CPL Classes in Michigan: Required Hours, Eligibility, and Certificate

To get a Michigan concealed pistol license, you have to complete a state-certified pistol training course that runs at least eight hours — five hours in a classroom and three hours on a firing range. CPL classes in Michigan are taught by private instructors certified by the state or by a recognized national firearms organization, and the certificate of completion stays valid for five years from the date of the class.¹

What a Qualifying Class Covers

Michigan sets the minimum content and hours by statute. A course must be at least eight hours total, certified under MCL 28.425j, and taught by an instructor approved by the state or by a national or state firearms training organization.¹

Classroom Instruction (Five Hours)

Six topic areas are required in the classroom portion:¹

Safe storage, use, and handling of a pistol, including preventing unauthorized access by children.
Ammunition knowledge and the fundamentals of shooting — how ammunition works, how to load and clear a pistol, basic marksmanship.
Pistol shooting positions, including stance, grip, and body mechanics.
Firearms and the law, including civil liability, and when deadly force is legally justified. This segment has to be taught by an attorney or by someone specifically trained in the use of deadly force.
Avoiding and controlling violent confrontations, including de-escalation and awareness.
Michigan’s concealed carry laws, including the specific rules that apply once you’re carrying.

The legal segment is usually where students get their first real exposure to Michigan’s self-defense framework, including the state’s version of stand-your-ground protection and the Castle Doctrine. Expect scenario-based teaching that walks through the line between a justified defensive use of force and one that leads to criminal charges or a civil suit. A lot of first-time students are surprised by how narrow that line can be.

Range Instruction (Three Hours)

You have to spend at least three hours on a firing range under a certified instructor and fire a minimum of 30 rounds of ammunition.¹ The point is to show you can safely operate a pistol and hit a target. Most instructors run basic drills at varying distances. Thirty rounds is a modest floor, and classes typically include experienced shooters alongside people who’ve never touched a handgun.

Plan on bringing your own pistol and ammunition. Many providers rent, but confirm before class day.

How to Pick a Class

There’s no single statewide training program. Classes are run independently by certified private instructors, and prices generally run from about $75 to $200 depending on the provider, the location, and whether ammunition and range fees are included. The Michigan State Police maintain a list of certified instructors, which is a reasonable starting point if you don’t have a personal referral.

Before you register, check a few things with the provider:

The certificate they issue must specifically reference compliance with MCL 28.425j. That’s the language the county clerk looks for.
Ask whether you need to bring your own pistol and ammunition, or whether rentals and ammo are included in the price.
Confirm the schedule. Some providers run the full course in a single day — classroom in the morning, range in the afternoon. Others split it across a weekend. Either format works as long as the total hours and round count are met.

An instructor who signs off on a training certificate for someone who did not actually complete the course commits a felony punishable by up to four years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500.¹ Legitimate instructors won’t cut corners on attendance or round counts, and you shouldn’t ask them to.

Who Can Take the Class and Get Licensed

Finishing the class is only useful if you’re actually eligible for a CPL. The baseline requirements: at least 21 years old, a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, and a Michigan resident for at least six months before applying. Residency is normally shown with a Michigan driver’s license or state ID. The six-month residency rule can be waived only for a temporary license when the county clerk finds probable cause that your safety or a family member’s safety is at immediate risk.²

Criminal history disqualifies the largest share of would-be applicants. A felony conviction or a pending felony charge is a hard bar. Certain misdemeanors trigger an eight-year waiting period from the date of conviction, including second-offense OWI, reckless driving, aggravated assault, domestic assault, and possession of a controlled substance.² A separate list of less-serious misdemeanors carries a three-year wait.

Mental health history matters too. Michigan bars anyone who has been involuntarily committed (inpatient or outpatient) for mental illness, anyone found not guilty by reason of insanity, and anyone under a court order of legal incapacity.³ Applicants also have to self-certify that they do not currently have a mental illness diagnosis that includes an assessment of danger to self or others.

Federal law adds its own prohibited categories under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), including felony convictions, certain domestic-violence restraining orders, dishonorable discharge, and unlawful use of a controlled substance.⁴ The Lautenberg Amendment extends the federal ban to anyone convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, even if Michigan wouldn’t otherwise disqualify them.⁵

One category is worth flagging specifically because Michigan law and federal law disagree. Michigan allows medical and recreational marijuana, and state CPL law doesn’t specifically bar marijuana users. Federal law still treats marijuana users as prohibited persons for firearm purposes, and the ATF’s Form 4473 continues to treat marijuana use as disqualifying for a firearm purchase. Lying on that form is a federal crime. Anyone who uses marijuana and wants to possess firearms is in a real legal conflict, regardless of what Michigan allows.

What to Do With Your Certificate

The completion certificate is good for five years, which is a comfortable window if life gets in the way between class and application.¹ When you’re ready, you bring the certificate, a valid Michigan driver’s license or state ID, and a completed Form RI-012 to your county clerk’s office in person. The total cost is $115 — a $100 application and licensing fee plus $15 for fingerprinting.⁶ Fingerprints are taken separately at a law enforcement agency or LiveScan location and run through state and federal background checks.

Intentionally making a false statement on the CPL application is a felony punishable by up to four years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500.² The application is signed under oath.

Renewal Training Is Shorter

You don’t retake the full eight-hour class to renew. Within the six months before your renewal application, you have to complete at least three hours of training review and at least one hour of range time, and you self-certify that on the renewal form. No new instructor certificate is required.⁷ If you’re planning ahead, that lighter requirement is worth knowing before you book your initial class — the one time you’ll sit through the full eight hours is at the start.

1
Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 28.425j – Pistol Training or Safety Program
2
Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 28.425b – License Application
3
Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 28.425b – License Application
4
United States Sentencing Commission. Section 922(g) Firearms
5
U.S. Marshals Service. Lautenberg Amendment
6
Michigan State Police. Concealed Pistol Application and Instructions
7
Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 28.425l – Renewal