Between the refineries, the port, and a home life that doesn’t stop at the county line, plenty of folks in Beaumont want a practical way to protect themselves and their families. Texas doesn’t require a license to carry a handgun anymore, but a growing number of Beaumont residents are choosing to get one anyway. ETXSTA built its online License to Carry (LTC) course so you can knock out the classroom portion on your own time, then finish up with a hands-on shooting test close to home.
Who Actually Needs to Meet These Requirements?
Texas keeps the LTC eligibility rules fairly straightforward, but every box has to be checked before Texas DPS will issue a license. To qualify, you must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have never been convicted of a felony
- Have no Class A or Class B misdemeanor conviction within the last five years
- Not currently be restricted by a protective or restraining order
- Have no criminal charges pending against you
- Not be considered a chemically dependent person
- Be qualified under state and federal law to purchase and possess a handgun
- Be of sound mind
- Not have been finally determined delinquent on child support payments
Two Steps, One License
Every LTC candidate in Texas has to clear two checkpoints: a classroom curriculum and a live-fire skills test. ETXSTA delivers the first one entirely online.
Part One: Self-Paced Online Instruction
Log in whenever it’s convenient and work through material covering:
- Texas laws governing firearms
- Use of force and justified self-defense
- Safe handling and secure storage of a handgun
- Resolving conflict without violence
- How to interact appropriately with law enforcement while carrying
As soon as you finish, your LTC-104 Certificate of Training is ready to download instantly. That’s the official Texas DPS document your license application needs, so keep a copy handy. Certificates stay valid for two years, but they have to still be current on the day you submit your LTC application.
Part Two: The Shooting Proficiency Test
Once your certificate is in hand, you’ll schedule a live-fire session with an ETXSTA-certified instructor in Beaumont or a nearby location. The course of fire is 50 rounds total:
- 3 yards – 20 rounds
- 7 yards – 20 rounds
- 15 yards – 10 rounds
You’ll need to hit at least 70% of the scoring area to pass. If the written exam or the range test doesn’t go your way the first time, don’t panic — Texas allows up to three attempts at each within a 12-month period.
A few applicants can skip the range day altogether and only need the online classroom course: active-duty military members and veterans who can show a range score or proof of firearms familiarization training within the past 10 years, Texas state correctional officers, and county jailers who completed firearms training as part of their job.
If Texas Doesn’t Require a Permit, Why Bother?
It’s a fair question. Here’s what an LTC still gets you on top of permitless carry:
- Reciprocity – Your Texas LTC is honored in 37 other states, which matters if Beaumont trips take you across state lines toward Louisiana or beyond.
- Legal advantages – Licensed carriers get certain legal protections that permitless carriers don’t.
- Broader access – Some locations that are off-limits to permitless carry still allow LTC holders in.
- Skip the NICS check – LTC holders bypass the federal background check when buying a firearm from a licensed dealer.
Trained by ETXSTA, Ready for Beaumont
ETXSTA built this course around real Texas DPS requirements and real people’s schedules — shift workers, parents, and everyone in between. You get a state-compliant curriculum, an easy-to-use online platform, and a straightforward path to your range day near Beaumont.