ARMED CITIZEN EDUCATORS

The department will make every effort to issue your license within 60 days or inform you that you did not meet the eligibility criteria. Once your application is complete, processing may take up to 180 days if your background check reveals potentially disqualifying events or information.

An initial CHL expires on the license holder’s first birthday following the four-year anniversary of the issuance of the license. In other words, an initial license is valid for four (4) years, and in many cases, for some additional months. All renewed licenses are valid for five (5) years.

For 3rd time renewals you are only required to reapply online with              the DPS. The state currently has no requirements for classroom or firearms qualifications for third time renewals. However, A.C.E. recommends attendance in a refresher class for new updates on any state law changes as well as firearms refresher. Contact us to attend a FREE refresher class!

It depends. A resident alien who has been admitted to the U.S. under an immigrant visa category will generally be eligible for a concealed handgun license. However, under federal law, an alien who has been admitted to the U.S. under a non-immigrant visa usually is not qualified to purchase a handgun and thus is not eligible for a license. If you legally reside in Texas and were not admitted to the U.S. under a non-immigrant visa, you may be eligible.

You must contact the DPS Concealed Handgun Section to receive a change of address form, or you may send a letter including your full name, CHL number, old address and new address (or status) and a cashier’s check or money order for $25. You may call 1-800-224-5744, or write:

Texas Dept. of Public Safety Concealed Handgun Licensing Bureau
P.O. Box 4087
Austin, Texas, 78773

or online at: www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/chl/chlsindex.htm.

The concealed handgun law sets out the eligibility criteria that must be met. Your application packet will list them in detail. For example, you must be qualified to purchase a handgun under the state and federal laws. A number of factors may make you ineligible to obtain a license, such as: felony convictions and most misdemeanor convictions that are less than five years old, (including charges that resulted in probation or deferred adjudication), pending criminal charges, chemical or alcohol dependency, certain psychiatric diagnoses, protective or restraining orders, or defaults on taxes, governmental fees, student loans or child support. See Texas Gov’t. Code § 411.172. The application packet also will include information about materials you need to return with your application packet. These include two recent color passport photos, two sets of fingerprints taken by a law enforcement agency employee or a private entity designated by a law enforcement agency as an entity qualified to take fingerprints of an applicant for a license, a copy of your Texas driver license or identification card, and a notification of completion form (CHL-100) from a DPS-authorized CHL Instructor. After receiving completed application packets, DPS will conduct background checks of juvenile records for the previous 10 years, and of all adult records.

No. Let’s take DWI as an example. DWI (first offense) is a Class B misdemeanor, and a person is not eligible for a license for five years after a conviction for a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or for the offense of disorderly conduct. A “conviction” 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 misdemeanor offenses within the last 10 years, you may not be eligible. If you are a current CHL holder, any open charge for a Class A of Class B misdemeanor or felony is an automatic suspension of your license.

Yes. The concealed handgun law states that deferred adjudication will be treated as a conviction, except for orders of deferred adjudication over 10 years old for certain felony offense not involving violence against a person. See Texas Gov’t. Code § 411.171(4).

Yes. If you have a payment plan with a government agency for back taxes or child support and the agency sends DPS a clearance letter, you may apply. Include a copy of the agreement and letter with your application materials. The concealed handgun law was designed to encourage those who made no effort whatsoever to pay what they owe.

Unless you have been legally adjudicated as a mental defective, eligibility for a concealed handgun license depends on your current diagnosis. Past psychiatric treatment will not necessarily make you ineligible. When you submit your application you may wish to include a letter or statement from your treating physician regarding the current status of your condition.

Yes. Failure to disclose all of your arrests and convictions is an independent ground for your denial of your application. You may choose to include any documentation to support your eligibility status.

No. Dismissals are not grounds for denial, as long as you were not placed on probation or deferred adjudication prior to the dismissal.

Yes. In order to be eligible for a Texas concealed handgun license, you must be fully eligible under both Texas and federal law to purchase a handgun (except for military applicants who are at least 18 years of age but under the age of 21).

Yes. You must take the 10- to 15-hour class taught by a DPS certified instructor. The notification of completion form (CHL-100) you receive from the instructor must be sent to DPS with your other application materials.

You may not apply until the reason of your revocation has not existed for two years. In other words, the revocation of a license brings with it at least two extra years on ineligibility.

Example 1: Your license is revoked on 08/15/2007 because you were subject to a protective order. The protective order expired on 10/15/2007. You may apply on 10/15/2009 if you meet all eligibility requirements.  

Example 2: Your license is revoked on 08/15/2007 because you were convicted of a Class B misdemeanor on 04/01/2007. You may apply on 04/01/2014 if meet all eligibility requirements. The misdemeanor conviction itself makes you ineligible until 04/01/2012 (five years after date of conviction); the two extra years of ineligibility that result from the license’s revocation make you ineligible until 04/01/2014.

DPS certifies and can review their records and monitor their classes to make sure they are following the required curriculum.

Not necessarily. You may legally demonstrate handgun proficiency with a borrowed or rented handgun. However, if you do not have a firearm at your disposal, we rent them out for $20.00 each.

You may carry any type of legal, concealed handgun you are qualified to use. If you wish to carry a semi-automatic handgun, you must complete your firing range test with a semi-automatic. If you demonstrate handgun proficiency with a semi-automatic handgun, your license also entitles you to carry a revolver. However, if you do not wish to ever carry a semi -automatic, you may show proficiency with a revolver, only. If in the future you wish to then be qualified to carry a semi-automatic handgun, you must complete the firearms proficiency with a certified instructor and submit that form along with a modification request and any applicable fees to the DPS CHL Licensing Division.

Yes, but you may NOT carry before you receive the license.

No. You must have a currently valid license in your possession to carry a concealed handgun.