Classes by state

Requirements to qualify for a license

You must be at least 21 years of age to apply for a Connecticut concealed carry license (which is actually just called a pistol permit).  You must be a legal resident of the U.S. but you don’t have to be a resident of Connecticut.  You cannot have a felony conviction or one of the following 11 misdemeanor offenses on your record:

• Illegal possession of controlled or hallucinogenic substances
• Criminally negligent homicide
• Assault in the third degree
• Assault of a victim 60 or older in the third degree
• Threatening
• Reckless endangerment in the first degree
• Unlawful restraint in the second degree
• Riot in the first degree
• Riot in the second degree
• Inciting to riot
• Stalking in the second degree

Here is a list of other disqualifying factors:

• Conviction as a delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense
• Discharge from custody in the last 20 years after being found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect
• Being committed to a mental institution within the preceding 12 months
• Being subject to a restraining or protective order in a case involving physical force against another person
• Being subject to a firearms seizure order
• Being an illegal alien in the United States
• Renouncing your U.S. citizenship
• Having a dishonorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces

Finally, you must complete a handgun safety course with a live fire requirement.  Once all requirements have been met you should apply to the Police chief or First Selectman of your local town.  They will have 8 weeks to issue or deny your temporary state permit.  You will then apply for a state permit through the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Application instructions can be found here.

Concealed Carry Classes Near You In Connecticut

What will you learn in class?

Connecticut requires you to take at a minimum the NRA Basic Pistol Course.  This course will teach you how to properly handle and operate a handgun.  You will learn about different types of ammunition, how to load a handgun, how to clean a gun, and safe storage of weapons in the home.

Try to find an instructor that also discusses Connecticut laws relating to the “use of deadly force”.  I recommend that you find additional training about Connecticut laws beyond this basic pistol course.

How long does it take to get a license?

It can take up to 8 weeks to receive your temporary state permit and another 8 weeks to receive your 5 year state permit.  If your permit is denied you can appeal to the Board of Firearm Permit Examiners.

How much does the license cost?

The License fee is $70.  You will also incur fees for background checks and for your handgun training class.  You can expect to spend a total of $250 to $350 to obtain your permit.

Reciprocity with other states

Connecticut does not recognize any other states’ concealed carry permits.  Non-residents with a valid permit from another state may apply for a Connecticut pistol permit.  Connecticut does not have reciprocity agreements with any other state but check out this map to see which states honor a CT Pistol Permit.

Where can you not carry a concealed weapon?

• Schools
• Federal government owned or leased buildings
• Courthouses
• State legislative buildings
• Federal Prisons
• Indian Reservations
• State parks and state forests

Featured Instructors

• HF Learn Safety LLC
• Dynamic Firearms Training

Requirements to qualify for a license

To obtain an Alabama concealed carry permit you must be 18 years of age.  You must also be a resident of Alabama and no training is required.  Just go to the sheriff’s office in your county and complete an application.  The sheriff will perform an NICS background check on you to determine if you have a criminal history.  They will also make sure you do not have a documented history of mental illness or problems with drugs or alcohol.

Concealed Carry Classes Near You in Alabama

Why you should take training anyway

Alabama does not require training to obtain your concealed carry license.  I strongly recommend you find a good instructor anyway and take a basic handgun class.  It is nice and convenient to just go down to the sheriff’s office and get a license but you are doing yourself a disservice if you don’t get trained.

You need to understand the “use of force” laws in Alabama.  This knowledge can potentially keep you out of jail if you are ever involved in a shooting.

You should also find an instructor who will teach you to shoot better.  What good is it to carry a gun if you don’t know how to use it. If a life threatening situation arises and you only have 7 bullets but none of them hit the target your gun was useless.  If an attacker manages to take a loaded firearm from you it is worse than useless.

Always continue to learn and keep up your shooting skills by seeking out proper training.

How long does it take to get a license?

Your county sheriff has up to 30 days to approve or deny your permit.  Some counties will process your application in about 20 minutes while you wait.  If your permit is denied you are allowed to appeal the decision.

