Family safety looks a little different in a master-planned community like The Woodlands, but the questions parents ask us are the same: is a License to Carry (LTC) worth it, and how do I fit it into an already packed calendar? ETXSTA’s online LTC course answers both. You complete the required classroom training whenever you have a spare hour, then handle the hands-on shooting test at a range near The Woodlands.
What the Online Course Actually Covers
Texas DPS requires every LTC applicant to complete a classroom curriculum before ever picking up a firearm for the exam. ETXSTA delivers that curriculum entirely online and self-paced, walking you through:
- Texas firearm law
- Use-of-force and self-defense principles
- Handgun handling and secure storage
- Nonviolent conflict resolution
- How to interact with law enforcement while carrying
The moment you finish, you can instantly download your LTC-104 Certificate of Training — the official document Texas DPS requires with your license application. It stays valid for two years, but it has to be current on the day you actually submit your application, so don’t let it sit too long before finishing the process.
The Range Day: What to Expect
With your certificate in hand, you’ll schedule a shooting proficiency test with a certified instructor in The Woodlands or a nearby location. The state’s course of fire adds up to 50 rounds:
- 3 yards – 20 rounds
- 7 yards – 20 rounds
- 15 yards – 10 rounds
A 70% score gets you a pass. Nervous about your aim? Texas allows up to three attempts at both the written test and the range exam within any 12-month stretch, so a rough first try isn’t the end of the road.
Not everyone needs the range portion. Active-duty military members or veterans who have a range score or proof of firearms familiarization training from within the past 10 years, state correctional officers, and county jailers who completed firearms training through their job are exempt — they only need to finish the online classroom course.
Eligibility Checklist
Before enrolling, make sure you meet every one of Texas’s LTC requirements:
- 18 years of age or older
- No felony conviction
- No Class A or B misdemeanor conviction in the last five years
- Not currently subject to a protective or restraining order
- No pending criminal charges
- Not a chemically dependent person
- Qualified under state and federal law to possess a handgun
- Of sound mind
- Not finally determined delinquent on child support
Worth It Even With Permitless Carry
Texas residents can legally carry without a license, yet plenty of families in The Woodlands still choose to get one for these reasons:
- Reciprocity with 37 other states for travel outside Texas
- Legal protections that apply specifically to license holders
- Access to locations that don’t recognize permitless carry
- No NICS check required when buying a firearm from a dealer
ETXSTA Makes It Simple
From the state-approved online curriculum to lining up your range day near The Woodlands, ETXSTA handles the logistics so you can focus on getting licensed.