Texas Handgun License to Carry Class Information
Background: To obtain a License to Carry in the State of Texas you must complete the 4 to 6 hour course and pass a 25 question exam **. The student must then be able to demonstrate safe handling and use of the firearm by shooting a course of fire as prescribed by the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS). The student must score a minimum 175 out of a possible 250 points shooting a B-27 standard NRA Police Pistol qualification target at 3, 7 and 15 yards. Upon successful completion of the course, the student receives a certificate (LTC-100) that must be submitted to the state with their application, payment of the current fees, and undergo a complete background check for the state to issue a license.
The classroom knowledge portion of the course includes the following topics as outlined by the Texas Department of Public Safety:
The classroom knowledge portion of the course can be taken online from a qualified online course provider or in person from a qualified instructor, both of which must be certified by the Texas Department of Public Safety. We have partnered with HandgunLicense.com as the online provider we recommend using. Their online course is easy to follow and understand, and they take care of you each step of the way.
Regardless, all new applicants must take and pass a handgun proficiency exam demonstrating the applicants ability to safely and proficiently use a handgun. If the student has taken the classroom knowledge portion online, they must take range instruction of not less than 1 hour, nor more than 2 hours on the safe and proficient use of a handgun prior to taking the handgun proficiency demonstration exam. The handgun proficiency exam must be taken in person within the State of Texas from a certified instructor. Click here to see a list of certified instructors.
Click here to see the TxDPS handgun licensing webpage for more detailed information.
Student Minimum Requirements: State law requires all students must meet the following requirements:
Required Skill Level: Please note that standard LTC course does not teach you how to shoot or operate a handgun and simply reviews handgun use and safety. If you do not know how to safely and properly shoot your handgun or have little experience in shooting, we recommend that you take the LTC Basic Pistol Skills course. This course also is a great way to brush up your skills.
What We Offer: We offer students several options as follows:
LTC Online Class: You will be referred to an affiliate online provider that is certified by the Texas Department of Public Safety. You will register and pay with the online provider. Once you complete the online class, the online provider will provide you willl a LTC-101 course completion certificate. You will then register with us forand bring that certificate with you to our LTC Basic Pistol Skills class for range instruction on the safe and proficient use of a handgun. At the end of the LTC Basic Pistol Skills class you will shoot the handgun proficiency exam course of fire, and upon successful completion the instructor will sign and certify your LTC-101 certificate that you will then submit to the TxDPS with you application.
LTC Basic Pistol Skills: This class meets the requirement of Texas Government Code 411.188. This live in-person course begins at 2:30 PM and lasts between 1.5 and 2 hours. The purpose is to teach the safe use and basic fundamentals of marksmanship for handguns. Students will be able to take the handgun proficiency exam at the end of the class and receive either their LTC-100 certificate range sign-off or the LTC-101 range sign-off.
T1he LTC Full Class: Take the LTC class in person from our instructors. Our classes generally runs 4-5 hours, plus range qualification. Classes start at 8:00 AM and usually finish by 2:30 PM depending upon the number of students and prior handgun experience. Course fee includes all classroom material, targets, and range fees. Students will receive the LTC-100 course completion certificate required by the Texas Department of Public Safety to become licensed to carry, upon successful completion of both the classroom and range proficiency examinations.
LTC Full Class Plus Basic Pistol Skills: This class combines both the LTC Full Class and the LTC Basic Pistol Skills class and is applicable to students who do not have experience in shooting handguns or need to brush up on their skills. I see about 50% of all students taking the LTC Full Class could really benefit from taking this combination course. This class begins at 8:00 AM and will finish somewhere around 5:00 PM.
To help you get the most out of your class and have everything you need to be successful, we recommend the following
Upon successful completion of both the classroom and range portions of the LTC Course, you will be ready to apply for your handgun license from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Click Here to start your online application. You will need to submit your LTC-100 course completion certificate (preferably electronically), pay the required fee, and then get fingerprinted. All fingerprinting is done digitally at IdentoGo. You will need to make an appointment, pay the required fee and visit the local office. There are office located in Port Arthur and one in Silsbee. Click here to make your appointment at the nearest IdentoGOuenroll.identogo.com/.
It is common for our students to comment that they learned a lot more in our class than what they were anticipating and that the experience exceeded their expectations. This is particularly interesting when such comments come from students who had previously attended a class elsewhere but either failed to apply for their license or their license had expired and they had to take the class again. Why do they say that? We go beyond the minimum curriculum and give you real world data and examples that are relative to today's threat environment, helping you make better choices concerning the personal protection of you and your family. So try us and see for yourself. Be prepared to learn.
Minimum class size is 6 students, otherwise we reserve the right to cancel the class and place students in the next scheduled class. In such cases, students may request a refund if they are unable to make the next scheduled class.
** The 25 question exam can be administered orally for those with reading challenges. Just speak to the instructor who will be glad to help you.
The classroom knowledge portion of the course includes the following topics as outlined by the Texas Department of Public Safety:
- Basic handgun use and safety including use of restraint holsters for open carry;
- Safe gun storage with the view to prevent access by a child;
- Non-violent dispute resolution;
- Texas laws pertaining to use of force as a defense, licensing requirements and laws regulating license holders.
The classroom knowledge portion of the course can be taken online from a qualified online course provider or in person from a qualified instructor, both of which must be certified by the Texas Department of Public Safety. We have partnered with HandgunLicense.com as the online provider we recommend using. Their online course is easy to follow and understand, and they take care of you each step of the way.
