PPOTH – NRA Personal Protection Outside the Home

NO LIVE AMMUNITION IN THE CLASSROOM!!!

The NRA Basics of Personal Protection OUTSIDE The Home (PPOTH) Course is the next level up from the NRA Basics of Personal Protection INSIDE The Home (PPITH). This course is designed to build upon the training provided in the NRA Personal Protection INSIDE the Home Course, which needs to be demonstrated by presenting a PPITH student completion certificate, or by passing the PPITH student test with a minimum score of 70% prior to the start of the course.

The NRA Personal Protection Outside The Home (PPOTH) Course is designed to teach individuals the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary for carrying and using a concealed firearm for self-defense outside the home. This course is appropriate for individuals who have obtained a concealed carry permit or those who are interested in obtaining one.

Throughout the course, students will learn about situational awareness, conflict avoidance, and the use of deadly force. Students will also learn about the legal and ethical responsibilities of gun ownership, including laws regarding the use of lethal force in self-defense situations.

In addition to classroom instruction, students will engage in practical exercises that simulate real-life self-defense scenarios. These exercises will focus on the development of defensive shooting skills, including accuracy, speed, and decision-making under stress. Students will also have the opportunity to practice shooting from cover and concealment and engaging multiple targets.

The NRA PPOTH Course is taught by certified NRA instructors who have extensive experience in self-defense shooting and instruction. Students who successfully complete the course will receive an NRA certificate of completion, which is recognized by many states as proof of firearm safety training and may be a requirement for obtaining a concealed carry permit.

Whether you are a new concealed carrier or looking to sharpen your self-defense skills, the NRA Personal Protection Outside The Home Course will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to carry and use a concealed firearm for self-defense outside the home.

Duration

The course is divided into the Basic PPOTH (9-hours) and Advanced PPOTH (5-hours) totaling 14-hours of instruction. The Basic Level includes classroom sessions and live-fire range instruction covering presentation from a concealed holster (or purse), shooting from cover, shooting one-handed, and point shooting. The entire Advanced Level is spent on the range and includes moving while shooting, shooting from low cover, shooting from sitting, turning, prone, low-light and hip- shooting.

Course Goal

“This course is designed to help develop the student’s knowledge, skills, and attitude essential for avoiding dangerous confrontations and for the safe, effective use of a concealed handgun for self-defense outside the home.”

Required Ammunition/Equipment

250 rounds of ammunition minimum – 300 rounds recommended; center-fire handgun, strong side outside the waistband (OWB) holster; three magazine minimum or speed-loaders for your pistol with carriers or pocket space to stow extra magazines on your person; eye and hearing protection. Optional Equipment – Gun cleaning kit and supplies, hat and sun block, water, pen / pencil / note paper, rain gear (if needed).

PPOTH
Basic 9 hour course
Lessons

NO LIVE AMMUNITION IN THE CLASSROOM!!!

1. Sport Shooting Activities and Training Opportunities (1/2 hr Classroom)
   • Organizations, associations, clubs, and businesses that may help hone, enhance, and expand personal protection skills
   • Methods and precautions for dry-fire practice, including drawing from a holster
2. Presenting the Handgun from Concealment (1-1/2 hr Range) 50 rounds recommended
   • Techniques for safely presenting a handgun from concealment
3. Legal Aspects of Concealed Carry and Self-Defense (1 hr Classroom)
   • Rights and restrictions under the law for carrying a defensive handgun
   • Key legal provisions and restrictions pertaining to the use of deadly force
   • Criminal and civil legal actions that may take place subsequent to a defensive shooting
   • Where to find local jurisdiction specific legal information
4. Introduction to Concealed Carry Safety and the Defensive Mindset (1 hr Classroom)
   • Applying the three basic safety rules outside the home
   • Rules for storing or using a firearm outside the home
   • Special safety considerations outside the home
   • Techniques for storage outside the home
   • Four levels of awareness
5. Introduction to Self Defense and Concealed Carry (1 hr Classroom)
   • Importance of mental preparation and mindset for carrying and using a firearm outside the home
   • Techniques for avoiding life-threatening confrontations
   • Psychological and physiological changes that may occur during an attack
   • Differences between in the home and outside the home use of a firearm
   • Techniques for controlling and responding to a violent encounter
   • Emotional, legal and social aftermath of a defensive shooting outside the home
6. Carry Modes and Concealment (1 hr Classroom)
   1. Various handgun concealed carry modes and benefits/limitations of each
   2. Basic principles of handgun concealment for self-defense outside the home
7. Presentation, Position and Movement (2 hr Range) 60 rounds recommended
   • Presenting a handgun from concealment and shooting targets in center of mass, to include:
8. 1. • After moving to a high barricade
      • Engaging two targets
      • Aimed fire techniques with strong hand only
      • Point shooting with two hands
      • Point shooting with strong hand only
9. Course Review and Examination (1 hr Classroom)

