NRA-Certified · Est. 1992

Own the right.
Master the responsibility.

PG-13 CCW Training Academy delivers serious, NRA-certified firearm safety , Approved by DOJ and concealed carry instruction across Southern California. No experience required. Every applicant walks out prepared — not just permitted.

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30+
Years Training
6
Counties Served
7
Days a Week
NRA-Certified Instructors
No Prior Experience Required
Flexible Scheduling, 7 Days
Full Permit Documentation
Peter Gharapanianse teaching a CCW class in Van Nuys
Who We Are

Training that takes the responsibility seriously.

Since 1992, PG-13 CCW Training Academy has taught first-time owners, seasoned shooters, and working professionals what it actually takes to carry legally and safely in California.

Our instructors are NRA-certified and teach in small groups, so nobody leaves with unanswered questions about the gun in their hand or the law behind it.

  • Classroom and live-fire instruction under one curriculum
  • Small class sizes with one-on-one range time
  • California-specific use-of-force and liability law
  • All paperwork completed and documented for your application
Curriculum

Eight modules. One standard.

Every course is built to the same standard we'd demand for ourselves — technically sound, legally accurate, and built for real-world carry.

01

Firearm Safety Principles

The non-negotiable fundamentals of safe handling, storage, and range discipline.

 02

Firearm Operation

Hands-on instruction in loading, function, malfunction clearing, and marksmanship basics.

 03

Carry Methods & Equipment

Holster selection, concealment methods, and daily-carry best practices.

 04

Use-of-Force Laws

California statute, case law, and the legal framework governing armed self-defense.

 05

Criminal & Civil Liability

What's at stake after the trigger is pulled — and how to stay on the right side of the law.

 06

Self-Defense Training

Situational awareness, threat assessment, and decision-making under pressure.

 07

When to Use Lethal Force

Clear, defensible criteria for the most serious decision a permit holder can face.

 08

Defense of Others

Where the law allows you to act on behalf of a third party — and where it doesn't.
Peter Gharapanianse, Owner and Lead Instructor, PG-13 CCW Training Academy
Your Instructor
“A permit is paperwork. Competence is what keeps you and everyone around you alive.”

Every course is taught by Peter Gharapanianse, a California DOJ Certified CCW Instructor with three decades of range and classroom experience across Southern California. You will not be handed a certificate and pushed out the door. You will be trained.

Peter Gharapanianse · Owner & Lead Instructor · DOJ Certified CCW Instructor
Chris Boyadjian
Firearms Instructor
Active LA County Sheriff’s Deputy
New on the Team

Welcome, Deputy Chris Boyadjian.

Christopher “Chris” Boyadjian joins PG-13 CCW Training Academy as a firearms instructor. He is an active Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy and a certified instructor in his own right.

  • NRA Certified Pistol Instructor
  • LASD 80-Hour POST-Certified Firearms Instructor School
  • California DOJ Certificate of Eligibility

Chris teaches firearm safety, responsible concealed carry, and sound judgment under pressure, including what actually happens during an encounter with law enforcement, from the perspective of a working peace officer.

Building a professional instructional team is the next step for the academy, and it means our students learn from more than one set of eyes.

Inside the Academy

Where the training happens.

Dedicated classroom space and live-fire range time, in the same program.

Indoor range lanes Indoor Range Instructor teaching the four universal safety rules Classroom Instructor working with a student on the firing line On the Line Students receiving their course certificates NRA Certified
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Process

From first class to carrying legally.

01

Enroll

Submit your registration and forms online in minutes.

02

Train

Complete instruction across all eight required modules.

03

Certify

Receive full documentation for your permit application.

04

Carry

Apply with confidence, backed by proper training.

Reviews

What students say.

Rated 5 stars on Google by students across Southern California.

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Location & Service Area

One classroom. Students from six counties.

All classes are held at our Van Nuys facility, 6323 Van Nuys Blvd, seven days a week by appointment. Students travel to us from across Southern California. Because your permit is issued by your own county sheriff, we cover each county's process separately below.

County permit guides

Los Angeles Orange San Bernardino Riverside Kern Ventura

Cities our students travel from: Van Nuys · Los Angeles · Long Beach · Glendale · Burbank · Santa Clarita · Anaheim · Santa Ana · Riverside · San Bernardino · Bakersfield · Ventura

Multi-State Carry

Travel with Peace of Mind Across 30+ States!

Did you know you can carry outside California? We offer official training and documentation for Arizona and Florida Non-Resident CCW permits. Through multi-state reciprocity agreements, holding an Arizona or Florida permit allows eligible law-abiding citizens to legally carry concealed in over 30 states across the country.

Non-Resident Permit

Arizona

Official training and documentation prepared with your packet.

Non-Resident Permit

Florida

Official training and documentation prepared with your packet.

Interested in expanding your multi-state carry reciprocity?
Ask your instructor during class for complete details and how to add them to your training packet!

Book a Class
Instructor coaching a student on the outdoor range

Ready to get certified?

Appointments available seven days a week across LA, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Kern & Ventura counties.

Begin Enrollment