Accreditation of firearms and shooting instructors (IAT) with the Polícia Federal

The firearms and shooting instructor accredited by the Polícia Federal (Federal Police), known as IAT (instrutor de armamento e tiro), is the professional authorized to run the technical capacity test and issue the report proving that a person knows how to handle and shoot a firearm safely. This report is required for purchase, registration, transfer, registration renewal, carry license and the CR (Certificado de Registro, the registration certificate) of collectors, shooters and hunters (CAC: colecionador, atirador desportivo e caçador). To become an IAT you must pass a PF selection process, opened by a public notice in each state. Accreditation is free and valid for four years.

What IAT accreditation is

Art. 11-A of Lei 10.826/2003 (Estatuto do Desarmamento, the Disarmament Statute) requires the Polícia Federal to accredit the professionals who certify technical capacity. Decreto 11.615/2023 (art. 61) leaves the rules to the PF, which set them in Instrução Normativa (IN, normative instruction) nº 111/2017-DG/PF. Each Regional Superintendency publishes its own notice.

The instructor's report certifies three things:

• knowledge of firearm safety rules;
• basic knowledge of the parts and operation of the firearm;
• ability to use it, demonstrated at a regular and authorized shooting range.

Accredited instructors are registered in Sinarm (Sistema Nacional de Armas, the PF national firearms register) and appear on the public list of accredited instructors on the PF website.

Who can get accredited

• A person aged 25 or older on the date of the written exam (except for the exceptions in art. 28 of Lei 10.826/2003).
• Who lives in the state of the notice and will work there.
• With a shooting instructor course that meets the minimum curriculum of IN 111/2017.
• With a favorable psychological report and no criminal record.

Active police officers from the institutions in art. 6, I and II, of Lei 10.826 may present their own force's certificate and, instead of the psychological report and certificates, a statement from the institution.

Common mistakes that delay the application

• An electoral certificate of compliance instead of the electoral criminal record certificate.
• Certificates with incomplete name or parents' names, or not covering the places of residence in the last five years.
• A psychological report more than one year old or issued by a non accredited psychologist.
• Proof of residence older than 60 days or in a third party's name without the statement.
• Applying in a state other than the state of residence.
• Arriving at the practical exam without the firearm registration, without a transit permit or without protective equipment.

After accreditation

The PF may inspect tests without prior notice and, under Decreto 11.615/2023 (art. 65), also remotely. IN 111/2017 lists grounds for suspension and loss of accreditation, such as using an irregular range, failing to report a test, diverting ammunition or charging above the legal cap. Anyone who loses accreditation can only apply again after four years.

If you move to another state while accredited, the accreditation can be approved by the new Superintendency, with proof of residence and a certificate of good standing from the original unit.

Once accredited, you can sign up for the Tiro Seguro directory so people who need the test can find you.

What changed recently

• 1 July 2025: the Polícia Federal took over CAC registration and oversight from the Exército. IN DG/PF nº 311/2025 (published in the DOU, Official Gazette, on 30/06/2025) began requiring, for the CR and for firearm purchases by CACs, proof of technical capacity issued by an instructor accredited by the PF.
• Decreto 11.615/2023, art. 65: provides that instructors and psychologists be chosen electronically, on an alternating and random basis, and that results be entered in the system by the accredited professionals themselves.
• 31 December 2024: Decreto 12.345/2024 changed several points of Decreto 11.615/2023, but did not change the instructor accreditation rules.
• 2026: accreditation notices published by several Superintendencies; the service page on gov.br was updated on 29/07/2026.

Notice

This guide is informational and does not replace the official rules, your state's notice or advice from a professional. The rules change: always check the current version of Lei 10.826/2003, Decreto 11.615/2023 (with the changes from Decreto 12.345/2024), IN 111/2017-DG/PF and IN 311/2025-DG/PF before applying.