The process for obtaining a permit-to-purchase will vary somewhat from county to county, but it will generally follow these 3 steps:
Step 1: Complete the mandatory training course.
- The first half of your mandatory consists of this online course. Upon completion of this online course you will be issued a certificate of completion showing you have completed half of the training.
- Print your online training certificate of completion and save it for your records. The certificate of completion will have a section that must also be signed by the live-fire instructor when you complete the second half of your training, so remember to take it to your live-fire training.
- Register for, and complete, the second half of the mandatory training which consists of an in-person live-fire demonstration. At the live-fire training you will be asked to demonstrate four simple things:
- lock a firearm;
- load & unload a firearm;
- fire a firearm; and
- store a firearm.
Don’t worry, we have designed the in-person live-fire training to be as simple and efficient as possible. Your instructor will guide you through the process and you can anticipate spending a maximum of one hour at the range to complete this portion of the training. You may schedule your in-person portion of the training now by clicking here.
Step 2: Complete your application with your local “permit agent”
- Each County will designate who will serve as a “permit agent”. Under the law, Permit Agent means a county sheriff or police chief with jurisdiction over the residence of the person making an application for a permit-to-purchase, or their designees.
- At the time you apply for your permit, you will need to be fingerprinted and photographed. The law states:
- The applicant must submit to fingerprinting and photographing by the permit agent. The permit agent shall fingerprint and photograph the applicant and shall conduct any investigation necessary to determine whether the applicant meets the qualifications [of the law].
- The fee for your permit will be determined by your county, but will not exceed $65.
- “The permit agent may charge a reasonable fee reflecting the actual cost of the process but shall not exceed $65, including the cost of fingerprinting, photographing and obtaining a criminal background check.”
Step 3: Receive Your Permit
- Your permit will be issued in approximately 30 days
- “Within 30 days of receiving an application for a permit under this section, if the permit agent has verified the applicant’s identity and determined that the applicant has met each of the qualifications…the permit agent shall issue the permit-to-purchase.”
