East Texas Security Training Academy is Texas’s trusted provider of online License to Carry (LTC) classes, approved statewide by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Our 100% video-based course is self-paced and available on any device. With a 100% pass rate, thousands of Texans have already trusted us to get licensed.

The Texas License to Carry provides real protection and freedom: fewer restrictions, more places you can legally carry, and it is honored in 37 other states.

What the course covers

Texas DPS sets the curriculum. Every approved LTC course must cover four subjects:

• Laws that relate to weapons and the use of deadly force — what the law actually says about when force is justified, and the consequences when it is not
• Handgun use and safety — including the use of restraint holsters and methods to ensure the secure carrying of openly carried handguns
• Non-violent dispute resolution — recognising and defusing a situation before it escalates
• Proper storage practices for handguns — with an emphasis on storage that eliminates the possibility of accidental injury to a child

DPS requires four to six hours of classroom instruction. Because our course is self-paced video, you work through it on your own schedule rather than sitting in a room all day.

Benefits of having a Texas LTC

• Trespass protection
• Campus carry
• School zone carry
• Carry in 37 states
• Peace of mind when carrying
• Smoother interactions with law enforcement
• Bypass the background check when buying guns
• Protection if carrying past no-gun signs
• Learn the carry laws
• The legal protection an LTC provides
• Fewer restrictions

How the online course works

• 100% video-based — no textbook to work through
• Self-paced — start, stop and resume whenever suits you
• Any device — phone, tablet or computer
• DPS approved statewide — valid anywhere in Texas

What you still have to do in person

Texas DPS requires every LTC applicant to demonstrate handgun proficiency in person. The classroom portion can be completed online — the shooting qualification cannot.

That range session is booked separately. It runs about an hour at the East Texas Rifle and Pistol Club, costs $50, and covers the full 50-round course of fire with a certified instructor scoring it. Most students finish the online class first, then book a range date. See our LTC Shooting Qualification page for the course of fire and what to bring.

Common questions about the online LTC class

How long does the online portion take?
DPS requires four to six hours of classroom instruction. Because the course is self-paced video, you can work through it in one sitting or spread it across several.

Do I need to finish the online class before the range session?
Most students do, and it is the order we recommend. The shooting qualification itself is a separate booking.

Is this valid outside East Texas?
Yes. The course is approved by Texas DPS statewide.

Do I need to own a handgun to start?
Not for the online portion. You will need one for the range qualification.

What happens after I finish both parts?
You submit your application to DPS with your proficiency verification. Your instructor will explain the paperwork on range day.