Below you will find a list of frequently asked questions involving the Texas CHL licensing program.  If you do not find your question listed, please contact us at Handgun Safety Training Corporation so that we may better serve you and guide you thru the concealed handgun license process.

Q:  How do I get a concealed handgun license application?
A:  You may print an application request card from the DPS web site, pick one up at most DPS offices or contact H.S.T.C. @ (210) 573-0992 and we'll gladly fill one out with you and mail it to DPS for you.

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

Q:  How much will a concealed handgun license cost?
A:  For most Texans, the license will cost $140.  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, the fee is waived.

Q:  How poor do you have to be to be considered indig ent?
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:  Will a license from my home state be recognized under the reciprocal license provision?
A:  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 may I pay for my license?
A:  DPS will accept cashier’s checks or money orders, payable to the Texas Department of Public Safety.  They do no take personal checks, cash or credit cards.

Q:  Can I get my money back if my application is not approved?
A:  Fees are non-refundable.  Please make sure you qualify before submitting your application package.

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:  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 provision 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 issued 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 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:  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 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 were eventually dismissed?
A:  Yes.  The concealed handgun law states that deferred adjudication will be treated as a conviction.

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

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

Q:  Can I start carrying a concealed handgun as soon as I pass the training class and mail in my application package?
A:  No.  You are not licensed to carry a concealed handgun until you receive your license in the mail.

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