A Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) license — also called a Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP), Carry of Concealed Deadly Weapon (CCDW), or License to Carry (LTC) depending on your state — allows you to legally carry a concealed firearm in public. As of 2026, 29 states are constitutional carry states, meaning no permit is required to carry concealed. But even in those states, a permit has significant advantages.
Why Get a Permit Even in Constitutional Carry States
If your state allows constitutional (permitless) carry, you might wonder why you'd bother getting a permit. Here's why:
The General CCW Application Process
While every state differs, the typical process looks like this:
2. Complete required training:
Most states require 4–16 hours of classroom and/or live-fire training from a state-certified instructor. Topics typically include: safe handling, storage, state use-of-force law, and basic marksmanship.
3. Submit your application:
To your local sheriff's office, state police, or a designated state agency. Includes: completed application form, training certificate, two forms of ID, passport photos (some states), fingerprints (some states), and payment.
4. Background check:
The issuing authority runs a more comprehensive background check than a standard NICS check.
5. Receive your permit:
Timelines range from 2 weeks (Arizona) to 6+ months (California urban areas). Most shall-issue states process in 30–90 days.
Shall-Issue vs. May-Issue States
Shall-Issue: The state must issue a permit to anyone who meets the statutory criteria. This includes: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY — and the 29 constitutional carry states.
May-Issue (post-Bruen effectively shall-issue in most cases): After NYSRPA v. Bruen (2022), states can no longer require "good cause" for a permit. CA, NY, NJ, MD, HI, CT, DE, MA, RI have attempted workarounds with varying success in courts.
De Facto Denial States: Hawaii and some California jurisdictions remain effectively impossible to obtain permits despite court decisions.
What CCW Training Covers (And What It Should)
A state CCW class teaches you the minimum legal knowledge. It does not make you a skilled defensive shooter. After getting your permit, invest in quality training from a reputable instructor.
CCW Costs by State (Approximate)
Note: Training course costs ($75–$300) are separate from application fees.
DJ Cavalcanti is the founder of DownRange, America's Firearms Intelligence Hub. A lifelong 2A advocate and Washington State resident, he built DownRange to give every American gun owner access to the legal intelligence and practical knowledge they need — all in one place.