Midwest Defense Institute

Midwest Defense Institute exists because their founders sat through cheap training classes and decided there had to be a better way. Most Minnesota instructors charge prohibitively high fees for CCW and pistol courses. The cheaper options? They cut corners on instruction.

MDI does both: solid training at honest prices.

• •Minnesota Permit to Carry certification
• •NRA Basic Pistol courses
• •Instruction focused on personal protection and self-defense fundamentals

All instructors are NRA certified and maintain skills through continuous training and yearly recertification.

Their model is straightforward: remove the markup, keep the quality. Every class prioritizes a positive, professional, and educational experience. If you're in Minnesota and need CCW certification or foundational pistol training, the cost difference compared to other instructors often covers most or all of the application fees.

State and county employees can verify instructor credentials on their website.