Corpus Christi sits on the water, and a lot of the people who call it home already carry a firearm for personal protection without a permit — Texas is a constitutional carry state, after all. So why bother with a License to Carry? Because an LTC opens doors that permitless carry simply doesn’t, and East Texas Security Training Academy (ETXSTA) built an online course that makes earning one painless for busy Coastal Bend residents.
Do You Qualify? Texas LTC Eligibility
Before you enroll, make sure you meet the state’s requirements. Under Texas law, an applicant must:
- Be at least 18 years old — there is no separate, higher age threshold for civilians
- Have no felony conviction
- Have no Class A or Class B misdemeanor conviction within the last five years
- Not be subject to a protective or restraining order
- Have no criminal charges pending or active
- Not be a chemically dependent person
- Be of sound mind
- Be qualified to possess a handgun under both state and federal law
- Not have been finally determined delinquent on child support obligations
Two Steps: Online Study, Then a Live Fire Test
ETXSTA’s LTC course breaks down into two pieces. First comes the classroom portion, which you work through online and at your own pace — log in on a lunch break, after the kids go to bed, whenever it fits your schedule. It covers Texas firearm law, the legal use of force and self-defense, safe handgun handling and storage, how to de-escalate a conflict without violence, and how to properly interact with law enforcement while you’re carrying.
Once you finish the classroom material, you can instantly download your LTC-104 Certificate of Training — the Texas Department of Public Safety’s official proof-of-training document that gets submitted with your LTC application. Just remember, that certificate is only good for two years, so plan to apply before it expires.
The second part is hands-on: a live shooting proficiency test with an ETXSTA-certified instructor in Corpus Christi or a nearby location. You’ll fire a total of 50 rounds across three distances — 20 rounds at 3 yards, 20 rounds at 7 yards, and 10 rounds at 15 yards — and you need to land at least 70% of your shots in the scoring area to pass. If it doesn’t click the first time, don’t stress: applicants get up to three attempts to pass both the written and range exams within a 12-month window.
Skip the Range Test? Some Applicants Can
Not everyone has to complete the in-person shooting portion. Active-duty military members and veterans with a qualifying range score or documented firearms familiarization training from within the last 10 years, along with state correctional officers and county jailers who completed firearms training as part of their job, only need to finish the online classroom course.
Constitutional Carry Doesn’t Replace the LTC — Here’s Why It Still Pays Off
Since Texas allows permitless carry, plenty of folks in Corpus Christi ask whether an LTC is even worth pursuing. It is, for a few concrete reasons:
- Reciprocity on the road — Your Texas LTC is recognized in 37 other states, so it travels well if you’re headed to a family reunion or a fishing trip out of state.
- Coverage where permitless carry falls short — Certain locations and situations that constitutional carry doesn’t cover are still open to LTC holders.
- Legal advantages — LTC holders can benefit from added legal protections in some circumstances.
- Faster purchases — Buying a handgun from a licensed dealer? An LTC lets you skip the NICS background check.
ETXSTA has built its reputation on making that process simple: a state-approved online curriculum, instructors who know the material inside and out, and a smooth path to scheduling your range day in Corpus Christi. There’s no reason to put it off any longer.