12 NCAC 09E .0106 ANNUAL FIREARMS QUALIFICATION SPECIFICATIONS

(a) All certified law enforcement officers shall qualify for both day and low-light use with each department-approved service handgun prior to carrying the handgun in the performance of law enforcement duties, pursuant to 12 NCAC 09E .0103(5) and (6), and at least once each calendar year thereafter. For the purpose of this specification, service handgun shall include any semi-automatic pistol or revolver.

(b) The Accuracy Qualification course of fire shall meet the following minimum requirements for Day Accuracy Qualification:

(1) No fewer than thirty (30) rounds

(2) Firing from the three (3), five (5), seven (7), ten (10), fifteen (15), and twenty-five (25) yard lines shall consist of no more than the following percentage of shots at each yard line:

(A) 3 yard line: 10%

(B) 5yard line: 12%

(D) 10 yard line: 20%

(E) 15 yard line: 25%

(F) 25 yard line: 20%

(3) Firing at least two rounds from each of the following positions:

(A) Standing

(B) Kneeling,

(4) Firing at least two rounds dominant hand only

(5) Firing at least two rounds support hand only

(6) Fire after drawing from the holster

(7) At least one stage that includes a mandatory magazine change

(c) The Accuracy Qualification course of fire shall meet the following minimum requirements for Low-Light Accuracy Qualification:

(1) No fewer than thirty (30) rounds

(2) Firing from the three (3), five (5), seven (7), ten (10), and fifteen (15) yard lines shall consist of no more than the following percentage of shots at each yard line:

(A) 3 yard line: 13%

(B) 5 yard line: 26%

(D) 10 yard line: 24%

(E) 15 yard line: 24%.

(3) Firing at least two rounds from the following positions:

(A) Standing

(B) Kneeling

(4) Firing at least two rounds dominant hand only

(5) Firing at least two rounds support hand only

(6) Firing after drawing from the holster

(7) At least one stage that includes a mandatory magazine change

(8) At least one stage that includes the required use of a flashlight or weapon-mounted light

(9) At least one stage that includes the use of blue lights

(10) At least one stage that includes the use of low-beam headlights and blue lights.

(11) At least one stage that includes the use of headlights, blue lights, and all available lighting.

(d) All certified law enforcement officers shall successfully complete a Decision Making Qualification course for both day and low-light at least once each calendar year.

(e) The Decision Making Qualification course shall meet the following minimum requirements:

(1) Day Decision Making Qualification:

(A) No fewer than three decision points within the course

(B) Required target discrimination decision (shoot/no-shoot)

(D) Shall contain a detailed diagram of the decision-making course, with a written explanation of the course, and a scoring matrix outlining what constitutes passing and failing performance, which shall be maintained in an Annual Qualification file by the agency and made available for audit.

(2) Low-Light Decision Making Qualification:

(A) No fewer than three decision points within the course

(B) Required target discrimination decision (shoot/no-shoot)

(D) Required articulation by the officer of a minimum of two decisions made during the course

(E) Shall contain a detailed diagram of the decision-making course, with a written explanation of the course, and a scoring matrix outlining what constitutes passing and failing performance, which shall be maintained in an Annual Qualification file by the agency, and made available for audit,

(f) If an officer's service handgun is replaced with another service handgun of the same make and model, the officer shall complete the Day Accuracy Qualification with the new service handgun within 15 days of issuance.

(g) All certified law enforcement officers who are issued or authorized to use a shotgun, rifle, or automatic weapon shall qualify with each weapon respectively for both day and low-light use prior to carrying the weapon in the performance of law enforcement duties, pursuant to 12 NCAC 09E .0103(5) and (6), and at least once each calendar year thereafter.

(h) The accuracy qualification courses required by Paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Rule shall be completed with duty equipment and duty ammunition or ballistic-equivalent ammunition, including lead-free ammunition that meets the same point of aim, point of impact, and felt recoil of the duty ammunition for all weapons.

(i) All certified law enforcement officers who are issued or authorized to use a less-lethal weapon, that may also be classified as a firearm, shall qualify with each weapon respectively, in compliance with the manufacturers specifications or certification requirements prior to carrying the weapon in the performance of law enforcement duties, pursuant to 12 NCAC 09E .0103(7), and as required by the manufacturer thereafter.

(j) For the purposes of this Rule, low light for an outdoor range is defined as beginning 30 minutes after sunset, based on the time provided by the U.S. Naval Observatory chart (located here: https://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/RS_OneYear) for the date of qualification, specific to the location of the outdoor range. For an indoor range, transition to a low-light environment occurs by cutting off the lighting and is not defined by a specific time.

(k) Pursuant to G.S. 14-269 and the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004, H.R.218, 108th Cong. (2004), (located here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/218), all certified law enforcement officers who are authorized to carry an off-duty or secondary handgun shall qualify with each such handgun consistent with the specifications outlined in Paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Rule.

(l) To satisfy the requirements for all firearms accuracy qualifications, an officer shall attain at least 80 percent accuracy with each weapon.

(m) To satisfy the requirements for all decision making qualification courses, an officer shall attain a passing score as outlined by the specific courses scoring matrix.

(n) Each Day Accuracy Qualification course and Low-Light Accuracy Qualification course:

(1) Shall be completed successfully on a single day, once out of three attempts.

(2) Failure to qualify within three attempts on a single day is deemed a failure.

(3) Once qualification has begun, if an officer is unsuccessful at any qualification attempt and fails to complete three attempts in a single day, the officer is deemed to have failed to qualify.

(4) No practice is allowed once qualification begins. Practice is not allowed until after the officer qualifies successfully or the third qualification attempt is completed.

(5) Shall be completed with each weapon for which qualification is required

(6) Each Qualification course may take place on different days; however, all three attempts to qualify for that course shall occur on that day.

(7) Once an officer has failed to qualify in three attempts or failed to complete three attempts to qualify in a single day on any Qualification course, Access to the weapon shall be restricted until such time the officer successfully qualifies with the weapon. The restriction is pursuant to Rule .0103 (4) and (5) of this Section.

(o) Each Day Decision Making Qualification course and Low-Light Decision Making Qualification course:

(1) Shall be completed successfully on a single day, once out of three attempts.

(2) Failure to qualify within three attempts on a single day is deemed a failure.

(3) Once qualification has begun, if an officer is unsuccessful at any qualification attempt and fails to complete three attempts in a single day, the officer is deemed to have failed to qualify.

(4) No practice is allowed once qualification begins. Practice is not allowed until after the officer qualifies successfully or the third qualification attempt is completed.

(5) Each qualification course may take place on different days; however, all three attempts to qualify for that course shall occur on that day.

(6) Once an officer has failed to qualify in three attempts or failed to complete three attempts to qualify in a single day on any qualification course, Access to the weapon shall be restricted until such time the officer successfully qualifies with the weapon. The restriction is pursuant to Rule .0103 (4) and (5) of this Section.

History Note: Authority G.S. 17C-6; 17C-10;

Eff. July 1, 1989;

Amended Eff. January 1, 2019; April 1, 2018; January 1, 2006; January 1, 2005; November 1, 1998; March 1, 1992;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. May 25, 2019.

Amended Eff. January 1, 2026.