License to carry (LTC) Classes
courses meeting the training requirement to obtain a license to carry a handgun from the texas department of public safety
UPCOMING LICENSE TO CARRY (LTC) CLASSES
DATE TIME LOCATION SLOTS REMAINING
March 10. 2018 9AM - 4 PM West Austin several
*Please email me via the contact form below to verify that there are still slots in the class.
The License to Carry (LTC) course is required by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) in order to obtain a LTC. The course is $120, which includes lunch and range fees. It does not include ammunition. Nor does it include license application fees to the state or charges for fingerprinting.
To reserve your spot, you will need to put down a deposit of $60, via personal check or PayPal. I do not accept credit cards, although you can use a credit card through PayPal. Contact me using the form below to let me know your preferred method of payment, and I will assist you.
Deposits are fully refundable up to seven (7) days before the class. For cancellations less than seven days before class, the deposit can be used as a credit for you or someone else of your choosing for up to one year of the class date. Please note I cannot "hold" your spot without a deposit. Due to the increased demand for the course, registrations are made on a first come, first serve basis.
You can read more about my background here. I am one of the few LTC instructors in the state that is also a licensed attorney. We will spend time on the subject matter required by DPS. You will learn from both lecture and by participating in scenario based training using non-firing blue guns. Students report they learn the material much quicker and have a better grasp of it after participating in scenarios.
I limit class sizes to six people to help ensure safety on the range as well as to give students ample opportunities to ask questions.
In addition, I can also provide the course at your home or workplace for a flat fee. This is a good option for a group of friends who wish to take the class together.
A few details to help you prepare for this:
DATE TIME LOCATION SLOTS REMAINING
March 10. 2018 9AM - 4 PM West Austin several
*Please email me via the contact form below to verify that there are still slots in the class.
The License to Carry (LTC) course is required by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) in order to obtain a LTC. The course is $120, which includes lunch and range fees. It does not include ammunition. Nor does it include license application fees to the state or charges for fingerprinting.
To reserve your spot, you will need to put down a deposit of $60, via personal check or PayPal. I do not accept credit cards, although you can use a credit card through PayPal. Contact me using the form below to let me know your preferred method of payment, and I will assist you.
Deposits are fully refundable up to seven (7) days before the class. For cancellations less than seven days before class, the deposit can be used as a credit for you or someone else of your choosing for up to one year of the class date. Please note I cannot "hold" your spot without a deposit. Due to the increased demand for the course, registrations are made on a first come, first serve basis.
You can read more about my background here. I am one of the few LTC instructors in the state that is also a licensed attorney. We will spend time on the subject matter required by DPS. You will learn from both lecture and by participating in scenario based training using non-firing blue guns. Students report they learn the material much quicker and have a better grasp of it after participating in scenarios.
I limit class sizes to six people to help ensure safety on the range as well as to give students ample opportunities to ask questions.
In addition, I can also provide the course at your home or workplace for a flat fee. This is a good option for a group of friends who wish to take the class together.
A few details to help you prepare for this:
- You can use any gun you want, and effective September 1, 2017, any caliber you want. If you plan on bringing your own gun, please email me the specifics about it (manufacturer, model number, caliber). For safety reasons, you may be required to shoot one of my guns instead of the one you plan to bring.
- I strongly suggest you go on the DPS website and start the CHL application process. It will dramatically speed up your wait time if they start their background check on you now. It taking about 5 weeks to get your CHL.
- If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are nursing, I would encourage you to wait until you are not before taking the class due to the risk of lead exposure while shooting. For most people, the risk of lead exposure on the gun range can be effectively managed. However, those who may be pregnant or nursing may wish to refrain until it is safer to do so.
- What to wear: for the classroom time, whatever you want. On the range, you will need closed toe shoes, a button up shirt OR t-shirt that is not a v-neck cut. Some like to wear a baseball cap while they shoot to keep the empty shells from other shooters from hitting them in the head (it doesn’t hurt when that happens…just annoying). Note the gun range is outdoors, so please dress to be outside during the range portion.
- We will have sodas, water and snacks. Coffee is BYO. Please let me know if you have food allergies for lunch planning purposes.
- Speaking of allergies, please note we have indoor dogs at our home.
- I strive to make this class accessible to everyone legally entitled to have a LTC, including those with disabilities. If you have a disability that limits your mobility or ability to fire a handgun, please contact me using the form below so that we can fully discuss your situation to determine the best course of action.
- You should not buy a gun just to take the course. I'd prefer you make an educated purchase. Here is some excellent guidance on what sort of gun you should consider purchasing. I have loaner guns for those of you who do not have one. (Other LTC classes in Austin will "rent" a gun to you for the class. If you attend my class, you do not pay to rent a gun just to shoot it for the test.) I have Glocks in 9mm and 40 caliber, a Smith and Wesson M&P 9c (a 9mm handgun as well) as well as a Springfield XD in 40 caliber.
- In terms of ammo, you will need at a minimum 50 rounds. Ammo is generally sold in boxes of 50, so you should be good with one box. When buying ammo, go to some place like Academy or WalMart and ask them for “50 rounds of ammo in 9 millimeter suitable for the LTC course.” 50 rounds should cost you about $15 or so.
- You will need to be able to demonstrate competency with the firearm. Here is the shooting test you will be administered at the range. I would recommend practicing with the gun of your choice at 7 yards prior to taking the course.
- A note about guns that are double action/single action (DA/SA): Many students struggle with these type of guns on the range during the shooting test. According to KR Training, "DA/SA refers to a pistol that has a decocker, is designed to be carried with the hammer down, and is designed for the first shot to be fired double action (long, heavy trigger pull), with all subsequent shots fired in single action (shorter, lighter trigger pull) mode. Popular DA/SA pistols include the SIG 226 & 229, Beretta 92 and 96 series, and the Ruger P-series guns."
DPS requires that DA/SA guns start each string of shots in the hammer down position. You are free to cock the hammer before firing, but that time spent doing so is on the clock. I have had many students who lose points because they use DA/SA and cannot get their rounds off in time because they insisted on cocking the gun rather than firing double action for the first round. If you plan on using this type of gun on the LTC range, I would practice firing without cocking the gun first, firing the first round in double action and then firing 3-4 rounds. - Upon class completion, you'll be given a CHL-100 form, which you will provide to DPS. Many students prefer to hand deliver the form to the DPS headquarters in Austin rather than mail it. If you choose to do so, follow these helpful directions, courtesy of a former student:
- Set GPS or follow directions to 108 Denson Drive (The secure dropbox is located at 108B Denson Drive)
- There will be signs for "Texas Department of Public Safety Regulatory Services"
- On those signs will be arrows to the "Secure Dropbox"
- Those arrows take you to the back of the building
- You want to enter the "Regulatory Services Lobby Entrance"
- Through the doors you'll see the Secured Dropbox for "CHL and Controlled Substances Applications"
Here's a map of the pertinent parts of the DPS campus on North Lamar in Austin.
