Waco sits right along I-35, halfway between two of the state’s biggest metros, and plenty of residents here still want a Texas License to Carry (LTC) even though the state’s constitutional carry law makes it optional. ETXSTA offers an online course built for real schedules — college students, commuters, and everyone else — with the classroom portion done from home and a short shooting test at a range near Waco.
From Sign-Up to Certificate: How the Course Works
Texas requires two things from every LTC applicant: an approved classroom course and a passing score on a live-fire proficiency test. ETXSTA handles the classroom portion entirely online, covering:
- Texas firearm laws
- Use of force and self-defense law
- Safe handgun handling and storage
- Non-violent dispute resolution
- Proper interaction with law enforcement while carrying
Finish at your own pace, and once you’re done, instantly download your LTC-104 Certificate of Training — the official Texas DPS document your application requires. Hold onto it: it’s valid for two years, but has to still be current on the day you submit your LTC application.
Range Day Details
Once your certificate is ready, schedule your shooting proficiency test with a certified instructor in Waco or a nearby location. The state-mandated course of fire adds up to 50 rounds:
- 3 yards – 20 rounds
- 7 yards – 20 rounds
- 15 yards – 10 rounds
You need a 70% score to pass, and if it doesn’t happen on the first try, Texas allows up to three attempts at both the written exam and the range test within a 12-month window.
A handful of applicants can skip the range altogether: active-duty military members and veterans with a range score or proof of firearms familiarization training from the past 10 years, state correctional officers, and county jailers who completed firearms training on the job only need to complete the online classroom course.
Who Can Apply
Texas DPS requires that every applicant:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have no felony conviction
- Have no Class A or B misdemeanor conviction in the last five years
- Not be under a protective or restraining order
- Have no 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 be finally determined delinquent on child support
Reasons to Get Licensed Anyway
Even under constitutional carry, an LTC still delivers:
- Reciprocity in 37 other states
- Certain legal protections and advantages
- Access to places where permitless carry isn’t recognized
- Skipping the NICS background check when buying from a dealer
ETXSTA Serves Waco
State-approved curriculum, a simple online platform, and a straightforward path to your range day near Waco — that’s what ETXSTA brings to the table.