How to Get a Concealed Carry Permit in West Virginia

To get a concealed carry permit in West Virginia, you apply at the sheriff’s office in the county where you live, submit proof that you completed a handgun safety course with live firing, pass a state and federal background check, and pay a $50 fee. The sheriff has up to 45 days to approve or deny you, and an approved license is good for five years.

West Virginia already lets any non-prohibited adult 21 or older carry concealed without a permit inside the state.¹ A license still matters for two reasons: it’s the only way most other states will recognize your right to carry when you travel, and it’s the only legal path for 18-, 19-, and 20-year-olds, who are covered by a separate provisional license.²

Who Can Qualify

The standard license is open to anyone at least 21 years old who is a U.S. citizen or legal resident and lives in the West Virginia county where they apply. Nonresidents of West Virginia can also apply through any county sheriff’s office at a higher fee.³

You’ll swear under oath on the application that none of the statutory disqualifiers apply to you:

Any felony conviction, unless it was expunged, set aside, or your civil rights were restored.
A conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, which is a permanent bar.
A conviction for a misdemeanor crime of violence within the past five years.
Addiction to or unlawful use of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs. Court-ordered treatment or two or more DUI/DWI convictions within the three years before your application counts as evidence.
Adjudication of mental incompetence or involuntary commitment to a mental institution, unless a court has restored your firearms rights.
Being under indictment for a felony or currently serving a sentence for a disqualifying offense.

These come directly from the licensing statute.³

The provisional license for 18- to 20-year-olds uses the same disqualifiers but is limited to West Virginia residents; there is no nonresident version.²

Federal Prohibitions on Top of State Law

Federal law separately bars certain people from possessing any firearm, and clearing West Virginia’s list doesn’t clear the federal one. The main federal categories include anyone convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison, fugitives, people subject to certain domestic violence protective orders, anyone dishonorably discharged from the military, and anyone who has renounced U.S. citizenship.⁴

The trap most applicants don’t see coming involves marijuana. Federal law prohibits any “unlawful user of or addicted to” a controlled substance from possessing a firearm, and marijuana remains a controlled substance under federal law regardless of state legalization.⁴ As of early 2026 the Supreme Court was reviewing the constitutionality of that prohibition as applied to regular marijuana users, but until it changes, the federal ban stands.

The Training Course

Every applicant, standard or provisional, must complete a handgun safety course that includes live firing of ammunition. Classroom-only courses do not qualify.³

Any of the following will satisfy the requirement as long as live fire is part of it:

An official National Rifle Association handgun safety or training course.
A handgun course offered by a law enforcement organization, community college, or other public or private institution using certified instructors.
Any course taught by an instructor certified by the state or the NRA.
Handgun training from any branch of the U.S. military, reserves, or National Guard, including proof of prior handgun qualification through military service.

Keep a photocopy of your completion certificate, an affidavit from the instructor, or another document verifying you finished. The documentation should show the instructor’s name, signature, and NRA or state instructor identification number where applicable.³

How to Apply

Applications go through the sheriff’s office in your home county. The official form is prepared by the West Virginia State Police and is available for download from the State Police website or from your county sheriff.⁵ Fill it out in ink or type it, then sign it in front of a notary.

Bring the completed, notarized application to your sheriff’s office along with:

Proof of identification and residency. A valid West Virginia driver’s license usually covers both.
Your training course documentation.
The application fee.

Some counties want a photo or fingerprints at the time of application, and some collect the fee in two installments with part due at application and the balance due on approval. Payment methods vary. Call ahead so you arrive with the right paperwork and the right form of payment.⁶

What It Costs

Background Check and Decision

Once your application is in, the sheriff investigates the information on it, including a criminal background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.⁵ The check pulls both state and federal records to confirm you’re not prohibited from possessing a firearm.

By statute, the sheriff must issue or deny within 45 days of receiving a completed application.⁷ If approved, you either pick up the license or receive it by mail, depending on your county. A standard West Virginia concealed deadly weapons license is valid for five years.

If You’re Denied

A denial must state the specific reasons. You then have 30 days to file a petition in the circuit court of the county where you applied, and the court independently determines whether you meet the licensing criteria. You can hire an attorney; the court will not appoint one for you. If the court overturns the denial, you may be entitled to reasonable costs and attorney’s fees paid by the sheriff’s office. If the court upholds it, you can appeal to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.³

Where the License Does Not Let You Carry

A license doesn’t override the places West Virginia law puts off limits. You still cannot carry on school buses, on the grounds of any public primary or secondary school, or at school-sponsored events on school property. Private schools may adopt a written policy allowing firearms; public schools cannot. Firearms are also prohibited on the premises of any court of law, including family courts.⁸ Federal law adds its own list, including post offices and federal courthouses, and private property owners can prohibit firearms on their premises by posting notice.

Renewing the License

Your license expires after five years. To renew, submit a new application through your county sheriff and pay the same fee. The sheriff has discretion over whether renewal applicants need a fresh training course or whether the original completion still counts.⁵ Because the sheriff has 45 days to decide, start the renewal at least two months before your current license expires so you don’t end up in a coverage gap.

1
West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 61-7-7 – Persons Prohibited From Possessing Firearms
2
West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 61-7-4A – Provisional License to Carry Deadly Weapons; How Obtained
3
West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 61-7-4 – License to Carry Deadly Weapons; How Obtained
4
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 922 – Unlawful Acts
5
West Virginia State Police. Application for Concealed Pistol/Revolver License
6
Berkeley County, WV. Concealed Handgun Licenses (CHL)
7
Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. Pistol Permits
8
West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 61-7-11A – Possessing Deadly Weapons on Premises of Educational Facilities; Reports by School Principals; Penalties