How much does the license cost?

Each individual county sheriff can set the fees for a concealed weapons permit but it is approximately $5 to $20 per year.  When you apply you will specify whether you want a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 year permit.  The yearly fee will be multiplied by the number of years you choose.

Reciprocity with other states

Alabama recognizes all other states valid permits. Check this reciprocity map to see what states honor your Alabama CCW permit.

Where can you not carry a concealed weapon?

Alabama’s gun laws changed in 2013.  Employers can no longer prohibit employees from having a gun inside their vehicle on a company parking lot.  Employers can still prohibit employees from carrying inside company buildings.

Signs prohibiting carry in a business do not have the force of law but you can be asked to leave the premises.  If you do not leave when asked you can be arrested and charged for trespassing.  Here is a list of places you cannot carry in Alabama:

• Demonstrations in public places
• Places off limits by federal law
• Law enforcement offices
• Correctional facilities
• Mental institutions
• Courthouses or District Attorney’s office
• County commission or city council meetings
• Buildings that have posted security measures such as guards and metal detectors
• Public or private property where signs are posted prohibiting concealed carry
• Schools

Featured Instructors

• Intelligent Arms LLC
• Alabama Firearms Training Services LLC

Requirements to qualify for a Permit

To qualify for a Missouri concealed carry permit you must be at least 21 years old.  If you are a least 18 and currently in the armed forces or honorably discharged you can also obtain a permit. You must be a resident of Missouri and a citizen of the U.S.

In addition to the above you cannot have any felony convictions or current felony charges against you.  If you have a weapons related misdemeanor conviction your permit will be denied.

Those with a violent misdemeanor conviction in the last 5 years will be denied.  You can not be convicted of 2 or more misdemeanors of DWI or possession or abuse of a controlled substance in the last 5 years.

This seems obvious but you cannot obtain a CCW permit while you are a fugitive from justice.  You can also not obtain a permit if you have been dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces.

Finally you cannot have been judged mentally incompetent in the last 5 years and you cannot be under an order of protection.

If you meet all the above qualifications the next step is to take a handgun safety class.  You will need to give a copy of your certificate of completion to your local county sheriff when applying.

Concealed Carry Classes Near You in Missouri

What will you learn in class?

Missouri guidelines say that qualifying training must be at least  8 hours long and must include a live fire qualification.  Most instructors will require you to bring a handgun to class and at least 50 rounds of ammo.  Some instructors will have guns available to rent.

Your Missouri concealed carry class will cover the following topics:

• Handgun safety at home, in the classroom, on the firing range, and while carrying
• How to clean your gun
• Securing firearms from children
• Where you can carry and where not to carry
• Missouri gun laws
• Missouri use of force and use of deadly force laws
• Nonviolent dispute resolution

During the live fire portion of the class you will be required to fire 20 rounds from both a revolver and a semi-automatic handgun. You will be shooting at a B-27 target from 7 yards away.  You must hit the silhouette portion of the target with at least 15 out of 20 rounds.

How long does it take to get a license?

Your local sheriff has up to 45 days to issue or deny your permit whether or not all background checks are finished.  If your permit is denied you can file an appeal in small claims court.

How much does the license cost?

Your local sheriff will set the price for a permit.  Missouri counties average about $100 for a permit fee.  Some counties charge less, for example Cape Girardeau county only charges $79.  You must apply in your county of residence.

Reciprocity with other states

Missouri recognizes all out of state CCW permits.

Where can you not carry a concealed weapon?

