Carlos Silva
Instructor # 1592056 | Silva Group Consulting
Certified with the USCCA since 7/24/2020
Certification Renewal Date 7/14/2027
USCCA Certifications
- Concealed Carry & Home Defense
- Range Safety Officer
- Concealed Carry & Home Defense Fundamentals - Training Counselor
- Non-Lethal Program - Certified Instructor
- Non-Lethal Program - Certified Instructor
My Biography
Having lived in a farm environment, I grew up around guns and hunting. I learned many things at a very early age about many different guns, techniques for shooting, and hunting. Much of it from folks who were ex-military, peace officers and avid hunters. Many of the things I learned were then reinforced in my military service from 1971-1976.
In my professional life I worked in engineering environments much of it in management roles. In these roles I was also responsible for providing education and training to employees in many varied areas.
In the process of acquiring my CCW permit I experienced some very poor quality CCW courses and training. I decided to be an influence for change and provide a better quality of education in my courses for students seeking to be proficient in weapons and self defense fundamentals.
Since then I myself have had many training sessions as part of my CCW licensing requirements and in becoming a USCCA Instructor, where I continue to train and increase my knowledge and proficiency through the many available USCCA courses and many other learning channels available, because to be proficient in any endeavor requires a commitment to continual education and training.
My current Instructor Certifications are P.O.S.T Firearms Instructor, DOJ CCW Certified Instructor, DOJ Firearms Safety Instructor, USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor in Concealed Carry and Home Defense Fundamentals, Non-Lethal Program Certified Instructor, USCCA Defensive Shooting Fundamentals Levels 1-3, and Range Safety Officer. I have also completed many USCCA online training materials.
My course offerings are Non-Lethal Self Defense, Countering The Mass Shooter, Church Security, CCW Permitting, Self Defense Fundamentals, Real Estate Agent Safety, Self Defense, Basic Handgun, Home Defense, Range Safety Officer, Use Of Deadly Force and the Aftermath, and How Not To Look Like A Victim, Defensive Pistol, and AR-15 Fundamentals.
I use many different parts of my courses within each course and especially in my CCW curriculum so as to provide an in depth understanding and respect for a CCW permit. In some of my training courses I also use a Virtual Range (PC System and/or VR) to assess student competence and confidence.
I am currently a the Board President and Director of Training for the Madison Society’s CCW Certification process, curriculum development and RSO training. Having lived in a farm environment, I grew up around guns and hunting. I learned many things at a very early age about many different guns, techniques for shooting, and hunting. Much of it from folks who were ex-military, peace officers and avid hunters. Many of the things I learned were then reinforced in my military service from 1971-1976.
In my professional life I worked in engineering environments much of it in management roles. In these roles I was also responsible for providing education and training to employees in many varied areas.
In the process of acquiring my CCW permit I experienced some very poor quality CCW courses and training. I decided to be an influence for change and provide a better quality of education in my courses for students seeking to be proficient in weapons and self defense fundamentals.
Since then I myself have had many training sessions as part of my CCW licensing requirements and in becoming a USCCA Certified Instructor and Training Counselor, where I continue to train and increase my knowledge and proficiency through the many available USCCA courses and many other learning channels available. To me, to be proficient in any endeavor requires a commitment to continual education and training.
My current Instructor Certifications are P.O.S.T Firearms Instructor, DOJ CCW Certified Instructor, DOJ Firearms Safety Instructor, USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor in Concealed Carry and Home Defense Fundamentals, Non-Lethal Program Certified Instructor, USCCA Defensive Shooting Fundamentals Levels 1-3, and Range Safety Officer. I have also completed many USCCA online training materials as well.
My course offerings are Non-Lethal Self Defense, Countering The Mass Shooter, Church Security, CCW Permitting, Self Defense Fundamentals, Real Estate Agent Safety, Self Defense, Basic Handgun, Home Defense, Range Safety Officer, Use Of Deadly Force and the Aftermath, and How Not To Look Like A Victim, Defensive Pistol, and AR-15 Fundamentals.
I use many different parts of my courses within each course and especially in my CCW curriculum so as to provide an in depth understanding and respect for a CCW permit.
In some of my training courses I also use a Virtual Range (PC System and/or VR) to assess student competence and confidence.
I am currently a the Board President and Director of Training for the Madison Society’s CCW Certification process, curriculum development and RSO training.
We certify on average 30 CCW students per month for the state of California for the Oakdale PD, Modesto PD, Turlock PD, San Joaquin, Mariposa, Toulumne, Calaveras, and Merced Counties.