Regardless, all new applicants must take and pass a handgun proficiency exam demonstrating the applicants ability to safely and proficiently use a handgun. If the student has taken the classroom knowledge portion online, they must take range instruction of not less than 1 hour, nor more than 2 hours on the safe and proficient use of a handgun prior to taking the handgun proficiency demonstration exam. The handgun proficiency exam must be taken in person within the State of Texas from a certified instructor. Click here to see a list of certified instructors.
Click here to see the TxDPS handgun licensing webpage for more detailed information.
Student Minimum Requirements: State law requires all students must meet the following requirements:
- at least 21 yrs of age;
- not convicted of a felony nor charged with a felony, Class A or B misdemeanor;
- not a chemically dependent person
- is capable of exercising sound judgement;
- fully qualified under applicable federal and state law to purchase a handgun;
- not delinquent in making child support payment administered by attorney general;
- not currently under a court protective order;
- in the preceding 10 yrs, not been adjudicated in having been engaged in conduct violating law in the grade of felony.
Required Skill Level: Please note that standard LTC course does not teach you how to shoot or operate a handgun and simply reviews handgun use and safety. If you do not know how to safely and properly shoot your handgun or have little experience in shooting, we recommend that you take the LTC Basic Pistol Skills course. This course also is a great way to brush up your skills.
What We Offer: We offer students several options as follows:
- LTC Online Class
- LTC Basic Pistol Skills
- LTC Full Class
- LTC Full Class Plus Basic Pistol Skills
LTC Online Class: You will be referred to an affiliate online provider that is certified by the Texas Department of Public Safety. You will register and pay with the online provider. Once you complete the online class, the online provider will provide you willl a LTC-101 course completion certificate. You will then register with us forand bring that certificate with you to our LTC Basic Pistol Skills class for range instruction on the safe and proficient use of a handgun. At the end of the LTC Basic Pistol Skills class you will shoot the handgun proficiency exam course of fire, and upon successful completion the instructor will sign and certify your LTC-101 certificate that you will then submit to the TxDPS with you application.
LTC Basic Pistol Skills: This class meets the requirement of Texas Government Code 411.188. This live in-person course begins at 2:30 PM and lasts between 1.5 and 2 hours. The purpose is to teach the safe use and basic fundamentals of marksmanship for handguns. Students will be able to take the handgun proficiency exam at the end of the class and receive either their LTC-100 certificate range sign-off or the LTC-101 range sign-off.
T1he LTC Full Class: Take the LTC class in person from our instructors. Our classes generally runs 4-5 hours, plus range qualification. Classes start at 8:00 AM and usually finish by 2:30 PM depending upon the number of students and prior handgun experience. Course fee includes all classroom material, targets, and range fees. Students will receive the LTC-100 course completion certificate required by the Texas Department of Public Safety to become licensed to carry, upon successful completion of both the classroom and range proficiency examinations.
LTC Full Class Plus Basic Pistol Skills: This class combines both the LTC Full Class and the LTC Basic Pistol Skills class and is applicable to students who do not have experience in shooting handguns or need to brush up on their skills. I see about 50% of all students taking the LTC Full Class could really benefit from taking this combination course. This class begins at 8:00 AM and will finish somewhere around 5:00 PM.
To help you get the most out of your class and have everything you need to be successful, we recommend the following
- Click to download the LTC-16 booklet "Texas License to Carry A Handgun Laws and Selected Statutes 2017-2018" prior to the class and spend a few minutes in review to familiarize yourself with the content. We will be spending about one-third of the class covering the law. Some students will print it out and bring it with them for reference. Others may simply save it to the tablet or smartphone.
- Watch the recommended videos by simply clicking on the "Videos to Watch Before the Class" menu tab at the top of this page. The majority of students taking the LTC class lack much of the knowledge and skills covered in these videos and therefore struggle on the range. It doesn't matter whether you are at a novice, intermediate, or advanced skill level you will benefit from watching.
- Click to download and print out this checklist of items to bring with you to class. Review the checklist carefully and mark each item listed off before you leave to come to the class.
- Click to download the Student Information Sheet. It is an Adobe .pdf form that you may fill out on your computer and email to us, or print it out an fill in the information by hand and bring it with you to the class. The information you provide is kept confidential for our use only to help us better understand our student so that we can focus on delivering content that is relative and important to you.
- Show up for the class on time and have everything that you will need with you when you arrive. Use the checklist for this. Everyone attending wants to get through the course and get home in time to enjoy their weekend. We have a lot of material to cover in a short period of time.
- Show up with a good attitude ready to learn and enjoy the experience.
Upon successful completion of both the classroom and range portions of the LTC Course, you will be ready to apply for your handgun license from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Click Here to start your online application. You will need to submit your LTC-100 course completion certificate (preferably electronically), pay the required fee, and then get fingerprinted. All fingerprinting is done digitally at IdentoGo. You will need to make an appointment, pay the required fee and visit the local office. There are office located in Port Arthur and one in Silsbee. Click here to make your appointment at the nearest IdentoGOuenroll.identogo.com/.
It is common for our students to comment that they learned a lot more in our class than what they were anticipating and that the experience exceeded their expectations. This is particularly interesting when such comments come from students who had previously attended a class elsewhere but either failed to apply for their license or their license had expired and they had to take the class again. Why do they say that? We go beyond the minimum curriculum and give you real world data and examples that are relative to today's threat environment, helping you make better choices concerning the personal protection of you and your family. So try us and see for yourself. Be prepared to learn.
Minimum class size is 6 students, otherwise we reserve the right to cancel the class and place students in the next scheduled class. In such cases, students may request a refund if they are unable to make the next scheduled class.
** The 25 question exam can be administered orally for those with reading challenges. Just speak to the instructor who will be glad to help you.
