Policies

Personal Protection Academy Policies

Personal Protection Academy (PPA) strives to be the best firearms and personal protection company on Puerto Rico. Below are our training policies and procedures.

Admissions

PPA only accepts U.S. citizens or legal residents of 21 years of age or older that are not Prohibitive Persons, as defined below, and that hold  a Puerto Rico Firearms License for training.

Individuals seeking a Puerto Rico, Florida or Utah CCW permit may attend only our CCW or “Puerto Rico Uso y Manejo” courses provided they present a “Certificado de Antecedentes Penales” from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau.

We reserve the right of admission to any and all courses.

Class Payments

All courses must be paid in full no later than 3 days prior to course date. If payment is not received within this time frame the deposit will be forfeit and your spot will be available to others. Students have the option to pay the deposit and course fees by PayPal or credit card.

Deposits / Refunds

We have a limited number of seats for each class. Please make sure when you sign up for a class you are able to attend. When you register for a class and then cancel or don’t show up that means someone else could have taken your seat in that particular class. A deposit is required to hold your spot in a group class. Students have the option to pay the deposit and course fees by PayPal or credit card.

PPA shall not provide a student with a refund for the required deposit fee.

PPA shall provide a student with a refund, less the deposit fee, within 30 days if the student withdraws from the course 72 hours before the first day of instruction. All refunds will be in the form of a credit that will be good for a year from the date of issue and can be used for any and all courses offered by PPA.

PPA shall not provide a student with a refund if the student withdraws after the first day of instruction or is dismissed.

No refund will be issued if PPA cancels due to low attendance, weather, or other reason out of our control. We will make every effort to inform students in a timely manner, and the student will be reschedule into another class.

Class minimum size is usually 4 people and most likely the class will be cancelled if we have less than 4 people signed up, for seminars the minimum number is 10 attendees.

Inclement Weather Cancellations

Unless otherwise notified you should assume that classes will occur regardless of weather conditions. There is so much that goes into the planning, venues, instructors, resources and scheduling of all our classes that we will very rarely cancel a class due to weather conditions. So you should assume that unless you hear from us that the class you signed up for will occur regardless of weather conditions. In the event, PPA does cancel a class, we will reschedule students into other scheduled classes if they are not already full. Regardless of weather conditions, if you are no show to class you will forfeit your deposit and class fee.

Student Conduct

Student conduct that causes material or substantial disruption to the class environment, interferes with the rights of others, presents a threat to the health and safety of students, employees, and visitors, violates other board policies or is otherwise inappropriate is prohibited. Students are expected to maintain appropriate classroom behavior that allows instructors and staff to perform their professional duties effectively and without disruption.

Students will conduct themselves in a manner fitting to their age level and maturity and with respect and consideration for the rights of others while on school property and/or while attending or engaged in school activities. Students conducting themselves outside these guidelines maybe dismissed from the class.

Instructor Certifications

Even though PPA facilitates instructor level classes, students should understand that PPA is not the legal issuing authority. We facilitate instructor classes for the National Rifle Association of which we only can then recommend to the issuing authorities the students to certify as instructors who have passed the requirements set forth by the NRA. The National Rifle Association Training Division can deny any student(s) that have been recommended by PPA at their own discretion for any reason. If for some reason  the National Rifle Association deny an instructor candidate that we have facilitated in an instructor class, PPA cannot be held legally liable for any refunds or any other loss the student may experience. The National Rifle Association is the final authority in all matters regarding instructor certifications.

NRA Credentialing Fees:

NRA credentialing fees are not included in course fees. Instructor candidates and RSO candidates are responsible to pay directly to the NRA all credentialing fees. Non NRA Member credentialing fee is higher than  NRA Members credential fees.

If you are taking an NRA Instructor course, it is recommended that you become an NRA member before taking the course. If you are not a member, it may take up to 2 months for your instructor credentials to be available. This is not under our control. If you are not a member, let us help you through the process. Enter the NRA Member Application link.

Safety Policy

At PPA safety, especially on the range is our number 1 priority. We reserve the right to ask anyone not observing the safety rules or behaving in a belligerent manner to leave the range or the classroom in order to secure the safety of other students. This includes individuals under the influence of controlled substances, alcohol etc. All students will sign a waiver of liability before class. Students will also be required to certify in writing that they are not a prohibited person as listed below.

