Carrollton residents have a lot of reasons to add a Texas License to Carry to their wallet, even with constitutional carry on the books. East Texas Security Training Academy (ETXSTA) makes getting there simple with an online LTC course you can complete at home, then finish up with a quick in-person range day nearby.
Reasons to Get Licensed Anyway
Carrying without a permit is legal in Texas, but an LTC still delivers benefits permitless carry alone doesn’t:
- Reciprocity – Carry legally in 37 other states that honor the Texas LTC.
- Legal protections – Licensed carriers gain certain protections unlicensed carriers do not.
- Wider access – Some locations allow LTC holders where permitless carry isn’t recognized.
- Quicker purchases – Skip the NICS background check when buying from a licensed dealer.
The Training Requirement, Broken Down
Texas requires two components before DPS will issue a license: online classroom instruction, and an in-person shooting proficiency test. ETXSTA covers both.
The Classroom Portion
Self-paced and mobile-friendly, the course walks through Texas firearm law, use-of-force and self-defense rules, safe handling and storage, non-violent dispute resolution, and how to interact with law enforcement when you’re carrying. Complete it and you can download your LTC-104 Certificate of Training right away — the exact document DPS requires with your application.
The Range Portion
Schedule your shooting proficiency test with an ETXSTA-certified instructor in Carrollton or a nearby location. You’ll shoot:
- 3 yards – 20 rounds
- 7 yards – 20 rounds
- 15 yards – 10 rounds
You need a 70% score to pass 50 total rounds. If you come up short, you get up to three attempts on both the written and range exams within a 12-month period. Just remember: your training and proficiency certificates are good for two years, and they have to still be valid the day you submit your application.
Active-duty service members and veterans with a qualifying range score or firearms familiarization proof from the past 10 years, state correctional officers, and county jailers who trained as part of their job can skip the range test altogether and complete only the online course.
Are You Eligible?
To apply for a Texas LTC, you must:
- Be at least 18
- Have no felony conviction
- Have no Class A or B misdemeanor conviction in the last five years
- Not be subject to a protective or restraining order
- Have no pending criminal charges
- Not be chemically dependent
- Qualify under state and federal law to possess a handgun
- Be of sound mind
- Not be finally determined delinquent on child support
ETXSTA has helped Carrollton residents get through this process for years, pairing an easy online platform with local instructors who know exactly what DPS expects at range day.