A really fun day...
In Tennessee, the CCW class I took was a three-part course that lasted an entire Saturday.
The first session was a live lecture by the instructor. It was a basic gun-familiarity course that covered the different types of handguns (revolvers vs. auto), safety rules, legal issues of concealed carry, ettiquitte, basic stances and posture, sight alignment, holster styles and concealment techniques, some light practice drills, and finally care and cleaning of various handguns.
The second session (the instructor admitted was his least favorite part) was the mandatory video tapes put together by the Tennessee Department of Safety. The tapes take you through the basics (and I do mean basics!) of self-defense law, handgun safety, and analyze several re-enactments of scenarios depicting people using poor judgment with self-defense. The big issue that the videos seemed to focus on is that you cannot shoot someone while they are attempting to flee. (Even if they are in your home...)
At the end of the second session there was a written test. EVERYONE in the class passed the written test. It's NOT hard. My fiance and I both got a perfect score. (Although I turned mine in nearly 10 seconds before she did!)
The third (and my most favorite) part of the day was the practical test. You are required to fire a certain number of rounds and maintain a certain accuracy (and, believe me, you don't have to be a very good shot) at a sillouette target from 3, 7, and 15 yards. Basically, it's a great excuse to get together at the range and pop off some rounds. Everyone in the class passed this one as well.
Funny story...
I had never fired a gun before I met my fiance. She used to do competition marksmanship (she's really good, too), and she actually taught me to shoot 1911. (She wants to get me out to shoot high-power rifle, as soon as we can find the time.) Anyway, I was a rank novice when we took the class together. We're standing in adjoining lanes at the indoor range, taking our practical, and I'm hitting
most of my rounds on the paper.
The instructor comes up and takes my target, then he goes to the next lane and starts to reel in HER target from the 20-foot mark. Mine looks polka-dotted. Hers is missing the 9 circle, without a stray bullet ANYWHERE!!! The instructor promptly advises me, "Look, Man. Don't EVER piss this woman off!" It's been good advice so far!
I was unable to convince the instructor to score her target as only having a
single hole. I think he was afraid of her...
Take the course. It'll be a good day at the range.