Frequently Asked Questions

Having this license expands the number of states in which you can carry a concealed handgun legally to 31 states. MARYLAND, NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK RESIDENTS: You can now carry concealed in Delaware, Virginia and Ohio as part of the 31 states covered by the Florida Non-Resident CCW Handgun License.

Noted firearm instructor, Massad Ayoob advises getting a non-resident permit in every state contiguous to your own. He relates the unfortunate story of a student of his, who didn't see the necessity of doing so. This person had to visit his dying father in a neighboring state. When he crossed the border, he forgot that he was packing. That evening, he was attacked by several young drunks, one of whom pulled a knife on him. Ayoob's student tried to dissuade the aggressor but the aggressor kept up his attack, so he was forced to draw and fire to save his life. The attacker died and the defender became a defendant when he was charged with Manslaughter. He was eventually acquitted of the shooting, but unfortunately, he was found guilty of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, and he was sentenced to the state-required one year minimum/mandatory in jail.

The Florida Non-Resident CCW permit is recognized by 31 States:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming

Inter-state reciprocity agreements change. Therefore, you cannot have too many CCW Permits. The Virginia CCW is a valuable one for people who live on the East Coast.

The Virginia Non-Resident CCW permit is recognized by 22 States:

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia

Take our complete class for just $150. It is a ONE-STOP SHOP. You need a Firearms Safety Course taught by an NRA Certified Firearms Instructor. In your application packets for both Florida and Virginia, you must include a copy of your Certificate of Completion of such a course with your NRA Instructor’s signature, printed name and NRA Certification #. This is your Certificate of Training.

Yes. Absolutely. The State of Florida issues CCW permits to all applicants who are qualified regardless of whether they reside in Florida or in any other state. In actuality, Florida does not issue a separate permit called "Non-Resident Permit. If you are qualified, regardless of the state in which you reside, you will be issued a Florida CCW Permit. Your permit card will have your picture and your address on it. A nonresident is subject to the same laws and restrictions with respect to carrying a concealed weapon or concealed firearm as a resident of Florida who is so licensed.

Yes. Absolutely. While the Florida CCW Permit will not entitle you to carry legally in your state, if your state does not issue CCW permits or allow concealed carry (for example, NJ and MD), it will give you the right to carry a concealed firearm legally in 31 other states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming

Most of the reciprocity states will honor Florida non-resident permits; however, FOUR states - Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Hampshire and Colorado - have indicated that they WILL NOT honor non-resident Florida licenses. Because gun laws are subject to change or different interpretation by state courts, it is recommended that non-resident Florida licensees call or write licensing authorities in the states in which they will be traveling to obtain the latest information.

NO. YOU MUST HAVE A PA LICENSE TO CARRY FIREARMS TO CARRY IN PA IF YOU LIVE IN PA.

You must be a citizen of the United States OR you must be deemed a lawful permanent resident alien by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS formerly INS).

You must be 21 years of age or older.

You must be able to demonstrate competency with a firearm.

You must be a non-felon.

You must take a recognized Firearm Safety Class given by an NRA Certified Firearms Instructor (such as ours) and get a Certificate of Completion with the instructor's signature and NRA Certification Number on it, OR furnish proof of being Active Military or Honorably Discharged Military (e.g., furnish a DD-214).

Just come to one of our scheduled classes at the shooting ranges where we conduct them, as posted on this website. Our Handgun Safety / Concealed Carry Class satisfies Florida's handgun safety training requirement. Upon successful completion of the class, you get a Handgun Safety Certificate signed by our NRA Certified Firearms Instructor.

At the class, we guide you through each step in the application for the Florida Non-resident CCW Permit. We give you the Florida CCW application packet which includes a copy of the Florida Firearms Statutes, an application, and a fingerprint card. We help you fill out the application correctly, notarize your application, do your fingerprints, and provide you with a double color passport photo.

