12 NCAC 10B .2104 ANNUAL FIREARMS QUALIFICATION SPECIFICATIONS

(a) All deputy sheriffs and detention officers who are authorized by the sheriff to carry a handgun shall qualify a minimum of once each calendar year with each department‑approved service handgun by completing the Qualification courses set forth in Paragraphs (b), (c), and (e) of this Rule. For the purpose of this Rule, 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) 5-yard 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; and

(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; and

(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 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; and

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

(d) All deputy sheriffs and detention 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; and

(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 a deputy sheriff's or detention officer's handgun is replaced with another service handgun of the same make and model, they shall successfully complete the Day Accuracy Qualification with the new service handgun within 15 days of issuance.

(g) All deputy sheriffs and detention officers who are issued or otherwise authorized by the sheriff to use a shotgun, rifle, or automatic weapon shall qualify with each weapon respectively, for both day and low-light use at least once each calendar year.

(h) The accuracy qualification courses required by Paragraphs (a), (b), and (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 deputy sheriffs and detention 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 manufacturer's specifications or certification requirements.

(j) The accuracy qualification and decision making qualification courses required by Paragraphs (a) through (g) and (k) of this Rule shall define low-light for an outdoor range as beginning 30 minutes after sunset, based on the time provided by the U.S. Naval Observatory chart for the date of qualification, specific to the location of the outdoor range. For an indoor range, transition to low-light environment occurs by cutting off the lighting and is not defined by a specific time.

(k) All deputy sheriffs and detention officers who are authorized by the sheriff to carry off-duty handguns shall qualify with their off-duty handgun a minimum of once each calendar year pursuant to Paragraphs (a) through (e) of this Rule with each handgun the officer carries off-duty using ammunition approved by the sheriff.

(l) All deputy sheriffs and detention officers who are issued or have access to any weapons not stated in this Rule must qualify with these weapons once each calendar year using ammunition approved by the sheriff.

(m) To satisfy the requirements for all firearms accuracy qualifications, a deputy sheriff or detention officer shall attain a minimum qualification score of 80 percent accuracy with each weapon at least once in three attempts with no more than three attempts on each course of fire per day.

(n) To satisfy the requirements for all decision making qualification courses, a deputy sheriff or detention officer shall attain a passing score as outlined by the specific course scoring matrix.

(o) In cases where reduced‑sized targets are used to simulate actual distances, a modified course of fire may be used.

(p) The following shall apply to each Day Accuracy Qualification course and Low-Light Accuracy Qualification course:

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

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

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

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

(5) Each course 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 the same day.

(7) Once a deputy sheriff or detention 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 deputy sheriff or detention officer successfully qualifies with the weapon.

(q) The following shall apply to each Day Decision Making Qualification course and Low-Light Decision-Making Qualification course:

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

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

(4) No practice shall be allowed once qualification begins. Practice shall not be allowed until after the deputy sheriff or detention 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 the same day.

(6) Once a deputy sheriff or detention 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.

History Note: Authority G.S. 17E‑4; 17E‑7;

Eff. January 1, 1989;

Amended Eff. January 1, 1994; January 1, 1993; January 1, 1992; January 1, 1991;

Temporary Amendment Eff. March 1, 1998;

Amended Eff. January 1, 2011; January 1, 2006; August 1, 2002; August 1, 1998;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. March 6, 2018;

Amended Eff. March 1, 2026.