• Programs, history and membership benefits of the NRA
• Completion of the NRA Personal Protection Outside the Home written examination

Lesson 9 Is For The PPOTH Advanced 5 Hour Course Only

1. Special Shooting Techniques (5 hr Range) 140 rounds recommended
   • Advanced presenting of a handgun from concealment and shooting targets in center of mass, to include:
     • Hip shooting techniques with strong hand
     • Moving rearward, stopping and shooting
     • Standing to kneeling behind low barricade
     • Standing to squatting behind low barricade
     • Moving to low barricade kneeling or squatting
     • From sitting to standing
     • Standing, facing 90 degrees to target, turning left to shoot
     • Standing, facing 90 degrees to target, turning right to shoot
     • Standing, facing 180 degrees to target, turning left to shoot
     • Standing, facing 180 degrees to target, turning right to shoot
     • Engaging at extended range
     • Under low-light conditions

NO LIVE AMMUNITION IN THE CLASSROOM!!!

Prerequisites

Prospective students are expected to show validation that they have completed the NRA Personal Protection Inside the Home course; or before taking this class successfully completed a pre- course evaluation with the instructor, where potential students are asked to demonstrate safe gun handling, shoot a series of five-shot groups, discuss the operations necessary to zero a pistol, and demonstrate how to properly clean a handgun. Student must already possesses a working knowledge of handguns and gun safety and should be experienced shooters, showing mastery of the basic skills of safe gun handling. If necessary, this course will put participants through a pre-course evaluation exercise, Finally, the Personal Protection course is intended for mature law-abiding adults, who have the mindset and seriousness necessary to properly perform the activities in the course. Self-defense is not a topic that lends itself to horseplay and distractions.

PPOTH Pre-Course Validation and Evaluation Checklist

Validation of the required skills and experience can be demonstrated by one of the following:

• Possession of a NRA Basics of Personal Protection In The Home completion certificate
• Recent Law Enforcement or Military documentation showing range qualification with a pistol
• Passing the PPOTH Pre-Course Evaluation (below)

Take the NRA Basics of Personal Protection In The Home student course examination and score 88% or higher.

State and demonstrate the three fundamental NRA Rules for Safe Gun Handling.

Demonstrate the proper loading, cocking, un-cocking, and unloading procedures with a revolver and semi-automatic pistol with dummy cartridges, including the handgun the student will use during the course.

Demonstrate the ability to shoot three five-shot groups nine-inches or smaller in the middle of a target from a two-handed standing position at a distance of 15 feet, using the handgun the student will use during the course, in the following exercises:

• Preliminary dry-firing exercise (showing safe handling and correct form)
• Single shot live-fire exercise (load and fire one cartridge at a time, five times)
• Multi-shot live-fire exercise (loading and firing five cartridges at a time)

Course Completion

Students will be given feedback on their shooting exercises, and a certificate upon successful completion of the lessons. Not only are shooting standards fired during the practical exercises, but a written exam will be given at the end of the course. Throughout the course the instructor will use an individual checklist for each student to ensure the coverage of course material, and satisfactory absorption of the material being taught.

NO LIVE AMMUNITION IN THE CLASSROOM!!!