I found this class to be very informative and educational. However, some parts of the lecture can challenge your ability to pay full attention because of the technical legal jargon, but at least they have free coffee to help! The videos and other discussions of techniques and personal stories that were shared also made things more interesting. The classroom is held at La Quinta and the shooting portion is done at Pasadena Gun Center. At first I thought having a class in a hotel was odd, but it turned out to be OK and a closer location for me. The gun center is just five or ten minutes away. If you don't own a gun, you can rent one there for $10 but you have to purchase their own ammo at the range. There were many shooters from beginners to experts and young to old. Some of the students never even shot a gun before but that wasn't uncommon. The price was right for me ($65 after LivingSocial Deal) and I feel like I learned what I needed to know. TIPS: ---------------------------------------- -Bring snacks. They have snack/soda machines and give you time to buy food but ten hours of class is long! -Take your time shooting. Although 2-3 seconds per round sounds like a little, its actually a decent amount of time. Don't rush it. read more

I really would have rated them a 3.75, but couldn't quite do a 4 since Yelp using and "!" in the description portion of that. So keeping it real here on Yelp. Bought the online deal for myself and my fiance along with 3 other friends and I was so glad I didn't try to do this alone. Larry did a good job of bringing information that is less than exciting and I enjoyed the videos with the exception of the giraffe one (just a little racy even though some words were bleeped out)...still funny idea. The location was nice and clean, but it is true that you might want to bring your own snacks since the day can get a little long. I think that the class is a little longer than others since there is drive time to and from the range with the chance to stop and grab lunch on your way back and we did leave around 6, so we got the full 10 hours of class time without having to stay until 7pm. It also felt a little like we could have left before that if we had just gone a little bit faster toward the end. They also had adjusted the way that you spend time at the range and it went very smooth for our groups. If you don't know how to shoot...learn first and then take the course. It will be worth it to make sure that you score the best you can and not have to go repeat this portion at a later date. I rated the course a 3 since I would have preferred to have been able to walk through the process of getting my license. They did cover all the different resources on the website, but seeing a checklist might have been a little more helpful since I knew there were more things I was going to need and had to still do a little research when I got home. Wes has offered himself as a resource after the class via email and phone (he prefers email though!) and I really appreciate his willingness to make sure we are as equipped as possible to deal with such a responsibility. Glad we took the course! read more

The class was LONG. But it has to be because there is A LOT to cover. Getting your CHL is a privilege and it should be taken seriously. Larry didn't seem like much of a morning person but he warmed up. And he too admitted he was grumpy. :) Wes was very friendly and easy to talk to. Prior to class, he kept us all updated with various emails about location changes, rescheduling, etc. We had to watch a lot of videos and some were actually entertaining. Of course the shooting portion was my favorite part of the course. :) You need to be familiar with your gun BEFORE you take the class. They aren't going to hold your hand at the range. I learned that because I had a hard time loading my magazine in a timely manner. But I figured it out. I scored 209 out of 250. Not too shabby! I agree with the previous reviewer. It was FREEZING in the meeting room at La Quinta!!! But that wasn't San Jac CHL's fault. You might want to bring snacks with you. We were there for over 10 hours total. And there wasn't a vending machine for snacks. There was only a soda machine. We got to pick up something to eat on the way back from the shooting range but it was still morning-time. So some of us had lunch at 10:30am. By 6:30pm, I was pretty much starved! Overall, I would recommend this class. Like I said, it's long and some of it is tedious. But it's necessary if you want to carry a gun. I was impressed with how many women were in the class. I think everyone in my class passed. Yay! read more

Like Jeremy said above, the law parts are really boring but a necessary evil. Becoming a CHL holder is a big reponsibility and it's important that the applicants are made aware of the legal ramifications of their actions. Larry's not the most spirited speaker but very knowledgeable and friendly. Wes was bit more lively. The meeting room at the La Quinta on the Pasadena Fwy was a little chilly for me. The Pasadena Gun Center, built in an old movie theatre, is suitable. I wish the target holders hung a little higher so that the targets were actually at eye level, but that's a minor range issue and has nothing to do with the class. I live in Bear Creek and there are closer classes and ranges but wife bought me theirs as a deal on Living Social which was nice. I certainly recommend these guys. read more

