The main function of these courses is to teach you how to properly and safely operated firearms. They will go over the basics of the gun as well as the laws in your state. You will be taught how to safely load, handle, and shoot a gun. Transportation of the gun will also be taught in this course.
Know if you are eligible to concealed carry
Before you even take a course to get a concealed carry license, you should know if you are eligible to concealed carry. Some states have stringent laws about who can and who can’t obtain a permit, while others are much laxer. Regardless, you must fulfill the requirements of both the Federal government and the State government in which you are seeking to obtain a permit to obtain one.
What are the requirements from the Federal Government?
When you are looking into getting a permit to conceal carry your weapon, you first must make sure you are not prohibited from obtaining a permit. According to the “Federal Gun Control Act of 1968” and the “Federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997,” it is illegal for any person who meets any of these characteristics to transport, ship, receive, or possess firearms or ammunition. People who are on this prohibited list cannot obtain a concealed carry permit.
- Anyone who is adjudicated as a mental defective or who has been committed to a mental institution
- Military veterans discharged under dishonorable conditions
- Aliens illegally in the U.S.
- Anyone who is convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence
- Fugitives from justice
- Anyone who has been convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding 1 year
- Anyone who has renounced U.S. citizenship
- Anyone subject to a court order that restrains them from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child of such intimate partner (restraining order)
- Anyone who is an unlawful user of or are addicted to narcotics or any other controlled substances
As you can see from the bottom bullet point on this list, those who are users or addicted to substances are not allowed to purchase a firearm or ammunition. This also includes marijuana. Even if it is legal in your state, the federal government considers any user of marijuana an unlawful user of a controlled substance. You cannot obtain a concealed carry permit when you cannot even purchase a gun or bullets. If a marijuana user were to answer “no” on the form when asked if they use any controlled substances, this is considered a federal crime.
Click here to see the ATF list of prohibited persons.
What are the State requirements?
As mentioned previously, each state has its own rules and requirements for individuals wanting to obtain a concealed carry permit. Below is a list of some of the requirements determined by individual states.
Before looking at the requirements, know that there are two different classifications which states are classified under, “shall-issue” and “may-issue”. If you live in a “shall-issue” state, after you have completed all the requirements to receive your concealed carry permit, the state will issue the permit to you. In a “may-issue” state, you may be declined. These declines are done case-by-case.
| State | Requirements Specific to State (must also meet federal requirements) | Classification | Permit-less Concealed Carry? |
| Alabama | Must be 18 years or older | Shall-issue | No |
| Alaska | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | Yes, 21 years or older |
| Arizona | Must be 21 years or older (19 for military) Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | Yes, 21 years or older |
| Arkansas | Must be 21 years or older (18 for military) Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | Yes, 18 years or older |
| California | Must be 18 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | May-issue | No |
| Colorado | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | No |
| Connecticut | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | May-issue | No |
| Delaware | Must publish intent to concealed carry in newspaper Must have 5 references from your county Must complete courses required by the state | May-issue | No |
| Florida | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | No |
| Georgia | Must be 21 years or older | Shall-issue | No |
| Hawaii | Must be 21 years or older Must show a reasonable fear of injury or damage to property Must complete courses required by the state | May-issue | No |
| Idaho | Must be 18 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | Yes, 18 years or older |
| Illinois | Must be 21 years or older Must complete 16 hours of courses required by the state | Shall-issue | No |
| Indiana | Must be 18 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | No |
| Iowa | Must be 21 years or older for a non-professional license, 18 years or older for a professional license Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | Yes, 21 years or older (as of July 1, 2021) |
| Kansas | Must be 18 years or older (as of July 1st, 2021) Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | Yes, 18 years or older |
| Kentucky | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | Yes, 21 years or older |
| Louisiana | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | No |
| Maine | Must be 18 years old Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | Yes, 21 years or older |
| Maryland | Must be 18 years or older Have a good reason to need a concealed carry permit Must complete courses required by the state | May-issue | No |
| Massachusetts | Must provide a detailed reason for request of permit Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | May-issue | No |
| Michigan | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | No |
| Minnesota | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | No |
| Mississippi (start here) | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | Yes, 18 years or older |
| Missouri | Must be 19 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | Yes, |
| Montana | Must be 18 years or older No course required but must demonstrate familiarity with a firearm. | Shall-issue | Yes, 18 years or older |
