How to Get a CCW Permit in Arizona: Training, Application, Renewal

To get a CCW permit in Arizona, you must be at least 21 (or 19 with military service), meet the state’s eligibility rules, complete an approved firearms training course, and mail a completed application packet with fingerprints, a photo ID copy, proof of training, and a $60 fee to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The permit is valid for five years.

Arizona is a constitutional carry state, so any adult who can legally possess a firearm may carry it concealed without a permit.¹²³⁴

Who Qualifies

Arizona’s eligibility rules are short but strict. Miss any one of them and the application is denied.⁵

At least 21 years old, or at least 19 with proof of current military service or an honorable (or general under honorable conditions) discharge from any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, reserves, or National Guard.
An Arizona resident or a U.S. citizen.
Not under indictment for and not convicted of a felony in any jurisdiction, unless the conviction was expunged, set aside, or vacated, or firearm rights have been restored.
Not adjudicated mentally incompetent and not committed to a mental institution.
Lawfully present in the United States.

On top of those rules, Arizona bars anyone classified as a “prohibited possessor” from having a firearm at all. That definition reaches further than most people expect. It includes anyone currently on probation for a felony or a domestic violence offense, anyone found by a court to be a danger to themselves or others, and undocumented or certain nonimmigrant aliens with limited exceptions.⁶ Federal law adds another trap: a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction bars firearm possession nationwide under the Lautenberg Amendment, even though it is only a misdemeanor.⁷ This one catches applicants off guard more than any other disqualifier.

The Training Requirement

You have to show DPS that you know how to handle a firearm safely. Arizona accepts several ways to satisfy this, so most applicants can find one that fits.⁵

A firearms safety or training course open to the public, offered by a law enforcement agency, college, private academy, or firearms training school, so long as DPS has approved the program or the instructor holds NRA certification.
Any firearms safety or training course offered directly by the National Rifle Association.
A hunter safety course approved by the Arizona Game and Fish Department or a comparable agency in another state.
A firearms course designed for security guards, special deputies, or similar roles, if approved by DPS.
Proof of current military service or an honorable/general discharge from any branch.
A valid or expired concealed carry permit from another state, if that state required training before issuing it.

You will submit a certificate of completion (or equivalent documentation, such as discharge paperwork) with your application. Courses typically cover safe handling, marksmanship basics, and the legal boundaries of self-defense and concealed carry in Arizona. If you are shopping for a class, look for one taught by an NRA-certified instructor; those satisfy the requirement whether or not DPS has separately approved the program.

What Goes in the Application Packet

Once you have the training certificate, everything goes to the DPS Concealed Weapons Permit Unit (CWPU). The packet must contain:⁸

The completed application form. Use black ink or fill in the PDF version, print it, and sign it. Every field must be filled in and every question answered.
Your training documentation.
Two fingerprint cards taken by a qualified fingerprint technician. Many local police departments and UPS Store locations offer this service; expect to pay roughly $10 to $25.
A photocopy of a government-issued photo ID such as your driver’s license. If you were born outside the United States, include a copy of your permanent resident card or U.S. passport.
The $60 fee, paid by money order, cashier’s check, or certified check made out to AZ DPS with your name on the payment. Personal checks, business checks, and cash are not accepted, and DPS will return the entire application unprocessed if you use the wrong payment method.²

How Long It Takes

By statute, DPS must finish all background qualification checks within 60 days of receiving your application and then issue the permit within 15 working days after those checks clear.⁵ DPS tells applicants to allow 75 days before contacting the CWPU about a missing permit.²

If your application is denied, DPS must notify you within 15 days after completing the background check and must state the reasons. If you are arrested or indicted for a disqualifying offense while your application is pending or after you receive the permit, the permit is immediately suspended and seized. If you are later found not guilty or the charges are dismissed or dropped, you can have the permit restored by giving DPS court documentation or a letter from the county attorney.⁵

Renewing the Permit

An Arizona CCW permit lasts five years from the date of issuance. Active-duty military members deployed overseas get an automatic extension until 90 days after the deployment ends.⁵

DPS sends a renewal reminder and application form at least 60 days before your permit expires, and it recommends submitting the renewal at least 90 days early. You can apply online through the DPS Public Services Portal. The renewal fee is $43, and you will pass a new criminal history records check. No new fingerprints and no repeat training course are required.²

Watch the expiration date. If more than 61 days pass after your permit expires, DPS will not process a renewal, and you will have to start over with a brand-new application and the full $60 fee. An expired permit in good standing can still serve as proof of firearms competence for that new application, but a permit that was revoked or suspended cannot.

1
Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 13-3102 – Misconduct Involving Weapons; Defenses; Classification
2
Arizona Department of Public Safety. Concealed Weapons and Permits
3
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Brady Permit Chart
4
Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control. Firearms FAQ
5
Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 13-3112 – Concealed Weapons; Qualification; Application; Permit to Carry
6
Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 13-3101 – Definitions
7
U.S. Marshals Service. Lautenberg Amendment
8
Arizona Department of Public Safety. Concealed Weapons Permit New Application Packet