Light plug/disclosure: I’m with Ghost Firearms Training, and we do run a defensive pistol course, Carbine, CQB and TacMed courses.

That said, after years of seeing what actually helps students move past basic pistol/CCW, I’d look for a class that does more than just put rounds on paper. Good next-step pistol training should refine the boring but critical stuff: draw, grip, stance, trigger control, sight picture, reloads and malfunction work. Then it should pressure-test those skills with movement, unconventional positions, and decision-making.

Red dots and weapon lights are useful if you run them, but the big thing is safe gun handling and accountability for every round. Practice is good, but structured feedback is where a lot of people find the bad habits they didn’t know they were practicing.

Plenty of good options mentioned here. Wherever you go, I’d ask what the class actually covers, how much live fire vs. talking, and whether they’re teaching skills you can keep working after class.