All instructors at PPA are certified in Basic First Aid, CPR and AED.

We use dummy ammunition for all classroom work for training in loading and unloading etc. Students carrying firearms will be asked to leave their firearms in their vehicles until after class or in the safe that is usually provided by the instructor. NO EXCEPTIONS.

– We have an absolute NO LIVE AMMUNITION IN THE CLASSROOM for all firearms classes.
– We have an absolute NO STUDENT GUNS IN THE CLASSROOM policy for all classes.

Anyone attending class under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. PPA will not be responsible for minors while in class and should it become necessary for the instructor to remove a minor from class, a parent or guardian will need to be available. Minors also cannot legally sign our liability waiver, so a parent or guardian also need to be available to sign the document.

Courses, Test and Passing Grades

NRA Courses are performance based courses, Students and Instructor Candidates must possess the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary for the training they are signing up for in order to pass. Attitude being the most important. Some classes do have prerequisites and/or qualifications that you must pass in order to take the course. If you’re not sure please contact us. You do not pay and automatically pass training, you pay to have the opportunity to pass. If you fail a course you must pay and retake the entire course if you desire to be certified. 

Courses, Venues & Prices

All classes, courses and seminar prices are based on our cost, cost of materials and other factors that may change depending on venue, location, date and availability etc. Every class has its unique requirements and cost which is why you may see the same class listed at different pricing at different locations.

Prohibitive Persons

Under Federal law PPA can not train any individuals who:
  • Are Convicted felons that have not been annulled or pardoned.
  • Are under indictment in any court or have been convicted for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
  • Are fugitives from justice.
  • Use or are addicted to any unlawful controlled substances.
  • Have been adjudicated as a mental defective or have been committed to any mental institution.
  • Are illegal aliens.
  • Have been discharged from the military under dishonorable conditions.
  • Have renounced their United States citizenship.
  • Are under a court order restraining them from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child of the intimate partner.
  • Have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
  • Are under the influence of any substances that may hinder or impede their actions in handling a firearm safely.
Non US Citizens

PPA requires proof of residency status for all students that are not US citizens. Green Card Holders are permanent residents and are legally allowed to own, buy, possess and train with firearms in the United States. Non-Immigrant Aliens here on HB1 or F1 Student Visa’s are prohibited from shipping,  transporting, receiving, or possessing a firearm or ammunition unless the alien falls within one of the exceptions provided in 18 U.S.C. 922(y)(2), such as: a valid hunting license or permit, admitted for lawful hunting or sporting purposes, certain official representatives of a foreign government, or a foreign law enforcement officer of a friendly foreign government entering the United States on official law enforcement business OR have a valid waiver signed by the Attorney General of the United States as stated in 18 U.S.C. 922(y)(3). Therefore, any a Non-Immigrant Alien who wishes to train with PPA must produce a valid Hunting License from any of the 50 US States and Territories.

Puerto Rico Firearm License

All students are required to possess a Puerto Rico Firearms License.

Commitment to Client Confidentiality

PPA is a group of experienced professionals dedicated to bringing the highest quality of service to our clients. We strongly believe in our ethical and legal obligation to protect our clients’ privacy. The firms’ commitment and approach to client confidentiality distinguishes us as a leader in firearms instruction.

By the very nature of our work, we are called upon to manage many of the most personal, private, and sensitive issues in a clients’ life. We understand that they expect us to honor the confidentiality of all practices, procedures and information learned during the normal course of doing business.

We fully anticipate to be held to those expectations. In fact, we commit to exceed them. PPA takes seriously its commitment to client’s confidentiality and it is truly what sets us apart.

PPA operates in full compliance and cooperation with all municipal, commonwealth and federal laws. We are not affiliated with any Municipal, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or Federal Law Enforcement Agency.

Reinstatement Policy

Any student that has been dismissed may reapply six months after the time of dismissal. Students who wish to be reinstated must repeat the application procedure.

PPA reserves the right of admission in any and all courses offered.

PPA reserves the right change/update these policies anytime as needed.