Prerequisite for this course is NRA Personal Protection Inside the Home (PPITH) and Firearms and the Law class as taught by SMFTS instructors.

This course expands what the students learned about defensive shooting in the PPITH course.  Considerable emphasis is placed on firearms and the law, techniques that are available to avoid having to use a handgun for self defense, psychological and physiological reactions to high stress situations, and dealing with the aftermath of a self defense shooting.  The student learns how to safely and effectively present a handgun from concealment.  There are two live fire lessons in this course, basic and advanced (See lessons 5, 6 and 7 for more details). 

Students must bring with them to class their own handgun, 350 rounds of professionally manufactured ammunition, a strong side belt holster, magazine pouch or speed loader pouch and at least one spare magazine or speedloader.  Optional items are shooting or light work gloves and knee pads.

Personal Protection Outside the Home  (PPOTH) is organized as two separate courses.

The Basic Course is comprised of Lessons I thru IX less Lesson VII.  It takes 9 hours as designed by the NRA and includes three and a half hours of dryfire and  live fire (Lessons V and VI) and an examination.  Students must have completed the NRA PPITH Course before taking the PPOTH Basic Course.

The Advanced Course is comprised only of Lessons VII.  It takes 5 hours as designed by the NRA all of which are dryfire and  live fire.  Students must have completed the NRA PPOTH Basic Course before taking the PPOTH Advanced Course.

The classroom lessons and most of the dryfire for Basic and Advanced PPOTH Courses will initially be conducted on Saturday in the classroom.  All live fire will be done on the following Sunday at South River Gun Club.   The Basic Live Fire lessons will be shot first on Sunday.  Students who want to also shoot the Advanced lesson will do so at the completion of the Basic live fire lessons.  Registration and payment must be done separately for the two courses.

Lesson objectives are as follows:

Lesson I: Introduction to Concealed Carry Safety and The Defensive Mindset      
1. The importance of carrying and using a handgun responsibly and ethically for personal protection outside the home.
2. How the three fundamental NRA rules for safe gun handling apply when carrying or using a concealed handgun outside the home.
3. How the NRA rules for using or storing a gun apply when carrying or using a concealed handgun outside the home.
4. Special safety considerations that must be observed when carrying or using a concealed handgun outside the home. 
5. The various techniques for storing a handgun safely outside the home.
6. The four levels of awareness and how they apply to concealed carry outside the home.

Lesson II: Introduction to Self Defense and Concealed Carry
1. The importance of mental preparation and developing the proper mindset for carrying and using a handgun for personal protection and facing a life-threatening encounter outside the home.
2. Techniques for avoiding life-threatening confrontations outside the home.
3. The psychological and physiological changes that may occur during an attack.   
4. The differences between having a firearm for personal protection in the home and carrying a handgun for personal protection outside the home.
5. Techniques for controlling and responding to a violent encounter outside the home.
6. The emotional, legal and social aftermath of a defensive shooting outside the home.

Lesson III: Legal Aspects of Concealed Cary and Self-Defense
1. Explain the general rights and restrictions under laws permitting the carrying of concealed handguns for self-defense.
2. State key legal provisions and restrictions pertaining to the use of deadly force outside the home. 
3. Explain potential criminal and civil legal actions that may be taken subsequent to a defensive encounter outside the home.
4. Explain where the student may find detailed legal information for their specific jurisdiction.

Lesson IV: Carry Modes and Handgun Concealment
1. Identify the various handgun concealed carry modes and the benefits and limitations of each.
2. Explain the basic principles of handgun concealment as they relate to the carrying of a handgun for self-defense outside the home.

Lesson V: Presenting the Handgun from Concealment
1. Explain and demonstrate the techniques for safely presenting a concealed handgun and re-holstering.

Lesson VI: Presentation, Position and Movement
Learning Objectives: As a result of your participation in this lesson, you will be able to present a handgun from concealment and shoot targets in the center of mass:
1. After moving to a high barricade.
2. Engaging two targets.
3. Using aimed fire technique with the strong hand only.
4. Using point shooting technique with two hands.
5. Using point shooting technique with the strong hand only.

Lesson VII: Special Shooting Techniques Learning Objectives: As a result of your participation in this lesson, you will be able to present a concealed handgun, conduct speed reloading, clear stoppages of your handgun and shoot targets in the center of mass:
1.   Using hip shooting techniques with the strong hand only (“speed rock”).
2.   Moving rearward, stopping and shooting.
3.   From standing to kneeling behind a low barricade.
4.   From standing to squatting behind a low barricade. Moving to a low barricade, then kneeling or squatting.
5.   From sitting to standing.
6.   From standing, turning left 90 degrees to the target.
7.   From standing, turning right 90 degrees to the target.
8.   From standing, turning left 180 degrees to the target.
9.   From standing, turning right 180 degrees to the target.
10. Engaging a target at extended range.  
11. Under low light conditions.

Lesson VIII: Sport Shooting Activities and Training Opportunities   
1. Identify organizations, associations, clubs, and businesses that may help you hone, enhance, and expand personal protection skills.
2. Explain methods and precautions for dry-fire practice, including drawing from the holster.

Lesson IX: Course Review and Examination 
1. Describe the programs, history and membership benefits of the NRA.
2. Successfully complete the NRA Basics of Personal Protection Outside the Home Course examination.