I thoroughly enjoyed the CHL class that i attended this past saturday (Nov. 8th). It was led by Billy and he made a very serious topic.. fun and easy to digest, considering the lonnnnng amt of hours we had to be there (7:30am - 12:40). Yes, the law portion is a bit boring but Billy tied examples to it as well as a retired police officer (who was talking the class with his daughter) who made it very easy to comprehend for a normal civilian. The range.. well.. that was very interesting lol. The range location we journeyed to was a bit old and for the most part.. something that could've been in a horror movie lol... but it served its purpose and i actually enjoyed the privacy you get in each lane.. due to the concrete walls that extend about 10ft outward. I would definitely recommend this class and definitely recommend Billy. You can't get around the long hours because of the responsibility that comes with being a CHL holder. But, if 7am is too early for you...they have afternoon classes! Thanks again guys! (oh and thanks to Wes for allowing us to reschedule about 4 times with NO issues! :D) read more

My husband and I took this CHL class together. They did a great job informing you of everything you need to know, and made me aware of things I wouldn't have thought about. This is a serious class, so be prepared to listen and participate. The parts covering the penal codes will be boring, but you need to know the information. The shooting range was near the hotel; we got through the testing phase efficently. If you haven't shot a handgun before, try to take a lesson before attending the class. This is a class to qualify for your CHL license, not a training class. We had a few people who had never shot a gun; the instructor did a great job with them. You can rent a handgun from the range if you do not own your own gun. Note....if you qualify with a revolver, this is the only thing you will be licnesed to carry. However, if you qualify with a semi-auto you will be qualified to carry both types of hand guns. Wes came in later in the day to answer any questions we had. It was interesting to hear his answers from an officers point of view. I definately recommend their program; just come prepared......it is a long day. We will definately use San Jac CHL when the time comes to renew our licnese. read more

Larry and Wes both made it the best they can, adding some humor, some plain talk in the midst of hours of legalese, and made it successful for all of us. They are more than accommodating to your needs and questions yet at NO time were you made to feel stupid if you had a question or comment and they treated every person with respect and diligence. They want to see you reach the goal of passing this test yet also keeping the standard high and honest. I bought this off of Living Social coupon as i waited to find one finally on the east side of Houston by Pasadena and lo and behold there it came. Go to this class - you won't regret it. All of the advice previously given on snack preps, bathroom, gun range, etc. is valid - listen to them. Enjoy! read more

This was my second chl class in my lifetime. Wow...no longer the 10 hours of endless repetitive banter. Right to the laws, facts and I was especially impressed with Billy's encouraging words of getting the woman of the house into the class. I've been shooting for years & have always felt the importance of it. Highly recommend this class to all. The only down side...wasn't too impressed with the gun range. Felt more like a prison. No ventilation. The instructor, Billy, seems like a hard ass, but really very concerned for the well being of his class...actually made the range portion fun. read more

THIS CLASS IS VERY EDUCATIONAL AND SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, IF YOU WANT TO LEGALLY CARRY A DEADLY WEAPON!!! #1 TO AVOID THE EMBARRASMENT & IMPATIENCE from Larry !!! ***Shoot a pistol BEFORE you go with someone qualified to assist you and visit a gun range before you enter the classroom If you don't own a gun, you can rent one there for $10 but you have to purchase their own ammo at the range approx $15 a box **** (Be prepared to purchase another box if you DO NOT pass the shooting practice & test the first go round). YES another $15 Don't expect any Handouts, (only Lecturing via Larry) although it would be helpful to follow along Be prepared to stand and listen to lectures to stay awake from time to time (I AGREE WITH DEBI H. "Class informed the student but 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.=12.5 hrs. was way too long when DPS only requires 10 hrs. of instruction. Larry covered the material but turned off the visual aid because HE did not like it. The overhead helped maintain focus until he turned it off. " (Hard to pay Attention after that) Although it was my first time, the shooting range was very intimidating and the rental gun was even more intimidating. I expected it to be cleaner but the area was filth. ***Bring yourself some snacks and drinks because it will be a long 12hour shift*** You will be instructed on how to apply for your license after this class (Application $140, Finger print $10.95 & Passport photo copy from walgreens) You are responsible for the administrative part of the process. It IS NOT PROVIDED in this class The test is easy if you pay attention to the information the Larry lecture Oh, You will get to meet Wes at the 12th hour. LOL wink.. Thanks Wes G , You are appreciated read more

It is going to be a long day, but come on, if you really want to do this, it will be worth it at the end. Larry is a nice guy and very patient to everyone in class. Class sometimes gets boring, but it is just because of all the laws and legal terms, if you are not used to it, it will bother a little. Best part of the day is of course the range part what is 10 minutes (give and take) from the hotel where the "class room" is, but that's fine, you can grab something to eat on your way back to the class, which I highly recommend since it is going to be a long day with no lunch break (no waste of time). Overall it was a very nice experience. Wish I could have met Wes too, but that's ok, Larry did a great job! read more

