Texas License to Carry: Cost, Requirements and Timeline
The short answer: the Texas License to Carry costs $40 in state fees ($25 for veterans, $0 for active military), plus your class and fingerprinting. You need to be 21 (with some exceptions for military and veterans), complete 4–6 hours of classroom training (which can be online) plus range instruction, and pass a written exam and a shooting proficiency test. Then you apply through DPS’s RSD Connect system, and DPS has 60 days to act. Your first license lasts about four to five years.
Texas LTC cost: state fees
| Applicant | Original license | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $40 | $40 |
| Age 60 or older | $40 | $35 |
| Veteran | $25 ($0 if discharged within the past year) | $25 |
| Active military, Reserve, Guard or State Guard | $0 | $0 |
| Active Texas peace officers, jailers and TDCJ correctional officers | $0 | $0 |
Fees are from the DPS LTC fee schedule. Fingerprinting is a separate charge paid to DPS’s fingerprinting vendor. On top of that comes your training, which varies by instructor.
Who can get a Texas LTC
- Age 21, or 18–20 if you’re serving in or honorably discharged from the U.S. armed forces, Reserve or National Guard, or if you’re protected by an active protective order. A 2022 federal court ruling also led DPS to stop denying 18- to 20-year-olds based on age alone. If that applies to you, check with DPS.
- No disqualifying history, including any felony conviction, a pending felony or Class A/B misdemeanor charge, a Class A/B misdemeanor conviction in the past five years, certain protective orders, or being barred from buying a firearm under federal law.
The full list is in Government Code §411.172.
The training: classroom, written exam and shooting test
- Classroom: 4 to 6 hours on handgun law, use of deadly force, safe handling and storage, and nonviolent dispute resolution. It can be taken online from a DPS-approved online course provider, along with the written exam.
- Range instruction: 1 to 2 hours in person with a DPS-certified instructor if you took the classroom online. Veterans and service members with firearms training in the past 10 years are exempt from this part.
- Proficiency demonstration: a 50-round course of fire at 3, 7 and 15 yards. You need 70% (175 of 250 points) to pass.
How it works with us: take the classroom portion and written exam online through our state-approved Texas LTC online course from U.S. LawShield, then complete your range instruction and shooting proficiency test with Nighthawk Alliance in Dallas–Fort Worth. We also teach the full LTC class in person for private groups of six or more and for businesses. Contact us to schedule.
Nervous about the shooting test? A private firearms lesson beforehand is the quickest way to get comfortable.
Applying and how long it takes
- Apply online through DPS’s RSD Connect system and pay the fee.
- Get fingerprinted through DPS’s FAST fingerprint program (appointments are run by IdentoGO).
- Submit your training certificate.
- Wait for DPS. By law it has 60 days from a complete application to issue, deny or explain a delay. Renewals take about 45 days.
How long it lasts, and renewing
Your first license expires on your first birthday after the fourth anniversary of issue, so about four to five years. Renewed licenses last five years. Renewal needs no new training or shooting test, just the application, the fee and a short acknowledgment form. You can renew online up to six months early, and since June 2025 you can still renew up to one year after expiration. You just can’t carry as a license holder while it’s expired.
Wondering whether you need an LTC at all, now that Texas allows permitless carry? See LTC vs. permitless carry in Texas.
FAQ
How much does a Texas LTC cost?
$40 in state fees for most applicants ($25 for veterans, $0 for active military), plus fingerprinting and the cost of your training.
Can I take the Texas LTC class online?
The 4–6 hour classroom portion and written exam can be taken online from a state-approved provider. You still complete range instruction and the shooting proficiency test in person with a DPS-certified instructor. With us, you take the online classroom through U.S. LawShield, then do the range portion with Nighthawk Alliance in DFW.
How long does it take to get a Texas LTC?
Training takes about a day. After you apply, DPS has 60 days to issue, deny or explain a delay.
Do I need to retake the class to renew?
No. Renewal requires no training or shooting test, just the application and fee. You can renew up to six months early or up to one year after it expires.
