Which class do I need?
Most people who call us asking for the License to Carry class actually want to learn how to shoot. Those are two different courses, and taking them in the wrong order wastes your afternoon.
The short answer
If you have never fired a handgun, do not start with the License to Carry class. Start with a beginners class, learn to handle and shoot a gun safely, and take the LTC class after that.
The License to Carry course teaches you the law. It is written for people who already know which end the bullet comes out of. Nobody will teach you to grip, aim or fire a pistol in it, because that is not what it is for.
The two courses, side by side
NRA Basic Pistol
Start here if you are new
- How a handgun works and what each part does
- How to load, unload and make safe
- Grip, stance, sights and aiming
- How to deal with a malfunction
- Live fire at the range
Texas License to Carry
Take this once you can shoot
- Texas law on carrying a handgun
- Use of force and deadly force
- Where you may and may not carry
- Safe storage, and children in the home
- A shooting proficiency demonstration
“Is a CHL the same as an LTC?”
Yes. Texas renamed the Concealed Handgun License (CHL) to the License to Carry (LTC) in 2016. People still call it a CHL, a concealed carry permit, or just “my licence”. They all mean the same thing, and it is the same class.
Where the free class fits
Our free beginners gun class exists for exactly this problem. It costs nothing, it takes no experience, and you do not need to own a gun — we use dummy ammunition. It covers:
- The three universal rules of gun safety
- The parts of the gun, and what each one does
- How to lock the slide to the rear
- How to engage and disengage the safety
- How to load and unload with dummy ammunition
- How to use your sights and aim
- How to grip the firearm and get into a proper shooting stance
- How to deal with common malfunctions
- Dry firing
After it, you will know whether you want Basic Pistol next, or whether you are ready for the License to Carry class. And if you are still not sure, ask us — we would rather put you in the right class than sell you the wrong one.
Common questions
Does the License to Carry class teach you how to shoot?
No. The Texas License to Carry course covers the law around carrying a handgun — where you may carry, use of force, and safe storage. It assumes you can already handle a firearm safely. It is not a shooting lesson.
Which class should I take first?
If you have never fired a handgun, take a beginners class first. Learn to load, aim, grip and shoot safely, then take the License to Carry class. Doing it the other way round means sitting through a law class before you have handled a gun.
What is the difference between a CHL and an LTC?
Nothing. Texas renamed the Concealed Handgun License to the License to Carry in 2016. People still use both names, and they mean the same licence.
Do I need to own a gun to take a class?
No. We rent firearms for the range portion of our courses, and the range fee is included in the rental.
Still not sure?
Call us on (956) 254-0724 and describe what you have done before. We will tell you which class you need, even if the answer is the free one.
The honest starting point
Start with the free beginners gun class. Get range ready, fast. No experience needed, no gun needed — we use dummy ammunition.