Current Classes Available
- Thur, Oct. 29, 2026 5:00 PM
Madison Society Intial for Merced, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Calaveras, Sacramento Counties and Oakdale, Modesto and Turlock Police Departments
with Carlos Silva4.9Silva Group Consulting
Oakdale, CA$165
- Thur, Oct. 29, 2026 5:00 PM
Madison Society Renewal for Merced, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Calaveras, Sacramento Counties and Oakdale, Modesto and Turlock Police Departments
with Carlos Silva4.9Silva Group Consulting
Oakdale, CA$105
Request a Class
The Basic Handgun Course is for handgun owners or potential handgun owners wanting to gain or improve their knowledge of hand guns. The course is intended for all individuals regardless of previous shooting experience. We use our smokeless range in class to ensure you have gained the proper levels of training and confidence with handguns. An optional live-fire after the course with our instructor is also available for additional fee. Please contact us if you do not currently own a handgun, as one can be provided for you. But please contact us first as many details need to be addressed. This course is completed in about 4-5 hours. Course topics include:
Handgun Uses Firearms Safety Ammunition Handgun Features Action Types Handgun Shooting Techniques Firearms Suicide Prevention Secure Gun Storage Safe Transportation Safe Handgun Cleaning Basic Handgun Laws Basic Home Defense You will receive our Handgun book, take a Basic Handgun Quiz and receive a course completion certificate bearing the signature of your USCCA Certified Instructor.
Course is for handgun owners or potential handgun owners wanting to gain or improve their knowledge of proper home defense. We will practice our course basics on our smokeless range in class to ensure you receive the proper levels of training and confidence with your handguns. This course is completed in about 4-5 hours. You can also opt to do live fire with your own handgun after the course with our instructor at our local range for an additional fee of $20. Course topics include:
Firearms Safety Home Security Gun Laws Legal Use of Force Encounters and their aftermath Handgun Shooting Techniques Handgun Uses In Home Defense Firearms Suicide Prevention Secure Gun Storage
You will receive our Firearms and Family Defense book, take a Home Defense Quiz and a course completion certificate bearing the signature of your USCCA Certified Instructor.
Defensive Shooting-Self Defense Course is for handgun owners or potential handgun owners wanting to gain or improve their knowledge of defensive shooting and self defense fundamentals. We will practice our course basics on our smokeless range in class to ensure you receive the proper levels of training and confidence with your handguns.
Course covers:
In class smokeless range training Firearms Safety Shooting Techniques Legal use of force Advanced Self Defense principles and techniques Situational Awareness Natural body function and mechanics Training your mind Body responses Real life scenarios Encounters and their aftermath
You will receive our Firearms and Family Defense handbook, take a Defense Shooting Quiz and a course completion certificate bearing the signature of your USCCA Certified Instructor.
Course consists of mandatory classroom time as required by state and local laws, and a live-fire qualification exam on Saturday. Range fees are included in class fee.
Course covers:
Firearms Safety Handgun Uses Handgun Features Action Types Handgun Shooting Techniques Firearms Suicide Prevention Secure Gun Storage Safe Transportation Safe Handgun Cleaning Basic Handgun Laws Basic Home Defense Legalities to carrying a concealed weapon in California Situational Awareness Basic Self Defense principles and techniques Encounters and their aftermath Legal use of force Proper gear
You will be given a short CCW Quiz and a course completion certificate to upload to your issuing agency.
Course consists of mandatory classroom time as required by state and local laws, and a live-fire qualification exam on Saturday. Range fees are included in class fee.
Course covers:
Firearms Safety Handgun Uses Handgun Features Action Types Handgun Shooting Techniques Firearms Suicide Prevention Secure Gun Storage Safe Transportation Safe Handgun Cleaning Basic Handgun Laws Basic Home Defense Legalities to carrying a concealed weapon in California Situational Awareness Basic Self Defense principles and techniques Encounters and their aftermath Legal use of force Proper gear
You will be given a short CCW Quiz and a course completion certificate to upload to your issuing agency.
