Frequently Asked Questions about Texas Concealed Handguns

Q: How do I get a concealed handgun license application?
A: You may pick up an application request card from most DPS offices or gun or sporting goods stores, fill it out and mail it to the DPS.

Q: What happens next?
A: Unless DPS determines that you aren't qualified, you will receive the full application packet in the mail.

Q: May I use a photocopy of an application packet, or must I get one from DPS?
A: Application packets must come from the DPS.

Q: How much will a concealed handgun license cost?
A: For most Texans, the license will cost $140. But for senior citizens or indigent Texans, the cost is only $70. For active/honorably retired peace officers or active/retired judicial officers, the cost is $25. For elected felony prosecuting attorneys, fee is waived.

Q: How poor do you have to be to be considered indigent?
A: According to federal poverty guidelines, you may be considered indigent if you are single and you earn $7,470 per year or less. The maximum income for indigence classification is $25,390 for a family of eight.

Q: Can the license fee be waived in any instance?
A: Yes. State felony prosecutors are exempt from license fees.

Q: Will a license from my home state be recognized under the reciprocal license provision?
A: The DPS will evaluate each state's handgun licensing program to determine whether statutory reciprocity requirements are met. Laws in those states must be at least as stringent as federal eligibility requirements for buying a handgun for reciprocity to be allowed.

Q: If I am licensed in Texas, can I carry my concealed handgun in another state?
A: Your Texas license doesn't allow you to carry a handgun in another state, unless that state recognizes Texas licenses. Contact the state you will be entering to find out if it recognizes Texas concealed handgun licenses.

Q: How can I pay?
A: We will accept cashier's checks or money orders, payable to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Sorry, we can't take personal checks, cash or charge cards.

Q: Can I get my money back if my application is not approved?
A: Sorry, fees are non-refundable. Please make sure you qualify before turning in your application.

Q: Once I send my application in, how soon should I expect to get my license?
A: The department will make every effort to issue your license within 60 days or notify you that you did not meet the qualifications. If your application is incomplete or some other problem arises, processing may take up to 180 days.

Q: I retired from being a peace officer several years ago when this law was not in effect. Can I be "grand- fathered" and allowed to pay the $25 fee and waive the proficiency test?
A: Yes. Under an amendment to the statute, you may apply at any time after retirement. However, you must demonstrate proficiency through your agency before applying and must demonstrate proficiency annually through your agency after you receive the license.

Q: If I am a legal resident alien, can I get a license?
A: Under federal law, aliens who have been admitted to the U.S. under a non-immigrant visa are not qualified to purchase a handgun and therefore do not qualify for a license. As long as you were not admitted under a non-immigrant visa and are a legal resident of Texas, you may qualify.

Q: If I am in the military and was just transferred here, can I get a concealed handgun license?
A: If you intend to be a Texas resident, you may qualify after you have been here for six months.

Q: How can I prove my Texas residency?
A: Texas driver licenses or identification cards, voter registration cards, utility bill stubs and other official documents listing your address may be used to establish Texas residency.

Q: I spend a lot of time in Texas, but don't live here year round. Can I get a license?
A: A new revision to the law allows people who live in states that don't issue concealed handgun licenses to apply for Texas licenses. Additional fees may be charged to out-of-state applicants to cover the cost of conducting background checks in other states. If you live in a state that issues concealed handgun licenses, check to see if a reciprocity agreement is in place. Also, if you have a permanent residence in Texas and a Texas driver license or identification card, you may apply for a license even if you do not live here for the entire year. (You must have had the permanent residence for at least six months before applying.)

Q: If I move to another state, do I have to turn in my license to DPS?
A: Maybe. If you plan to keep your Texas residency (your driver license, permanent address, voter registration, etc.), you may keep your license. Students frequently attend universities in other states but maintain their Texas residency. If you do move out of state and get a new driver license there, or intend to make it your residence, the move probably will be viewed as permanent and you may be expected to turn in your license.

Q: Can others find out if I am licensed to carry a concealed handgun?
A: Yes. Information may be provided about specific, named individuals as a part of the public record.

Q: How long will my license be valid?
A: Permits are issued for four year terms.

Q: If I am only 20 years old, can I take the proficiency class and still get a license when I turn 21?
A: It's best not to take the course more than six months before your 21st birthday so that your proficiency certificate is current. Your application may not be turned in to the DPS until your 21st birthday.

Q: Can an affidavit from my application packet be notarized in a county other than the one where I live?
A: Yes. DPS will accept affidavits as long as they are notarized in Texas. Applicants who qualify for non-resident licenses may have their packets notarized in their state of residence.

Q: If I move, how do I change the address on my license?
A: You may contact the DPS Concealed Handgun Section to receive a change of address form, or you may send a letter including your full name, CHL number, old address and new address and a cashier's check or money order for $25. You may call 1-800-224-5744 or write Texas Department of Public Safety Concealed Handgun Licensing Section, P.O. Box 15888, Austin, Texas, 78761-5888.

Q: Will the state limit the number of handgun instructors or license holders?
A: No. 

