Down in Brownsville, driving across state lines for work, family, or a Gulf Coast getaway is a normal part of life — and that’s exactly where a Texas License to Carry earns its keep. East Texas Security Training Academy (ETXSTA) offers a fully online LTC course built for Rio Grande Valley schedules: finish the classroom work from your phone or laptop, then handle the range requirement close to home.
Two Steps, One Certificate
Every Texas LTC applicant completes the same two-part process, and ETXSTA handles both:
Step 1 — The Shooting Proficiency Test
You’ll meet an ETXSTA-certified instructor in Brownsville or a nearby location to shoot the state-mandated course of fire — 50 rounds total, broken into three strings:
- 3 yards – 20 rounds
- 7 yards – 20 rounds
- 15 yards – 10 rounds
A 70% score gets you through. If your first attempt doesn’t go as planned, Texas allows up to three tries at both the written test and the range test within a 12-month period, so a rough day at the range isn’t the end of the road.
Step 2 — The Online Classroom
On your own device, at your own pace, you’ll work through the required subject matter:
- Texas firearm laws
- Use of force and self-defense law
- Safe handgun handling and storage
- Non-violent conflict resolution
- Proper conduct when interacting with law enforcement while carrying
Finish the modules and your LTC-104 Certificate of Training — the paperwork Texas DPS actually requires with your application — is ready to download immediately. Keep in mind that both certificates are only good for two years, and they must still be current on the day you submit your application.
Who’s Eligible?
Texas requires LTC applicants to meet every one of these conditions:
- 18 years of age or older
- No felony conviction on record
- No Class A or Class B misdemeanor conviction within the past 5 years
- Not currently restricted by a protective or restraining order
- No pending criminal charges
- Not chemically dependent
- Legally qualified to possess a handgun under state and federal law
- Of sound mind
- Not finally determined delinquent on child support
Active-duty military, veterans with a qualifying range score or firearms familiarization proof from the last decade, state correctional officers, and county jailers who trained on the job are all exempt from the in-person shooting test and only need to complete the online course.
Still Worth It Under Constitutional Carry
Permitless carry didn’t erase the reasons to get licensed. An LTC still gets you reciprocity in 37 other states, added legal protections, the ability to carry in a handful of places permitless carry doesn’t reach, and a pass on the NICS background check when buying from a dealer. ETXSTA is proud to be the training provider Brownsville-area residents turn to for a straightforward path to all of it.