over 20 years and is the leading FFL Kit by far. This course is $60 anywhere else, $29 standalone for repeat customers, and Free with Master and Agency Courses. The Kit includes a dealer ID and access to a hundred plus pages site with everything you need to get your Home, Gunsmith, Store or Web based FFL. But the short answer is: NO, you do not NEED the FFL, but it is a GREAT business extension that can double or triple your income with rental guns and sales to your students.
Q: Is my certificate for life, or do I have to renew?
A: Yes, your certification is for life, is valid in all States, and does NOT require periodic renewal.
Q: If I buy Agency, does it include the other two courses?
A: Yes, the Agency level includes both of the other two courses (Firearms Instructor and Master Instructor) at no extra cost, AND includes free access to the FFL Kit Site.
Q: Can I carry a gun once I receive my license?
A: CCW (Carrying Concealed Weapons) is now legal in many States. Requirements differ from State to State. The answer depends both on your own State and the program you take. If you become a CCW instructor, YES, you can carry concealed with your own CCW, obtained during licensure.
Q: I saw that some other schools offer "supplies" with their programs, but they take almost a year and cost over $2,000 compared to your $99. How do you differ?
A: We've seen that ad too! First, that school is NOT accredited and is not even in the top 20 (PSU is NUMBER ONE). Your certificate will ONLY be recognized by the trade, wholesalers, manufacturers, ATF, insurers or City and State business licensing departments if you go with PSU or their equivalent. The "supplies" they offer are a package of 2 rubber guns and a rubber knife-- items you can buy wholesale with your PSU cert for under $2. How do you spell rip off? Reality... PSU is the ONLY accredited online Firearms Instructor program that offers grads trade references, wholesale trade acceptance, and approval by all major insurers, manufacturers and distributors, as well as most City and State business licensing departments.
Q: What does it mean that the advanced courses are dialectic or didactic?
A: In many online universities, a version of the old Socratic method is used, or what researchers would call "delphi" or "dialectic," and sometimes "didactic." This simply means, at the Instructor level, you receive a course email or download with a brief exam at the end. At the advanced levels (Master and Agency), the ability to research and find answers is more important. You read, research and return the answers, and are given feedback. This back and forth "questioning" format is often called dialectic, because it hearkens back to the old Socratic method, yet also is very suited to modern online university teaching formats. Our background and interrogation courses get even deeper into dialectic, as refutational cross examination is key to interviewing.
Q: Is my my course an automatic download or is it mailed?
A: Your course is personally emailed to you by your advisor within 48 business hours of your order at the latest, but usually next day, including weekends. If you used a Spouse's Paypal account or email address, that's where the course will go, unless you email us and tell us to send it to you. No worries though, we can always update with your correct info at any time.
Q: I talked to one of your Graduate Firearms Instructors who said you're the only school that could get him trade approval without brick and mortar. What is that about?
A: Because of our association with Smith Tactical and ETI, and due to being nationally accredited, your PSU Firearms Instructor Certificate allows you to buy wholesale from every leading manufacturer and distributor WITHOUT needing to prove you have a physical store. This allows many of our instructors to make $200,000 plus the first year with only a spare bedroom or garage office. PSU is the ONLY University that GUARANTEES trade acceptance without a brick and mortar store.
Q: My Post Certification inspector said I needed your Master Certificate at a minimum due to State, not ATF regs. Do I have to take and pass (and pay for) the basic course first, even if I have enough experience to start at the Master or Agency?
A: If you buy the Agency course (for example), you GET the other two courses included for no additional cost. Yes, you have to take them and pass the brief exams, but NO, not sequentially, you can do all three at once if you have the time and experience. Agency students with good knowledge of firearms get their certificate between three and five weeks, depending on how much time they put into it. However, the Basic certificate (to be honest) is accepted by 99% of inspectors and licensing depts. and you can get it for under $100 and before your inspection is even scheduled. It compares to between $800 and $15,000 at other schools!
Q: Can I contact my advisor by phone?
A: Phoenix State University policy on phone contact is that resident (on campus) students are allowed phone contact, web (online) students must communicate by email. The reason for this is that your communications, progress, questions, etc. are logged and become part of your transcript, which keeps our accreditation (and your certificate/license) healthy. You also get only one instructor/ advisor to answer your questions with deep knowledge of the subject and your progress/situation, rather than some random operator at a phone bank in India or the Phillipines like many schools today.
Q: Does the $99 Firearms Instructor course require additional hidden expenses in supplies or other fees before completion? What does my certificate say?
A: The Basic Certificate has your name and "Firearms Instructor" on the cert. NO, there are no additional or hidden charges, your purchase takes you right through your successful certificate, including shipping it 2 day Priority to you. We hear you, we know of one course being offered for $900 that then requires you to purchase over $2,800 in supplies and fees before they will send your certification, and they are not even accredited! We have a Fortune 500 company behind us, and actually finance, lease and floorplan businesses, equipment and inventory for our grads, but do not require any additional purchases.
Q: I already have a HOME based FFL and recently read that you have to be gunsmith certified to be renewed. Is this true?
A: You are exactly right, this decision by ATF is very recent and is the ominous start of a lot more activist Democrat and VPC activity. The actual language of the decision (internal Agency and not available to the public) says that hours of operation by appointment or weekends are now only for certified gunsmiths, meaning this can also apply to a retail store with part time hours! If you are audited, you will be shut down, and your renewal will be denied if you are not a gunsmith. Hundreds of our new students each week are from folks in your exact situation. This only applies to Firearms Instructors if they also have a home FFL.
Q: I ordered the Master Firearms course and LOVE it. I can't believe I can be certified this fast! Quick question: I noticed a shipping charge, but I ordered the online course, what are you shipping?
A: Thank you! The shipping charge you paid for is for shipment of your Certificate. Once you've completed your course, and give us the correct name, your certificate will read "John Doe, Firearms Instructor" (Master Firearms Instructor, Firearms Instructor Agency,... etc.). Your Certificate is shipped Priority 2-3 day mail to your home or Paypal address. There is an example of the Certificate on the Order Here page. Any other school, ATF, post CEU, employer, wholesaler, trade manufacturer, City, County or State Licensing agency, tool or equipment supplier etc. who requests your transcript and validation of your Instructor status will receive that report at no additional cost to you, unlike many Universities who charge up to $100 for EACH transcript!
Q: Is my certificate State specific? What if I move?
A: Your certification is valid in all 50 States, and if you move, you only have to give us your new address, no other work is required.
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