Axon, formerly known as Taser International, is now offering an instructor certification program for the commercial market. Called the Civilian Training Program, the course is a train the trainer style of instruction that allows instructors to teach non-law enforcement personnel in the use of the Pulse for self defense. The Civilian Training Program will provide a standardized level of instruction for people that has been largely absent previously.

As it was explained to me, Axon will not keep track of individual student information. Rather, the company will provide the training to instructors and then each instructor is responsible for keeping all of the records for the people he or she trains. While this is not unusual, it does highlight the need to seek training from qualified instructors who you are confident will have all of the necessary records should you ever find yourself in a courtroom after using force to defend yourself.

The training is centered on the use of the Pulse device. The Pulse was officially introduced in January of 2016. The handgun shaped device uses the same basic electrical incapacitation technology the company uses in its law enforcement and military devices. The Pulse uses a 30 second cycle – much longer than the standard law enforcement weapons – to allow the victim to get away from an attacker.