Rotating shifts and long commutes across the Permian Basin make a traditional weekend LTC class hard to pencil in. ETXSTA’s online License to Carry course was built for exactly that kind of schedule — work through the required classroom hours whenever you’re off the clock, then wrap up with a single range visit near Odessa.
What the Course of Fire Looks Like
Before we get to eligibility, here’s what you’ll actually do on range day. Texas requires 50 rounds across three distances:
- 3 yards – 20 rounds
- 7 yards – 20 rounds
- 15 yards – 10 rounds
You need to land at least 70% of those rounds in the scoring zone to pass, and you get up to three attempts at both the written exam and the range test within a 12-month window if you need them.
The Online Portion Comes First
Before scheduling your range day, you’ll complete ETXSTA’s self-paced online classroom instruction, covering:
- Texas firearm laws
- Use-of-force and self-defense law
- Safe handgun handling and storage
- Non-violent dispute resolution
- Proper interaction with law enforcement while carrying
Once you finish, you’ll schedule time with an ETXSTA-certified instructor in Odessa or a nearby location to complete the shooting proficiency test.
Who’s Eligible for a Texas LTC
Texas requires that applicants:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have no felony convictions
- Have no Class A or Class B misdemeanor convictions in the past five years
- Not be under a protective or restraining order
- Have no pending criminal charges
- Not be a chemically dependent person
- Qualify under state and federal law to possess a handgun
- Be of sound mind
- Not be finally determined delinquent on child support
Exemptions from the Range Test
Active-duty military and veterans with a range score or firearms familiarization training within the last 10 years — along with state correctional officers and county jailers who trained on the job — don’t need to complete the live-fire portion. The online classroom course alone satisfies their training requirement.
Is an LTC Still Worth It in a Permitless-Carry State?
West Texas has plenty of open country where permitless carry already applies, but a license still delivers benefits permitless carry can’t:
- Reciprocity with 37 other states
- Certain legal protections and advantages
- The ability to carry in some places permitless carry doesn’t reach
- Skipping the NICS background check on your next firearm purchase
Complete the online coursework and you can download your LTC-104 Certificate of Training right away — the document Texas DPS requires with your license application. It stays valid for two years, so submit your application before that window closes.
Training with ETXSTA in Odessa
ETXSTA understands Permian Basin schedules and pairs its online curriculum with flexible local range options, so finishing your LTC near Odessa doesn’t mean losing a day of work.