In Missouri it is not a criminal offense to carry a weapon in most of the places listed below if you have a valid CCW permit.  But, you must leave the premises if you are asked to.  If you do not leave the premises when asked you can be cited for trespassing or incur fines. You can also leave your weapon in your vehicle in the parking areas of the places listed below. Here is a list of places you are not supposed to carry in Missouri:

• Law enforcement offices
• Within 25 feet of a polling place on election day
• Correctional facilities
• Courthouses
• State and local government meetings (Exception is made for members of the governing body)
• Establishments that serve alcohol (You are allowed to carry in a restaurant that has seating for at least 50 people and derives at least 51% of its income from the sale of food)
• Secure area of airports
• Federal government buildings
• Schools including universities
• Child care facilities
• Riverboat gambling operations
• Gated areas of amusement parks
• Churches (Concealed carry is allowed with permission of the minister or the person in control of the place of worship)
• Private property where signs are posted
• Sports stadium with 5,000 or more seats
• Hospitals
• Public buses (Carrying on a public bus is a criminal offense)
• Cannot carry while intoxicated

Featured Instructors

Here is a short list of Missouri CCW classes:

• St Louis CCW
• River City Firearms Training
• EDC Firearms Training
• Blue Osprey Security Solutions-Training LLC
• SISU Strategic Survival Solutions

Requirements to qualify for a license

To apply for your Virginia concealed handgun permit you must be at least 21 years old.  Resident and non-resident permits are offered and there is no minimum length of residence requirement for the resident permit.  You must also complete a training class.

Virginia does not set up a specific curriculum for training.  Instead they give a list of approved courses.  Basically any hunter education class, or firearms safety class approved by a state agency or taught by a NRA certified instructor will qualify.  Virginia even allows online training from NRA certified instructors.

You can also prove adequate experience with firearms through:

• Current military service
• Qualifying to carry a firearm in the course of police duties
• Participating in organized shooting competitions

Here are some things that will disqualify you from obtaining a VA concealed carry license:

• Ineligibility to possess a firearm by any state or federal law
• Being acquitted of a crime by reason of insanity and committed to a mental institution within the last 5 years
• Being adjudicated mentally incompetent
• Having a restraining order or protective order against you
• Being convicted of 2 or more misdemeanors in the last 5 years (Traffic infractions and reckless driving do not count)
• Being addicted to or an unlawful user of a controlled substance
• Having a DWI within the last 3 years
• Having a dishonorable discharge from the armed forces
• Being an illegal alien
• Being a fugitive from justice
• Being convicted of assault, sexual battery, or assault and battery within the last 3 years
• Being convicted of stalking
• Being convicted of possession or distribution of a controlled substance within the last 3 years

Once you have met all the qualifications send your application to the clerk of the circuit court of your county of residence.  Your permit will be good for 5 years.

Concealed Carry Classes Near You In Virginia

What will you learn in class?

If you take a hunter education class or a general firearms safety course you will learn how to properly handle a firearm.  You will learn how to clean a gun and how to secure your firearm from children.  You may not learn about the “use of force” laws in Virginia.  For this reason I suggest you find a class that specifically teaches about these laws.

You absolutely need to understand these laws before you carry a concealed weapon.  You also need to be trained how to handle the situation after you have used your weapon to protect yourself.  A good instructor will tell you what to say to a police officer after such an event.  See the featured instructors below to find someone who teaches the law.

How long does it take to get a license?

By law your local circuit court has 45 days after receiving a completed application to issue or deny your permit.  If your permit is not issued or denied within this time period the court can give you a temporary permit which lasts for 90 days.

How much does the license cost?

The maximum charge for a permit is $50.  Here is a breakdown of the fees:

• $10 for application processing by the circuit court
• Local law enforcement may charge up to $35 for background checks
• State police may charge up to $5 for application processing

Reciprocity with other states

Visit the Virginia State Police website to determine what states have reciprocity agreements with Virginia.

Where can you not carry a concealed weapon?

You are allowed to carry a gun into a restaurant or club which serves alcohol in Virginia as long as you are not consuming.  Here is a list of places you are not allowed to carry:

• Private property if prohibited by the owner (This includes all areas where it is posted that weapons are prohibited)
• Public places while intoxicated
• Places of worship during a religious meeting without good cause
• Courthouses
• Schools (An exception exists which allows you to carry while in your car in the parking lot, traffic circle, or other means of ingress or egress to the school)
• Air carrier airport terminal

Featured Instructors

Virginia recognizes online training.  Try to find a class that includes a section on “use of force” laws.  Here is a short list of classes offered in Virginia.

