Houston traffic alone is enough reason to skip an all-day, in-person firearms class. East Texas Security Training Academy (ETXSTA) built its License to Carry (LTC) course to work around that reality: a state-approved online curriculum you finish on your own schedule, paired with a quick, local hands-on step to wrap things up.
How the Course Breaks Down
The ETXSTA program has two parts. Part one is online classroom instruction you complete at your own pace, whenever it’s convenient — before work, on a lunch break, whenever. You’ll cover Texas firearm laws, the legal rules around use of force and self-defense, safe handgun handling and storage, techniques for resolving conflict without violence, and how to interact properly with law enforcement while you’re carrying.
Finish the classroom material and you can instantly download your LTC-104 Certificate of Training right then and there — the official Texas Department of Public Safety document proving you completed the required coursework, which you’ll submit alongside your LTC application. It’s valid for two years, so make sure it’s still current when you file your paperwork.
Part two is the in-person shooting proficiency test with an ETXSTA-certified instructor in Houston or a nearby location. You’ll shoot 50 rounds total across three distances: 20 at 3 yards, 20 at 7 yards, and 10 at 15 yards. A passing score is 70% or better. And if you don’t nail it on your first visit, you’re not out of luck — applicants get up to three attempts to pass both the written exam and the range test within a 12-month window.
Who Can Skip the Range Portion?
Not everyone needs to visit the range. Active-duty military members and veterans with a qualifying range score or documented firearms familiarization training from within the last 10 years are exempt, along with state correctional officers and county jailers who received firearms training on the job. Those applicants only need to complete the online classroom course.
Eligibility Requirements
Texas law spells out exactly who can apply for an LTC. You must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have no felony conviction
- Have no Class A or Class B misdemeanor conviction within the past five years
- Not be subject to a protective or restraining order
- Have no criminal charges pending or active against you
- Not be a chemically dependent person
- Be of sound mind
- Be qualified under both state and federal law to possess a handgun
- Not have been finally determined delinquent on child support obligations
Constitutional Carry Isn’t the Whole Story
Texas allows permitless carry, so an LTC isn’t strictly required to carry a handgun — but plenty of Houston residents pursue one anyway, and for good reason. It gets you reciprocity in 37 other states, coverage in some places where permitless carry doesn’t apply, added legal protections in certain situations, and the ability to skip the NICS background check when purchasing a firearm from a dealer. ETXSTA makes checking that box easy, with a fully online classroom experience and a straightforward path to your range day here in the Houston area.