Texas permit process

How To Get Your Texas Concealed Carry Permit

Whether you're new to owning a firearm or have had a gun for home defense for years, getting a concealed handgun permit may seem daunting. It doesn't have to be. There are many reasons and ways to carry a concealed weapon, but the first step is knowing Texas's concealed carry laws. Applying for a LTC varies by state.

Read about the process for getting a Texas License to Carry below.

Steps To Get A Texas Concealed Carry Permit

1

COMPLETE classroom training.

Pass the written exam and pass a shooting proficiency demonstration.

2

DOWNLOAD the application form or SUBMIT an online application.

3

SCHEDULE an appointment for fingerprinting. All fingerprints must be submitted through L-1 Enrollment Services.

4

SUBMIT the Certificate of Training to the Department of Public Safety to complete the online application.

OR MAIL your application to:

Texas Department of Public Safety

Concealed Handgun — MSC 0245

P.O. Box 4087

Austin, TX 78773-0001

5

CHECK YOUR MAILBOX

You will be notified by mail, if your application has been approved.

Find a CCW Training Class

What Are the Firearms Training Requirements in Texas?

4-6 HOURS OF CLASSROOM OR ONLINE INSTRUCTION IN:

  • Laws that relate to weapons and to the use of deadly force
  • Handgun use and safety, including use of restraint holsters and methods for secure carrying of openly carried handguns
  • Non-violent dispute resolution
  • Proper storage practices for handguns, including practices that eliminate the possibility of accidental injury to a child
  • The range instruction part of the course must include an actual demonstration by the applicant of the applicant’s ability to safely and proficiently use the applicable category of handgun. An applicant may not be certified unless he or she demonstrates, at a minimum, the degree of proficiency that is required to effectively operate a handgun


THE SHOOTING TEST REQUIRES 50 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION FIRED AT THREE DISTANCES:

  • 3 yards – 20 rounds fired
  • 7 yards – 20 rounds fired
  • 15 yards – 10 rounds fired

The proficiency examination must also include a written (or online portal) test concerning the subjects listed above, as well as the physical demonstration of proficiency in the use and safety procedures of one or more handguns and in handgun safety procedures.

What Are the Texas License to Carry a Handgun Requirements?

An applicant must:

  • Be a legal resident of Texas for 6 months or have relocated with the intent to establish residency in the state;
  • A federal judge ruled that 18 to 20 year olds must be allowed to carry a handgun outside the home in Texas. He allowed this to be done by letting them get a Texas license to carry and Texas DPS will now issue a Texas LTC to anyone that is at least 18 years old, or 18 and either:
    •  A member or veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves or National Guard or discharged under honorable conditions; or
    • As of September 1, 2021, be protected under certain court orders related to family violence;
  • Meet training requirements;
  • Have not been convicted of a felony;
  • Have not been charged with the commission of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or equivalent offense, or of an offense under Section 42.01, Penal Code, or equivalent offense, or of a felony under an information or indictment;
  • Not be a fugitive from justice for a felony or a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or equivalent offense;
  • Not be chemically dependent;
  • Be capable of exercising sound judgment with respect to the proper use and storage of a handgun;
  • Not, in the 5 years preceding the date of application, have been convicted of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or equivalent offense or of an offense under Section 42.01, Penal Code, or equivalent offense;
  • Be fully qualified under applicable federal and state law to purchase a handgun;
  • Not have been finally determined to be delinquent in making a child support payment administered or collected by the attorney general;
  • Not have been finally determined to be delinquent in the payment of a tax or other money collected by the comptroller, the tax collector of a political subdivision of the state or any agency or subdivision of the state;
  • Not be currently restricted under a court protective order or subject to a restraining order affecting the spousal relationship, other than a restraining order solely affecting property interests;
  • Not, in the 10 years preceding the date of application, have been adjudicated as having engaged in delinquent conduct violating a penal law of the grade of felony; 
  • Not have made any material misrepresentation, or failed to disclose any material fact, in an application submitted pursuant to Section 411.174; and
  • Meet federal law requirements.

*Consult with an attorney if you have any questions about your eligibility. If you don’t have an attorney, you can find one by contacting the State Bar of Texas.

What are the Fees and Terms?

Valid for Five Years from Date of Issue

60 Days to Process & Deliver

$25 for initial licenses & renewals for honorably discharged military vets

$50 for standard initial licenses & renewals

Where Can I Find Application Forms?

What Concealed Carry Permit Options Exist Based on Residency?

Non-Resident Concealed Carry Licenses:

Out-of-state residents must supply a color copy, front and back, of a state driver’s license or ID card and a proficiency certificate not greater than 2 years old from a course approved by the Texas Dept. of Public Safety. Applications may be submitted online or via mail. 

Residency Changes:

Moving to Texas and interested in applying for a resident license? How soon can you apply?Texas issues resident and non-resident licenses, so you can apply for your license at any time. In order to apply for a resident license, you need to be a legal resident of Texas for six months or have relocated with the intent to establish residency in the state.

Moving from Texas and have a Texas resident license? Does that license transfer to your new state? Is there a grace period during which your Texas license remains valid?If a person with a Texas license to carry establishes residency in another state, the license is valid until it expires provided he or she submits the above referenced name/address change form.

How Do I Renew My Concealed Carry Permit in Texas?

You will usually be notified about 6 months before your license expires to renew it. Handgun license renewals can be submitted 6 months prior to the expiration date of the license. Renewals can be made up to 12 months after the expiration date of license. Renewal applications made after 12 months from the expiry date will be treated as a new application.

1

DOWNLOAD the application form or SUBMIT an online application.

2

COMPLETE the application and PAY the fee.

3

CHECK YOUR MAILBOX 

You will be notified by mail if your application has been approved.

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Do Your Homework!

Make sure you understand Texas Gun Laws and Texas concealed carry reciprocity with other states.