6s
Par Time
3 yd
Distance
6
Rounds
1
Reps
6
Total Rounds
Stage 1 of the FBI Qualification Test is the opening string and one of the most demanding from a skill perspective. At just 3 yards you draw from concealment and fire three rounds using only your dominant hand, then transition the pistol to your support hand and fire three more rounds — all within a 6-second time limit.
The close distance makes accuracy seem easy, but the one-handed shooting requirement exposes weaknesses in grip strength and trigger control that two-handed shooting hides. The hand switch mid-string adds a manipulation challenge under time pressure that many shooters underestimate.
The FBI Qualification Test is a 50-round standardized pistol course used by the FBI and adopted by law enforcement agencies worldwide. It uses the FBI-QIT-99 bottle-shaped target and is fired from concealment at distances from 3 to 25 yards. Passing score is 80% (40 hits). Instructor qualification requires 90% (45 hits). All hits within the scored silhouette area count — the dashed-line exclusion zone at the top does not score.
Equipment Required
- Concealed-carry pistol in holster (IWB or OWB with concealment garment)
- FBI-QIT-99 target
- Minimum 6 rounds of ammunition
- Shot timer
Range Setup
Setup
Stand facing the FBI-QIT-99 target at 3 yards. Pistol loaded and holstered under a concealment garment. Hands relaxed at your sides. Shot timer set.
Scoring
Any hit inside the scored area of the FBI-QIT-99 silhouette counts as 1 point (max 6). Hits in the dashed-line exclusion zone at the top of the target do not count. This stage contributes to the overall 50-round qualification score — passing requires 40/50 (80%).
Tips
Pre-position your support hand at center chest during the strong hand string — this cuts the transition time in half. Grip pressure matters more than sight picture at 3 yards.
Progression
Practice strong hand and support hand shooting separately before combining them. Start without a time limit, then work down to 6 seconds. A common benchmark: 6 hits in under 5 seconds.