Q: What are the requirements for obtaining a license?
A: The concealed handgun law sets out a number of qualifications that must be met. Your application packet will list them in detail. For example, you must be a legal resident of Texas and you must be qualified to purchase a handgun under all state and federal laws. A number of factors may disqualify you from obtaining a license, such as: felony convictions and some misdemeanor convictions, including charges that resulted in probation or deferred adjudication, pending criminal charges chemical or alcohol dependency, certain types of psychological diagnoses, protective or restraining orders, defaults on taxes, governmental fees, student loans or child support.

The application packet also will include information about materials you need to return with your application packet. These include: two recent color passport photos, two sets of fingerprints taken by a law enforcement agency employee, a copy of your Texas driver license or identification card, and a notification of completion form (TR 100) from a DPS-authorized handgun course.

After receiving completed application packets, the DPS will conduct extensive background checks of juvenile records for the previous 10 years and all adult records.

Q: What if my fingerprints are smudged? What happens if my print card is rejected by the DPS or FBI?
A: The fingerprint cards will be returned to the individual. New prints will need to be taken and submitted to the DPS.

Q: How much will fingerprinting cost?
A: The Legislature has authorized law enforcement agencies to charge $10 for this service. The DPS is among the agencies charging this fee.

Q: I know someone who I feel has a psychological problem and is unfit to carry any kind of firearm. He/she has applied for a license. Who should I speak to about my concerns?
A: You may send a signed, notarized letter to DPS and officers will investigate the allegation.

Q: If I was convicted of DWI two years ago, can I still get a concealed handgun license?
A: No. DWI is at least a Class B misdemeanor, and you are ineligible for a license for five years after a conviction for a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or disorderly conduct. This includes cases that were dismissed after you completed probation or deferred adjudication. If you have been convicted of two or more alcohol or drug-related offenses within the last 10 years, you may not be eligible.

Q: I was arrested four years ago for unlawfully carrying a weapon and the judge gave me deferred adjudication. Is this considered a conviction even though the charges eventually were dismissed?
A: Yes. The concealed gun law states that deferred adjudication will be treated as a conviction.

Q: If a judge ruled that I was delinquent on my child support in 1992, but I have since worked out an arrangement with the Attorney General's office to pay off the debt, can I get a license?
A: Yes. If you have a payment plan with a government agency for back taxes or child support and the agency sends DPS a clearance letter, you may apply. Include a copy of the agreement and letter with your application materials. The concealed handgun law was designed to encourage those who have made no effort whatsoever to pay what they owe.

Q: If I spent time in a psychiatric care facility in the 1980s, will I be disqualified?
A: Qualification for a concealed handgun license depends on your current diagnosis. Past psychiatric treatment wouldn't necessarily disqualify you. You should attach a letter from a licensed psychiatrist stating that your "condition is in remission and is not reasonably likely to develop at a future time," as the concealed handgun law states.

Q: If I was arrested for a crime but the charges were dismissed, will my application be rejected?
A: No. Dismissals will not be grounds for denial, as long as you weren't placed on probation or deferred adjudication prior to the dismissal.

Q: Do you have to meet all of the federal Brady Law requirements to get a license in Texas?
A: Yes. Texas law requires you to meet all state and federal laws regarding handgun possession.

Q: Should I list all arrests on my application even if the cases were dismissed or I was found not guilty?
A: Yes. If your criminal history background check indicates an arrest but does not reveal a final disposition, DPS might have to check local records which is time consuming and could significantly delay your application. Always indicate the year, the offense, the location, the outcome and preferably the level of the offense, such as felony, Class B misdemeanor, etc. Attaching copies of the dispositions should help DPS process your application more quickly. Include information on cases that resulted in probation or deferred adjudication.

Q: I've heard that I will have to take a special class to get a license. Is this true?
A: Yes. You must take a 10- to 15-hour class taught by a DPS-certified instructor. The notification of completion form (TR 100) you receive from the instructor must be sent to the DPS with your other application materials.

Q: How can I find out if someone is a certified handgun instructor?
A: Updated lists will be available at most DPS offices and by calling 512-424-7293 or 424-7294 or 1- 800-224-5744.

Q: Can I take the handgun training class at the DPS?
A: The DPS only provides training for instructors.

Q: How much do the training classes cost?
A: The fee for DPS firearm instructor training is $100. The DPS has no control over how much instructors charge the general public for classes.

Q: What control does the DPS have over firearms instructors?
A: We certify them and can review their records and monitor their classes to make sure they are using the required curriculum.

Q: What if I take a class from an instructor whose certificate was revoked. Is my proficiency certificate still good?
A: If you took the class before the instructor's certificate was revoked, then your proficiency certificate should still be valid.

Q: Will I need to have a gun before I begin my training class?
A: Some instructors may require you to use your own gun during the firing range portion of instruction and testing. However, others may provide guns for you to use. The permit licenses you, not a specific gun.

Q: Are police officers, retired police officers, judicial officers, ex-DPS or retired DPS officers required to take the handgun course for proficiency certification, or are they exempt?
A: Retired law enforcement officers are exempt from taking the handgun proficiency course. However, they must demonstrate weapons proficiency annually through a law enforcement agency. Active, commissioned peace officers also are exempt from taking the proficiency course. State and federal judicial officers must take an abbreviated course covering handgun proficiency and safe storage.