| Nebraska | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | No |
| Nevada | Must be 21 years or older (18 for military) Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | No |
| New Hampshire | Must be 18 years or older | Shall-issue | Yes, 18 years or older |
| New Jersey | Must demonstrate necessity due to danger Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | May-issue | No |
| New Mexico | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | No |
| New York | Must be 21 years or older (any age for honorably discharged members of the military) To concealed carry in NYC, your license must be validated by the city. | May-issue | No |
| North Carolina | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | No |
| North Dakota | Must pass a written exam Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | Yes, if you have been a resident for at least 30 days (starting August 1, 2021) |
| Ohio | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | No |
| Oklahoma | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | Yes, 21 years or older |
| Oregon | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | No |
| Pennsylvania | Must be 21 years or older | Shall-issue | No |
| Rhode Island | Must demonstrate the need for a CCL Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | May-issue | No |
| South Carolina | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | No |
| South Dakota | Must be 18 years old Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | Yes, 18 years or older |
| Tennessee | Must be 21 years or older (18 for the military) Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | Yes, 21 years or older (as of July 1, 2021) |
| Texas | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | No |
| Utah | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | Yes, 21 years or older |
| Vermont | Vermont does not issue Concealed Carry Permits | Shall-issue | Yes, 16 years or older |
| Virginia | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | No |
| Washington | Must be 21 years or older | Shall-issue | No |
| West Virginia | Must be 18 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | Yes, 21 years or older |
| Wisconsin | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | No |
| Wyoming | Must be 21 years or older Must complete courses required by the state | Shall-issue | Yes, 21 years or older |
Some states don’t require a permit for concealed carry
Many states now do not require permits to legally concealed carry. In the table above, we included which states allow permit-less concealed carry.
Some states allow you to take the course online
In today’s era of internet dominance, concealed carry classes are not exempt from the online treatment.
There are some states that currently allow you to take your concealed carry training 100% online, and some allow you to take part of the course online but still require a live fire portion.
States that allow you to take the course completely online include:
- Florida
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Michigan
- Montana
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
While the states that allow you to take part of your training online include:
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- New Mexico
- Ohio
Most Concealed Carry courses take 1-8 hours
Some states have a required amount of training that people must go through to get their permit, but in states that don’t, it depends greatly on your instructor. There are different subjects which they are required to go over, and it depends on how in-depth the instructor chooses to go. You can expect the concealed handgun course to be 1-4 hours long for states that don’t require a set amount of time.
States that do require a certain amount of training can require anywhere between 5-16 hours of training.
Concealed Carry classes cost from $25-$200
The price for the class will vary by state and by distribution method.
If your state allows them, online classes cost less than in person classes, averaging around $40 with $20 on the low end and $65 on the higher end.
In person classes vary from $100 all the way up to $400 depending on how much training the state requires.
Take notes during class on your state’s laws
In your state, there may be areas where you are not allowed to conceal carry, even if you have a license. The concealed carry course you take will explain the places you can’t concealed carry and tell you where you are allowed to bring your gun. Taking notes and memorizing these laws will help you to not get in trouble which could have been prevented by knowing your state’s laws.
Additionally, some concealed carry permits are only valid in certain other states. These “reciprocity laws” will also be explained to you in the course.
Most states require live shooting for the course
There are quite a few states which require a live shoot during the course. You should contact your instructor before showing up to the class to check with them if you are required to bring your handgun.
Bring a gun, a holster, and safety equipment
If the course requires live shooting, make sure to bring your own gun. You’ll want to bring your gun, a holster, ammo, and safety equipment such as gloves, eye protection, ear protection, and wear weather-appropriate clothing.
Some instructors will bring ammo for you to purchase if you don’t have any ammo or you run out, but do be aware that the ammo they sell you will normally be marked up in price.
Taking the course doesn’t mean you’ll get a permit
While fulfilling the requirements of states that are “Shall-Issue” will generally get you your permit, in states that are “May-Issue” fulfilling the requirements of obtaining a concealed carry license does not guarantee that you will get your permit. They take issuing permits on a case-by-case basis, and if they don’t think you need a permit they have the right to not issue one.
Even still, some states that are “Shall-Issue” require a background check, and if you fail the background check you won’t get your permit even if you have already completed the training.
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