• NOVA Firearms
• American Firearms Training
• LINXX Learning Center

Requirements to qualify for a license

You must be 21 years old and allowed to possess a firearm under state and federal law to apply for your Wisconsin CCW permit* (See note below). You cannot have as a condition of bail or release a prohibition on possessing a weapon relating to a criminal case. You must be a Wisconsin resident and you must also take a training class.

Wisconsin does not set a certain curriculum for qualified training classes.  Instead it gives a list of approved types of classes.  You may obtain a Wisconsin CCW license with any of the following classes:

• Any hunter education class from the Department of Natural Resources or a similar agency in another state
• A firearms safety course from a national or state organization that certifies firearms instructors
• A course offered to the public by a law enforcement agency
• A firearms safety course taught by an instructor certified by a national or state organization that certifies firearms instructors. (This includes courses given by colleges, technical colleges, universities, or private firearms training schools)
• Courses offered to law enforcement officers
• Military firearms training

If you have a CCW license from another state, a copy of your license will suffice for proof of training.  Online CCW training is not acceptable.

You can get a copy of the application online from the Wisconsin Dept of Justice. Once you have completed the application, submit it along with your proof of training, and a check or money order for $40 made out to the Department of Justice.  Mail your completed package to:

Wisconsin Department of Justice
ATTN: Firearms Unit
PO Box 7130
Madison, WI 53707-7130

*Note about ability to possess a firearm: You must be legally able to possess a firearm under both state and federal law.  This means you cannot be:

• Convicted of a felony
• Have a mental illness or be committed to a mental institution
• Have an injunction against you for domestic abuse or harrassment
• A fugitive from justice
• An unlawful user or addicted to a controlled substance
• Dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces
• Convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence

Concealed Carry Classes Near You In Wisconsin

What will you learn in class?

There is not a required curriculum set up for Wisconsin concealed carry classes.  Even a hunter education class will suffice.  Because of this you may not learn some very important facts about carrying a concealed weapon.

You will learn the basics of handling and caring for a gun.  You will learn how to clean a gun and how to properly secure a gun from children.  You will also learn about different types of ammunition.  BUT, LISTEN UP!  If your class did not cover “use of force” laws in Wisconsin you need to find some extra training.

You need to understand Wisconsin’s self defense law.  At a very minimum you need to read about the law on page 4 of the application. You could potentially spend time in jail for your ignorance of the law.  See the list of featured instructors at the bottom of the article to find someone who teaches the law.

How long does it take to get a license?

The Wisconsin Department of Justice has 21 days to issue or deny your license once a completed application is received.  If your license is denied you may appeal to the circuit court in your county of residence.  If your license is approved it is good for a period of 5 years.

How much does the license cost?

A Wisconsin concealed carry license costs $40.  This includes $30 to cover the license fee and $10 for the background check.

Reciprocity with other states

Wisconsin currently honors permits from 27 other states.  If you become a resident of Wisconsin you must obtain a Wisconsin CCW license.

Where can you not carry a concealed weapon?

Wisconsin is a little different  from other states in that it often leaves the decision up to property owners or managers to allow concealed carry.  Notice can be given verbally, in writing, or with a sign. Always check with the property owner or manager before entering a facility you are unsure of.  Here is a list of places you are not allowed to carry in Wisconsin:

• Federal buildings
• While under the influence of an intoxicant (You are allowed to carry in a tavern but not when you are drinking)
• Private property where the owner has made it clear that they do not allow weapons on the property
• Government property where the manager has made it clear that weapons are prohibited
• Schools
• Law enforcement buildings
• The office of a Division of Criminal Investigation special agent of DOJ
• Correctional facilities
• Mental Health Institutions (This includes The Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center, the Wisconsin Resource Center, and the Mendota Mental Health Institute)
• Courthouses
• Courtrooms when in session
• Any place beyond a security checkpoint in an airport

Featured Instructors

• Gander Mountain Academy
• Equip 2 Conceal
• CCW Smart