By Ron, Tactical Fitness Austin Founder Last updated: May 2026
TL;DR
The Texas LTC (License to Carry) requires a classroom + range proficiency test. The course is 4-6 hours, the shooting test is 50 rounds at three distances, and you need 70% to pass. The classroom is easy. The shooting test trips up people who haven’t put recent reps in. This guide is what’s actually on the test, why most failures happen at the 15-yard line, and how to prep so you pass on day one.
What the Texas LTC actually is
The License to Carry (LTC) — formerly the Concealed Handgun License (CHL) — is the credential that lets you carry a handgun openly or concealed in Texas. Texas became a permitless-carry state in September 2021, meaning most adults can legally carry without a license. But the LTC still matters for:
- Reciprocity — your LTC works in ~38 other states. Permitless carry doesn’t.
- Carrying in school zones — exemption requires a license.
- Faster firearm purchases — LTC holders skip the federal background check at purchase.
- Carrying despite the 2021 reform’s eligibility gaps — some people who can’t permitless-carry can still get the LTC, and vice versa.
- Employer requirements — some workplaces require LTC, not just permitless eligibility.
For most Texans who carry seriously, the LTC is still worth the 4-6 hours.
What the course covers (the classroom portion)
The LTC classroom curriculum is set by Texas DPS and runs 4-6 hours. It covers:
- Texas penal code on use of force and deadly force (this is the bulk of the class)
- Non-violent dispute resolution (Texas requires this be covered)
- Handgun safe storage
- Where you can and cannot carry (schools, polling places, courthouses, bars where 51% of revenue is alcohol, etc.)
- Use of restraint holsters and the consequences of intoxication while carrying
The classroom is easy. There’s a written exam at the end. Almost no one fails it.
What the proficiency test actually requires
This is where it gets real. The Texas DPS LTC proficiency test is 50 rounds, at three distances, scored on a B-27 silhouette target.
Course of fire
| Distance | Rounds | Time limits |
|---|---|---|
| 3 yards | 20 rounds | Various sub-stages |
| 7 yards | 20 rounds | Various sub-stages |
| 15 yards | 10 rounds | 15 seconds for 5, then 15 seconds for 5 |
Scoring
- Each round in the 8/9/10/X ring = 5 points
- Each round in the 7 ring = 4 points
- Each round in the bottom edge = 3 points
- Round off the silhouette = 0 points
Maximum score: 250. Passing: 175 (70%).
Where people actually fail
The classroom isn’t the problem. About 5% of LTC test-takers fail the shooting test. Almost always at the 15-yard line.
The 3-yard and 7-yard stages are forgiving — even mediocre shooters hit center mass at those ranges. The 15-yard stage is where:
- Sight alignment matters
- Trigger control under time pressure matters
- Recoil management between shots matters
- The shooter’s flinch (the involuntary push-down anticipating recoil) becomes obvious
If you’re going to fail, you fail at 15 yards. If you’re going to prep effectively, you prep at 15 yards.
What we run for LTC prep
We offer two formats for LTC preparation:
Format 1: LTC Course + Range Day (one-day, all-in)
The full LTC certification course taught by a Texas DPS-licensed instructor, followed by the proficiency test on the same day. 6-8 hours total. Pass the course, leave with the paperwork DPS needs.
Format 2: Pre-test private session (90 minutes, range only)
For people who’ve already taken the classroom (online or with another provider) and just want focused work on the shooting test. 50-100 rounds of structured practice on the actual test course of fire, with feedback on grip, sight alignment, trigger control, and 15-yard performance.
This is the version most existing gun owners want — they don’t need the classroom; they need confidence on the test.
Format 3: 1-on-1 fundamentals → LTC ready (3 sessions, 90 min each)
For people who’ve never shot a handgun or only shot a few times years ago. Three sessions across 2-3 weeks: fundamentals (grip, stance, sight alignment), live-fire drills, then a final session on the actual LTC course of fire. By session 3, you’re ready for the test.