Then, you have to put your completed and notarized application, passport photo, fingerprint card, a photocopy of your Certificate of Class Completion, and a certified bank check or money order for $117. made out to the Florida Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services, into the supplied, pre-addressed envelope, and mail said packet to: Florida Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Division of Licensing, P.O. Box 6687, Tallahassee, FL 32314.

If you had to do all of this on your own, separately, you’d have a lot of running around to do, and it would be much more expensive. We make it easy, more affordable, and we make sure you do it correctly, so your application is accepted.

For step-by-step instructions to guide you through the application process for the Florida and Virginia CCW permits, click here.

Website: click here

Phone: 850-245-5691

The State of the Florida charges $117.00 for the five-year Concealed Carry Weapons/Handgun License.

We charge $100.00 for the Florida CCW Certification Class, range fee, and all the paperwork.

No. It is not sufficient in and of itself. You must satisfy the training requirement. However, some states, such as Ohio and Utah, require completion of a course to satisfy their state’s training requirement for obtaining a CHL.; If you have a Training Certificate from such a course, taught by a State Certified or NRA Certified Firearms Instructor, you’re good.

If you don’t have a Training Certificate as described in #12 above, and you are not active or honorably discharged ex-military, you must take the course to be eligible for the Florida CHL.

You must demonstrate competence with a firearm through any one of the following:

A. Completion of any hunter education or hunter safety course approved by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or a similar agency of another state.

B. Completion of any National Rifle Association firearms safety or training course.

C. Completion of any firearms safety or training course or class available to the general public offered by a law enforcement, junior college, college, or private or public institution or organization or firearms training school, utilizing instructors certified by the National Rifle Association, Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, or the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

D. Completion of any law enforcement firearms safety or training course or class offered for security guards, investigators, special deputies, or any division or subdivision of law enforcement or security enforcement.

E. Present evidence of equivalent experience with a firearm through participation in organized shooting competition or military service.

F. Completion of any firearms training or safety course or class conducted by a state-certified or National Rifle Association certified firearms instructor.

*A photocopy of a certificate of completion of any of the courses or classes; or an affidavit from the instructor, school, club, organization, or group that conducted or taught said course or class attesting to the completion of the course or class by the applicant; or a copy of any document which shows completion of the course or class or evidences participation in firearms competition shall constitute evidence of qualification under this paragraph.”

No. But it may be a good idea to do so anyway. Technically, you just need to submit with your application a photocopy of your Military ID.

No. But it may be a good idea to do so anyway. Technically, you just need to submit with your application a photocopy of your DD-214.

It depends. The “Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004”, H.R. 218, on paper, exempts current and retired law enforcement officers from state laws prohibiting them from carrying concealed firearms (other than machine guns, silencers, or other destructive devices). However, Section 926B further requires qualified, currently employed law enforcement officers to carry proper photographic identification from their issuing agency; to be agency authorized to carry firearms; and to not be under agency disciplinary action at the time they choose to carry.

This is NOT the same as a state issued CHL.

For more information, click here.

Section 926C of the “Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004”, H.R. 218, requires retired officers to carry photographic identification and qualification credentials issued by their former agency, or two forms of photographic ID – the first showing that they retired from a particular agency; the second showing that they have met state firearm qualification standards within the last 12 months.

Retired police officers must have retired “in good standing” – and not as the result of psychological stress disorders or “mental instability” – from a law enforcement agency. They must have been regularly employed law enforcement officers for 15 or more total years, or retired before 15 years, due to service-related physical disability. Finally, their right to retirement benefits must be “nonforfeitable” which, in effect means they weren’t fired or forced to resign.

For more information, click here.

Yes. But you must take and pass an approved Firearms Safety Course.

NO. Unless your felony conviction was expunged. You should talk to a criminal attorney.

We offer the entire course (class and paperwork) for just $150.00 for both the Florida and the Virginia Non-resident CCW Permits. The paperwork fee without the class is $100.00.

NOTE: The course fee is separate from the $117.00 license fee charged by the State of Florida for the SEVEN-YEAR License and the $100. charged by the Commonwealth of VA for the Five-year license.