Where I worked you had to qualify with your back up/off duty firearm the same as your duty handgun.

Carried a 642/442PC for the most of my career as a second handgun and had to work to be proficient with it, especially at the 25 yard line.

Yes it has a little sting but the trade off was well worth it.

Of course not knowing the OP's time frame of when he carried the Model 38, I still find it concerning that there was no further of a qualification than the 3 yard line. Ah the good old days.