To apply for a concealed carry permit, contact the agency that issues them in your state — usually the county sheriff, the state police, or a circuit court clerk — then confirm you meet federal and state eligibility rules, complete any required firearms training, gather your documents, submit the application with the fee, and sit for a background check. The exact forms, fees, and training hours vary by state, but the sequence is the same everywhere.
Confirm You’re Eligible
Federal law sets a baseline of people who cannot legally possess a firearm at all, and every state builds its concealed carry rules on top of that floor. Under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), you are barred from possessing a firearm if you:1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 922 – Unlawful Acts
- Have a felony conviction, meaning any crime punishable by more than one year in prison, whether or not you served time.
- Are a fugitive from justice.
- Use or are addicted to controlled substances.
- Have been involuntarily committed to a mental institution or adjudicated as mentally unfit.
- Are in the country unlawfully or, in most cases, present on a nonimmigrant visa.
- Received a dishonorable discharge from the military.
- Have renounced U.S. citizenship.
- Are subject to a qualifying domestic restraining order that specifically addresses threats to an intimate partner or their child.
- Have a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.
States add their own criteria. The most common are a minimum age of 21 (some states allow 18, particularly for active-duty military), residency in the issuing state, and no recent arrests or pending charges. Some states also deny permits for certain non-felony convictions such as DUI, or for anyone a court has found to pose a danger to themselves or others.
If you meet the objective criteria, the issuing authority has to approve you. Since the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, states may no longer condition a permit on showing a special reason to carry.2Supreme Court of the United States. New York State Rifle and Pistol Association Inc v Bruen
Complete Any Required Training
Most states that issue permits require a firearms safety course before you can apply. The specifics vary a lot. Some states require as few as four hours of classroom instruction; others mandate eight hours or more plus a live-fire qualification. A typical course covers safe handling and storage, the legal framework for using deadly force in self-defense, and situational awareness while carrying.
Where a live-fire component is required, expect to fire something in the range of 25 to 50 rounds at distances from roughly two yards out to ten yards, with a minimum passing score. If you fail the shooting portion, most instructors allow a retest, sometimes after additional coaching.
Not every state requires a formal course. Some accept alternative proof of competency such as military service records, law enforcement experience, or completion of certain competitive shooting programs. A few states have no training requirement at all. When you finish a qualifying course, the instructor gives you a certificate of completion that goes into your application packet.
Gather Your Documents
The application package is straightforward, though the exact list varies by jurisdiction. Plan on assembling:
- The completed application form from your state’s issuing agency, available at the office or on its website.
- A government-issued photo ID, typically a driver’s license or state identification card.
- Proof of residency. Some states accept the address on your ID; others want a utility bill or similar document.
- Your training certificate, if your state requires one.
- One or two passport-style photographs for the permit card, in states that require them.
- Fingerprints. Most states require them.
Electronic fingerprinting (commonly called Live Scan) has largely replaced ink cards. You typically schedule the appointment after submitting your application or receiving a service code from the issuing agency. Walk-ins are rarely accepted. In rural areas far from an electronic scanning facility, some states still allow ink-rolled fingerprints processed by a local law enforcement agency, sometimes for a small additional fee.
Submit the Application to the Right Agency
Which office handles your application depends on your state. In some it’s the county sheriff, in others the state police or department of public safety, and in a few the local circuit court clerk. Check your state’s official government website to confirm the correct agency before you start.
Many jurisdictions now offer online application portals: you complete and submit the form electronically, then schedule a separate fingerprint appointment. Others still require you to appear in person at the issuing office with your paperwork. A smaller number accept mailed applications.
Fees for an initial permit generally fall between $40 and $200, though a few jurisdictions charge more. The fee typically covers application processing and the background check. Fingerprinting often carries a separate charge. Accepted payment methods vary but commonly include credit cards, money orders, and cashier’s checks.
What Happens After You Apply
Once your application is submitted, the issuing authority runs a background check at both state and federal levels. The federal side draws on the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), which includes criminal conviction records, outstanding warrants, protective orders, and records flagging individuals prohibited from possessing firearms.3Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Brady Permit Chart State-level checks may also pull mental health records, local criminal databases, and any state-specific disqualifying factors.
Processing times range from a few weeks to several months. Many states impose statutory deadlines on their issuing agencies, commonly 45 to 90 days from the application date. Backlogs can push timelines longer during periods of high demand. A few states conduct in-person interviews as part of the review, though this is becoming less common after Bruen limited subjective discretion.
If approved, most states mail the physical permit card to the address on file. If denied, you’ll receive a written notice explaining the reason. Every state provides some form of appeal, which may involve submitting a sworn written statement challenging the denial, requesting an administrative review, or filing in court. Watch the deadlines. Appeal windows are often 30 to 90 days from the denial notice, and missing the window usually means starting over with a new application.
After You’re Approved
Concealed carry permits are not permanent. Most states issue them for two to five years. The issuing agency typically mails a renewal notice before your permit expires, but treat that as a backup and mark the expiration date yourself.
Renewal usually means submitting a new application, paying a renewal fee (often less than the initial fee), and passing another background check. Some states require additional training for renewal; others treat your original training certificate as valid for life. Letting a permit lapse past the expiration date can mean starting the entire process over in some states, and carrying on an expired permit is treated the same as carrying without one.
If you move to a different state, your current permit generally won’t transfer. You’ll need to apply for a new permit in your new state of residence and meet whatever requirements that state imposes.
Do You Need a Permit at All?
As of 2025, at least 29 states allow adults to carry a concealed handgun without any permit. These “permitless carry” or “constitutional carry” laws differ on details like minimum age (18 in some states, 21 in others), but the core rule is that if you can legally possess a firearm, you can carry it concealed without a state license.
A permit still carries practical advantages even in those states. It may be recognized in other states through reciprocity, which matters if you travel. It can also serve as an alternative to the federal background check when you buy a firearm from a dealer, as long as the permit is less than five years old, issued in the state where the purchase happens, and issued only after law enforcement verified your eligibility.3Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Brady Permit Chart And federal law bans firearm possession in a school zone but exempts holders of a state-issued concealed carry license in the state that issued it.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 922 – Unlawful Acts Without a permit, driving past a school with a loaded handgun in a permitless carry state could technically violate federal law.