We will walk you through the process to becoming a DOJ Certified Instructor and a DOJ Cetified CCW Instructor now required in California under new SB 2 regulations. Upon successfully completing this course, you will also become USCCA Certified Instructor, uniquely authorized to teach the USCCA course, Concealed Carry and Home Defense Fundamentals. This course has become the gold standard across the United States for law abiding Americans seeking to obtain their concealed carry permit. As a USCCA certified instructor, you will be trained and equipped to provide world-class instruction to students. You will have access to our world class classroom materials (including a full set of PowerPoint presentations and classroom videos). During this two-day training course, you’ll be taught by a USCCA Training Counselor on a number of valuable topics, including: The top ten instructor mistakes, and how to avoid them; teaching best practices; and running a safe live fire range. You’ll also have a chance to demonstrate your knowledge of the USCCA training material through seven short presentations to a group of your peers, as well as running a live fire range, guiding your peers through the safe completion of the USCCA course of fire. After completion of this course, you’ll not only be intimately familiar with the USCCA training methodology and materials, you’ll be a far better instructor and presenter, regardless of the topic of choice. Live Fire This class includes range time. Curriculum Description Upon successfully completing this course, you will become a USCCA Certified Instructor uniquely authorized to teach the USCCA course, Concealed Carry and Home Defense Fundamentals. This course has become the nation’s leading curriculum for law-abiding Americans seeking to obtain their concealed carry permit. When it comes to firearms fundamentals and concealed carry and home defense concepts, you will provide your students with high-quality material and help them understand the ‘why’ behind training concepts. Class Preparation: You must complete the corresponding online learning course. (Automatically sent to you upon registering for the class.) Day 1: you’ll be taught by a USCCA Training Counselor on a number of valuable topics including: • Top ten instructor mistakes and how to avoid them • Teaching best practices • Running a safe live fire range Day 2: You’ll have a chance to: • Demonstrate your knowledge of the USCCA training material through seven short presentations to a group of your peers • Run a live fire range, guiding your peers through the safe completion of the USCCA course of fire By combining the knowledge of the USCCA and your passion for training more responsibly armed Americans, you can be assured that you’ve found the instructor certification for you.
This program offers non-lethal training solutions to responsibly armed Americans. With this course we will help keep you and your loved ones safe — even when the use of a firearm is not legally justifiable, when it’s impractical or when a defender is morally opposed to using deadly force. We will train with and about trusted brands that law enforcement and military personnel have depended on for decades.
If you want to host a non-lethal class please contact me.
The goal of this course is to inform and educate real estate agents on how to stay safe on the job and off the job.
The goal of this course is to teach you the very critical information that the other course you took did not teach you on how to keep you and your family, legally, morally and financially safe.
This course is not intended to turn you into EMTs and paramedics. What it will do is provide you the tools and information to sustain the life of a patient until EMTs and paramedics arrive or until he or she can be delivered to the emergency room. Class is 6 hours long.
In this training, we will cover the data gathered from 48 mass shootings. We have summarized this data and have a comprehensive plan designed to help you eliminate the potential of such an occurrence in your location.
Range Safety Officer (RSO) course is designed for those who are working with students, instructors or shooting participants who are focused on the safe and proficient use of handguns in any type of range environment.
This AR-15 training course teaches the key skills every responsible owner should master to handle their firearm effectively.
In this training we will help you to develop all the components to properly protect a house of worship. Class is 8 - 16 hours long.
Real estate professionals routinely find themselves in situations that can present unique personal safety challenges. • Showing homes, properties, and vacant buildings in unfamiliar locations • Meeting clients one-on-one, often with people they have never met • Conducting appointments during evening hours or after dark • Navigating emotionally charged situations involving divorces, foreclosures, or other high-stress transactions These and many other circumstances can place real estate professionals in potentially dangerous—or even life-threatening—situations. Our comprehensive course is designed to help real estate professionals recognize potential threats, develop effective safety strategies, and understand the lawful use of self-defense options. Participants will learn about situational awareness, conflict avoidance, personal safety planning, and the appropriate selection and lawful use of self-defense tools in accordance with applicable state laws. The course emphasizes sound judgment, de-escalation whenever possible, and responsible decision-making in high-stress situations. By understanding the legal, ethical, and practical aspects of personal protection, real estate professionals will be better prepared to make informed decisions that prioritize their safety while remaining within the boundaries of the law.
Have you ever found yourself feeling uncomfortable or unsafe because of your surroundings? Perhaps you were walking through a dark parking lot, traveling down an unfamiliar street, visiting a new neighborhood, or simply felt uneasy because of the behavior of people nearby. Unfortunately, situations like these can occur when we least expect them. Being prepared and knowing your options can make all the difference. Our Personal Safety & Less-Lethal Self-Defense Course is designed to educate you on practical, responsible methods for protecting yourself and your loved ones using non-lethal and less-lethal self-defense tools. During this comprehensive course, you will learn:
- Personal safety strategies and situational awareness
- Threat recognition and avoidance
- Conflict de-escalation techniques
- The legal and justifiable use of force
- California laws governing non-lethal and less-lethal self-defense tools
- Proper selection, handling, maintenance, and storage of self-defense equipment
- Responsible decision-making during high-stress encounters While non-lethal and less-lethal tools are designed to reduce the likelihood of causing serious bodily injury or death, it is important to understand that any self-defense tool has the potential to cause serious injury if used improperly. For that reason, every self-defense option should be treated with the utmost respect, responsibility, and care. Our course emphasizes the importance of understanding the appropriate use of force and the legal responsibilities that accompany carrying any self-defense tool. By developing a clear understanding of state laws, sound judgment, and effective defensive strategies, you will be better prepared to respond appropriately while prioritizing both safety and legality.