I give class 2 stars instead of 1 because I can't compare it to another CHL class, only to itself. So to be fair, 2 stars MAX. If you were instructing a trainer how to teach, this class is all the things not to do, such as: 1.) Always have activities and practicals in the afternoon when people are tired; this class scheduled the gun range @ 8;30AM leaving the rest of the day (~10:15 to 7:30pm) for sitting in a classroom. 2.) Never have instructor read script, but that is exactly how this class was conducted. He read the law as written all day! 3.) Never read the PowerPoint slides word for word; display them, explain in own words, let students read, but instructor read word for word. There weren't many slides anyway. 4.) Instructor was monotone and seemed bored himself. Instructor's personal stories / experiences were mildly relevant and uninteresting. I almost left the class to go home and watch the weekend football games thinking I could find another CHL class anywhere else. Q&A's were handled by reading those found on the DPS website. Q&A is a great idea, but I think I can read the DPS website on my own. Our questions were usually answered by instructor saying, "Call DPS." read more

Class informed the student but 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.=12.5 hrs. was way to long when DPS only requires 10 hrs. of instruction. Larry covered the material but turned off the visual aid because HE did not like it. The overhead helped maintain focus until he turned it off. There were no hand outs which would of helped and provided for note taking. The instructor covered the material but rambled and read through difficult to understand Penal Code Sections. The class was too long and unorgainized. The range trip was awful. The Pasadena shooting Range folks were great but the area was filthy, we had to stand and wait to fire for 45 minutes because there were no chairs to sit in while we waited our turn on the firing line. The last group to fire had an hour plus wait. I realize we have to attend a CHL class but find one that is comfortable and you enjoy learning at. Hopefully one where the instructor accknowledges your presence in the class room, doesn't object to visual aids, informs you of the long wait at a nasty range and doesnt drag a ten hour course into 12.5 hrs. DLH read more

The class advertises 4-6 hours but it was 8 hours. It would have been nice to know it was going to last until 3:30pm and no lunch break before hand to prepare some kind of lunch since there were no free snacks as advertised. Seems like pretty minor stuff but I was starving by the time class was over. Though the instructor was very knowledgeable, there were still some gray areas left out there in my opinion to what you can and can't do if put in certain situations based on questions the class asked. I think my only complaint would have to be it was way to long considering the new laws changed to reduced hours. read more

Good class. Gets the job done at a reasonable price. I'd recommend this class. It bears repeating that you need to know your weapon and be ready to shoot the qualifying series before you start the class. Info on their website is complete and useful and will help you to know what to expect. read more

The class consists of two parts: gun qualification at a gun range and law coverage. The qualification was at the Pasadena Gun range, a converted movie theater. The place looks grungy, but it is functional and the people at the range know a lot about guns and they have some nice pieces available for sale, too. I liked the procedure and the instructor (Larry) knew his stuff. I cannot say much about the theoretical part of the course. Reading from the booklet the various parts of the law is boring and does not, in my opinion, provide quality learning. Explaining what all the legal terms mean is definitely worth it. I think the class would benefit from having summary slides for each section of the law to drive the point home. I appreciate that the instructors have to conform to strict requirements by the Texas DPS, however, I would expect that they propose improvements. After all, the course objective is to prepare people with the higher standards the State of Texas holds those who want to have the concealed handgun carry privilege. For this to be accomplished, the class has to understand the letter of law. Unfortunately, not all the students are lawyers or understand legalese. When someone drones about convoluted law articles, he/she can really put a class to sleep in a hurry, especially after 3-4 pm. More to the point of Powerpoint presentations: please, consider avoiding reading the slide contents verbatim. People are capable of reading (at least I hope they are). I think the class will better appreciate comments on the slide contents. The videos and other audiovisual material was useful. One thing to propose: it may be nice to have each person in class give a brief introduction of who they are and their business background. From my experience, a class runs at a different level when people have an idea of who is around them. Also, having a small quantity of snacks (nothing expensive: apples or some grapes) or water bottles in a cooler would go a long way. They are not expensive and the class fee should be able to cover this. read more

Since this was my first class I had nothing to compare it to. I think Larry did his best with the material that he had. The serious and legal subject matter. He did act like he did not want to be there and I think it carried over to the group. My two main problems were no folding chairs at the range and the use of bad language in class and on the screen. Working with the public we have to be very aware that what we say can offend some. All in all it was a good day and I learned a lot from Larry. read more