Q: If a student doesn't pass the DPS-certified course, must the instructor return the applicant's money?
A: The DPS can't require the money to be returned.

Q: Will all classroom tests be in English only?
A: The law doesn't require classes to be offered in any language other than English. However, classes may be offered in other languages as long as instructors teach key English phrases such as "I have a handgun" and "May I see your concealed handgun license?"

Q: Can I start carrying a concealed handgun as soon as I receive my license in the mail?
A: Yes.

Q: What does concealed mean? Can't I carry my handgun in plain view?
A: No. The weapon can't be visible, and its presence can't be discernible through ordinary observation.

Q: Where can I not take my handgun?
A: Handguns and other weapons can not be carried at schools or on school buses, at polling places, in courts and court offices, at racetracks and at secured airport areas. The law also specifically prohibits handguns from businesses where alcohol is sold if more than half of their revenue is from the sale of alcohol for on-premises consumption, and from locations where high school, college or professional sporting events are taking place. You may not carry handguns in hospitals or nursing homes, amusement parks, places of worship or at government meetings if signs are posted prohibiting them. Businesses also may post signs prohibiting handguns on their premises based on criminal trespass laws.

Q: Can I carry a handgun when I am drinking?
A: Under the concealed handgun law, it is illegal to carry a handgun if you are intoxicated. The best idea is to leave your weapon at home if you intend to consume any alcoholic beverages.

Q: Do police officers have the right to disarm me?
A: Yes. Any time an officer feels a safety risk exists, he or she may disarm you.

Q: Do private property owners have the right to exclude license holders from their property?
A: Yes. Private property owners may give notice excluding license holders from carrying concealed handguns. If you carry a concealed handgun on posted property, you can be charged with criminal trespass by a license holder. The charge is a Class A misdemeanor, and if you are convicted, your license will be revoked.

Q: If I don't want guns in my business, what type of signs should I post?
A: If you want to prohibit license holders from carrying concealed handguns on your property, state law requires you to post a sign that says: "Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by holder of license to carry a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (concealed handgun law), may not enter this property with a concealed handgun." The sign must be written in both English and Spanish in contrasting block letters at least one inch in height, and must be displayed in a conspicuous manner clearly visible to the public.

Q: If I drive to a shopping mall that does not permit handguns, will I be allowed to park in the parking lot and leave my gun in the car?
A: If the parking lot is not posted with the sign described above, handguns may be left in cars.

Q: Can I still carry a handgun without a permit while traveling?
A: Yes. The concealed handgun law augments existing state weapons laws but does not replace them. The offense of unlawfully carrying a weapon does not apply if you are traveling.

Q: Can I carry my handgun to a shooting range without a license?
A: Yes, if you are traveling directly to the range and back home.

Q: If my handgun is on the seat beside me, am I still considered to be "carrying?" 
A: Yes. The statute refers to carrying a gun "on or about" your person. Texas courts generally have considered this to include any gun within your reach, including one stored in your glove compartment.

Q: If I am not carrying my handgun, must I still carry my license?
A: No. Under the concealed handgun law, you are only required to have your license with you whenever you are carrying your handgun.

Q: What type of gun will I be able to carry?
A: You may carry any type of legal, concealed handgun you are qualified to use. If you wish to carry a semi-automatic weapon, you must complete your firing range test with a semi-automatic. If you do not wish to carry a semi-automatic, you may test with a revolver. You must demonstrate proficiency with a handgun of .32 caliber or above to qualify for a concealed handgun license.

Q: I own a 9mm short, also called a .380. Will my gun be considered a semi-automatic?
A: Yes.

Q: What type of ammunition can I use during my training class?
A: Your certified instructor may select any safe ammunition for use in the training program, but most factory loads should be acceptable.

Q: If licensed, can I carry more than one handgun?
A: The law does not appear to limit the number of guns you may carry.

Q: Do you have to be NRA certified to become an instructor in Texas?
A: No. Anyone may apply.

Q: Can instructors teach anywhere in the state or only in a particular geographic area?
A: They are certified to teach anywhere in Texas.

Q: I have applied to become an instructor. When will I take the class?
A: In most cases, you will be notified of classes several weeks in advance. You will receive notification in the mail along with a card you should return indicating whether you will attend, or whether you are still interested in becoming an instructor. Some applicants may be contacted on shorter notice by phone if cancellations occur.

Q: Can instructors use the DPS emblem on their targets?
A: No. The DPS does not endorse any commercial enterprise, and law prohibits the unauthorized use of the DPS name or insignia.

Q: What are the specifications for gun ranges? I have applied to take the instructor's class, but meanwhile, I would like to start building/renovating my range to meet DPS specifications.
A: The DPS will look at and register ranges, but will not write specifications for them. However, each range must be designed for at least a 15-yard shooting distance, as required by law.

Q: What is the classroom and gun range curriculum for the school?
A: Instructor applicants will receive a lesson plan as a part of their DPS training.

Q: Can I get a copy of the instructor certification test?
A: No.

BACK TO TOP