The License to Carry (LTC) course is required by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) in order to obtain a LTC. Registration fees do not include ammunition, license application fees to the state or charges for fingerprinting.
I am one of the few LTC instructors in the state that is also a licensed attorney. We will spend time on the subject matter required by DPS as well as complete the course of fire at the gun range.
In addition, I can also provide the course at your home or workplace for a flat fee. This is a good option for a group of friends who wish to take the class together.
A few details to help you prepare for this:
- You can use any gun you want, and effective September 1, 2017, any caliber you want. If you plan on bringing your own gun, please email me the specifics about it (manufacturer, model number, caliber). For safety reasons, you may be required to shoot one of my guns instead of the one you plan to bring.
- I strongly suggest you go on the DPS website and start the LTC application process. It will dramatically speed up your wait time if they start their background check on you now. Once you submit all of your information and class completion form (LTC-100), it generally takes 4-6 weeks to get your license from DPS.
- If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are nursing, I would encourage you to wait until you are not before taking the class due to the risk of lead exposure while shooting. For most people, the risk of lead exposure on the gun range can be effectively managed. However, those who may be pregnant or nursing may wish to refrain until it is safer to do so.
- What to wear: for the classroom time, whatever you want. On the range, you will need closed toe shoes, a button up shirt OR t-shirt that is not a v-neck cut. Some like to wear a baseball cap while they shoot to keep the empty shells from other shooters from hitting them in the head (it doesn’t hurt when that happens…just annoying). Note the gun range is outdoors, so please dress to be outside during the range portion.
- I strive to make this class accessible to everyone legally entitled to have a LTC, including those with disabilities. If you have a disability that limits your mobility or ability to fire a handgun, please contact me using the form below so that we can fully discuss your situation to determine the best course of action.
- In terms of ammo, you will need at a minimum 50 rounds. Ammo is generally sold in boxes of 50, so you should be good with one box. When buying ammo, go to some place like Academy or WalMart and ask them for “50 rounds of ammo in 9 millimeter suitable for the LTC course.” 50 rounds should cost you about $15 or so. If you are shooting one of my guns for the test, please bring 9mm ammo.
- A note about guns that are double action/single action (DA/SA): Many students struggle with these type of guns on the range during the shooting test. According to KR Training, "DA/SA refers to a pistol that has a decocker, is designed to be carried with the hammer down, and is designed for the first shot to be fired double action (long, heavy trigger pull), with all subsequent shots fired in single action (shorter, lighter trigger pull) mode. Popular DA/SA pistols include the SIG 226 & 229, Beretta 92 and 96 series, and the Ruger P-series guns."
DPS requires that DA/SA guns start each string of shots in the hammer down position. You are free to cock the hammer before firing, but that time spent doing so is on the clock. I have had many students who lose points because they use DA/SA and cannot get their rounds off in time because they insisted on cocking the gun rather than firing double action for the first round. If you plan on using this type of gun on the LTC range, I would practice firing without cocking the gun first, firing the first round in double action and then firing 3-4 rounds.
- Upon class completion, you'll be given a LTC-100 form, which you will upload to the DPS website.