Texas Concealed Handgun Training

Age Requirements

• You must be 21 years old to apply for a concealed handgun license, unless you are a current or former member of the armed forces, in which case you must be 18 or older.

Other Requirements and Prerequisites

• To be eligible for a license after you've received your training, you must be free of any criminal history, including juvenile and military records, chemical dependencies and delinquent charges for child support, court or traffic fines, or delinquent student loans. You must pass the NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) check in order to be able to own a handgun.

Course Cost

• Courses are between $100 and $200 (as of March, 2010) depending on the course provider, what added services are included and whether equipment rental is required. Private lessons are often available at a slightly higher cost. Many providers will include the fingerprinting services for the NICS check with the course. Texas Department of Safety application and background-check fees are extra.

Course and Licensure Time

• Training courses are often just one day or spread out over two afternoons. The typical course length is between 10 to 15 hours. Once the background check is passed and applications are submitted, the time required to issue a license should be within 60 days.

Skills and Topics Covered

• Students will learn about gun law, resolving conflicts without violence, using and storing handguns, safety practices and shooting techniques.

Test

• Following the course, a written exam and shooting skills test will be administered by the course provider, and students must earn a 70 percent or better score. The shooting portion will require students to fire 50 rounds from a handgun with a caliber of .32 or more, broken down to 20 shots at three yards, 20 at seven yards and 10 at 15 yards.

Equipment

• Depending on the course provider, you may be required to provide your own ammunition and gun for training. Choose which firearm you will test with carefully; you will be licensed to carry any legal handgun if you train and test with a semi-automatic gun, however, if you train and test with a revolver, you will not be licensed to carry a semi-automatic gun.