How to prep yourself (if you’re going solo)
If you’re going to range up on your own and not work with an instructor, this is the prep that consistently gets people to pass:
Two weeks out
- 100 rounds of slow-fire at 7 yards, focusing on sight alignment and trigger press. No time pressure.
- Identify your flinch — film yourself with a phone (someone else holding it) and watch for downward muzzle movement before the trigger break.
One week out
- 50 rounds at 15 yards, no time pressure. Just establish you can hit the 8-ring at this distance.
- 50 rounds doing the actual LTC drills with timed sub-stages.
Day before
- 50 rounds dry-fire practice at home (ammo-free, focused on trigger press)
- Don’t shoot live the day before — let the technique consolidate
Day of
- Eat a normal breakfast, no caffeine spike
- Bring 100 rounds even though the test uses 50
- Bring eyes + ears, the handgun you’ll use, two magazines
What handgun to use
The most-permissive answer: whatever you’re most comfortable with. The most-practical answer: a service-size 9mm pistol with a 4-inch+ barrel. Compact carry pistols (sub-compacts, micro 9mms) make the 15-yard stage harder because of the short sight radius. If you have a service pistol and a carry pistol, take the test with the service pistol.
You can use a .380 or .22 if that’s all you have. You can use a revolver. The DPS just requires it’s a handgun.
Common questions
How long does it take to actually get the license after the class?
Once you pass the proficiency test, the instructor submits the paperwork. DPS processing typically takes 60-90 days. You’ll get fingerprinted as part of the application.
Can I take the classroom online?
Yes. Texas DPS allows online classroom completion. Some people prefer that; others learn better in person. The shooting test must be in person regardless.
What if I fail the test on test day?
You can re-take. Most instructors include one free re-take; some charge for additional attempts. The shooting test is the only part you’d re-take — you don’t redo the classroom.
Is the LTC needed if I have a clean record and Texas allows permitless carry?
Strictly speaking, no — for in-state carry. But see the use cases above (reciprocity, schools, faster purchases). Most Texans who carry seriously still get the LTC.
How much does the LTC cost end-to-end?
Roughly $40-100 for the DPS application fee, $50-150 for fingerprinting, and the instructor course typically runs $100-200. Total: $200-450.
Do you provide the gun and ammo?
For our prep sessions, yes — you can use one of our pistols and we provide ammunition. If you have your own setup, you can bring it. The official test uses YOUR pistol and your ammo (so the DPS paperwork ties to a gun you actually own).
What if I’ve never shot before?
Take the 3-session prep format. Three 4-hour sessions over 2-3 weeks gets a complete beginner from never-handled-a-gun to LTC-ready. We’ve run hundreds of people through this. The success rate is north of 95%.
Why work with us specifically
Three reasons private 1-on-1 prep with us outperforms big-class formats:
- Outdoor range — you train in the conditions where you’d actually need the skill. Real wind, real lighting, real ground.
- Single-shooter focus — the instructor watches every round, calls out the issues as they happen, corrects in real-time. In a 12-person class, you get 5 minutes of personalized feedback.
- Real diagnostics — we identify whether your issue is grip, sight alignment, trigger press, or anticipation. Most range sessions just give you rounds. Ours give you specific corrections.
How to book
If you want LTC prep:
- Pick the format (full one-day, pre-test session, or 3-session fundamentals)
- Book your dates — most slots available within 2-3 weeks
- Show up with comfortable clothing, water, and (optionally) your own pistol
Contact:
- Text/call: (512) 815-9101
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: Private training inquiry →
— Ron, Tactical Fitness Austin Founder
Tactical Fitness Austin offers private firearms training including LTC preparation, fundamentals, concealed carry, defensive pistol, and women’s firearms training. We also run bachelor parties, corporate events, and the Combat Club membership.
tacticalfitnessaustin.com · (512) 815-9101