ETXSTA is headquartered right here in Tyler, so if you’ve got questions about getting a Texas License to Carry (LTC), chances are we’ve answered them in person at the range, not just online. Tyler residents ask us the same two things constantly: is it worth getting licensed when Texas already allows permitless carry, and how do I fit the training into my week? Here’s the honest answer to both, plus everything Texas DPS actually requires.
Yes, the LTC Still Matters
We hear this question at almost every Tyler range day: “If I can already carry without a permit, why get licensed?” Fair question. Here’s what the LTC adds that constitutional carry alone doesn’t:
- Reciprocity in 37 other states – your Texas LTC travels with you well beyond state lines.
- Certain legal protections and advantages that apply specifically to license holders.
- Access to places that permitless carry doesn’t cover.
- No NICS background check when you buy a handgun from a licensed dealer.
Are You Eligible?
Texas DPS sets nine conditions every applicant has to meet. There’s no exception for age here — it’s simply 18 and up. To qualify, you must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have never been convicted of a felony
- Have no Class A or Class B misdemeanor conviction within the past five years
- Not currently be subject to a protective or restraining order
- Have no active or pending criminal charges
- Not be a chemically dependent person
- Be qualified under state and federal law to possess a handgun
- Be of sound mind
- Not have been finally determined delinquent on child support obligations
How the ETXSTA Course Is Built
There are two pieces to getting licensed: an online classroom course and an in-person shooting proficiency test. We built the classroom side to be finished from anywhere — your kitchen table in Tyler, your break room, wherever.
The Classroom Portion
Work through the material at your own pace, covering Texas firearm law, use-of-force and self-defense principles, safe handgun handling and secure storage, non-violent conflict resolution, and how to properly interact with law enforcement while carrying. As soon as you finish, download your LTC-104 Certificate of Training instantly — that’s the official Texas DPS proof-of-training document your license application will need. It’s valid for two years, and it has to still be current on the day you actually submit your application.
The Range Day
Because we’re based in Tyler, scheduling your live-fire proficiency test with one of our certified instructors here or at a nearby range is usually painless. The state’s required course of fire is 50 rounds:
- 3 yards – 20 rounds
- 7 yards – 20 rounds
- 15 yards – 10 rounds
You’ll need to score at least 70% to pass. Don’t stress if you’re rusty — Texas gives applicants up to three attempts at both the written exam and the range test within a 12-month period.
A handful of applicants don’t need the range day at all. If you’re an active-duty military member or veteran with a range score or proof of firearms familiarization training from within the past 10 years, a Texas state correctional officer, or a county jailer who completed firearms training as part of your job, you’re exempt from the shooting test and only need to complete the online classroom course.
Home-Field Advantage
Being based in Tyler isn’t just a location on a map for us — it means we know the local ranges, the local instructors, and the local applicants. That local knowledge shows up in how smoothly your online-to-range-day handoff goes.