In this guide we will walk you through the exact requirements you must meet to get your Texas concealed carry license including both your eligibility and training requirements. No fluff, no BS, just a straight up honest guide. Keep in that in Texas the name Concealed Handgun License has been legally changed to "Texas License to Carry a Handgun” since May 2014 when the Texas department of public safety officially changed the name to LTC via House Bill 3142.
Texas License to Carry a Handgun Eligibility Requirements
Under state law, the Department of Public Safety must issue a license to carry a handgun if the applicant meets specified qualifications. Texas law provides that a person is eligible for a license to carry a handgun if the person:
- Is at least 18 years of age. Note this is a rule change as of January 2023 by the Texas DPS to allow for 18-20 year olds to now become legal license holders, they simply need to follow the same training requirements to be able to open carry or conceal carry with their handgun legally;
- Is fully qualified under applicable federal and state law to purchase a handgun;
- Has not been convicted of a felony;
- Has not been convicted in the 5 years preceding the date of application of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor, or of a disorderly conduct offense;
- Has not been convicted two or more times within the past 10-year period of an offense of the grade of Class B misdemeanor or greater that involves the use of alcohol or a controlled substance as a statutory element of the offense;
- Is not charged with the commission of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or disorderly conduct, or of a felony under an information or indictment;
- Is not a fugitive from justice for a felony or a Class A or Class B misdemeanor;
- Is not a “chemically dependent person”;
- Is not 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;
- Is not incapable of exercising sound judgment with respect to the proper use and storage of a handgun. (This term is defined narrowly to refer to people who:
- Have been diagnosed by a licensed physician as suffering from a psychiatric disorder or condition that causes or is likely to cause substantial impairment in judgment, mood, perception, impulse control, or intellectual ability;
- Suffer from a diagnosed psychiatric disorder or condition (as described above) that is either in remission but reasonably likely to redevelop at a future time, or requires continuous medical treatment to avoid redevelopment;
- Have been diagnosed by a licensed physician or declared by a court to be incompetent to manage their own affairs;
- Have entered in a criminal proceeding a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.))
- Has not been “finally determined” to be delinquent in making a child support payment administered or collected by the attorney general;
- Has not 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;
- Has not, in the past 10 years, been adjudicated as having engaged in delinquent conduct constituting a felony, and has maintained legal residency status.
- Has not made any material misrepresentation, or failed to disclose any material fact, in an application for a license to carry a concealed handgun.
- Note: Prior to 2021, Texas held a rule that stated in order to be a concealed carry or open carry license holder, a person had to have residency in Texas for 6 months. That is no longer the case, you can apply for a non-resident Texas LTC as long as you complete the handgun shooting proficiency exam on Texas soil.
Texas Concealed Carry handgun Training Requirements
Once you've determined you meet the handgun eligibility requirements, it's time to get started on your Texas license to carry a handgun course work which will cover open carry and concealed carry of a handgun, handgun laws & penal codes, regulations, use of force, threat de-escalation, handgun storage and safety. This is a list of all the required steps to complete your handgun training and submit your application for your firearm permit. Each item in the the list will link you to a detailed guide on how to complete the step properly the first time without having to search the internet for answers.
- Complete the DPS approved online concealed carry course.
- Compete the in person shooting proficiency exam.
- Complete your application on the DPS website.
- Have your fingerprints taken at a local Identogo office.
- Upload your DPS LTC-104 proof of training document we give you to the DPS website.
Thats it! Keep in mind these steps are all really short, the online LTC course is 4 hours, but self paces so you can come and go as you need. The shooting exam is only an hour in person. The dps application takes about 5-10 minutes. The fingerprints take about 5 minutes, and uploading your documents take about 2 minutes.
Once all of that is submitted and completed the DPS will mail you your official License to Carry in the mail within about 4 weeks. They do have up to 60 days, but they average about 30 days. Once you have your license you can legally open carry or concealed carry.
Conclusion
You've now got the exact instructions to get your License to Carry in Texas. If you follow these exact steps and you meet the eligibility requirements, you should have zero issues getting your license. Good luck and feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions.
To further assist you on this journey, here are some frequently asked questions that might guide you through specific aspects of the Texas concealed carry requirements:
Frequently Ask Questions for Handgun Licensing
How will I know if I'm approved for my license to carry?
You will get your license in the mail, that is the quickest you will know if you are approved. The LTC will be mailed to you in 15-60 days. Average is 30 days.
How will i know if I was denied my license to carry?
You will get a letter in the mail within 60 days explaining why you were denied a license to carry.
How will I know if I submitted something incorrectly in my application?
The DPS will email you as soon as they find something wrong with your application. Please follow our instructions exactly to avoid this from happening. If you submit something incorrectly or forget to submit something it can severely delay your application processing time.
How much is the LTC application fee?
$40 for civilians, certain discounts will apply to Armed Forces, Veterans, and First Responders.
Are Active Duty and Vets exempt from the Texas LTC shooting proficiency demonstration?
Active duty and veterans, who were honorably discharged within the last 10 years, that can provide a copy of their range qualification scores from their service time that show either handgun or rifle qualification, can use that to exempt themselves from the shooting proficiency exam.
