How to Get a Gun Safety Course Certificate in Massachusetts

To get a Massachusetts gun safety course certificate, you complete a basic firearms safety course taught by an instructor certified by the Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police. The instructor issues the certificate when you pass, and you submit it with your application for a License to Carry (LTC) or Firearms Identification Card (FID).¹ Without that certificate, the licensing authority cannot accept or process your application.²

What the Course Looks Like

Courses are typically one day, in person. Expect coverage of safe handling, proper storage, transportation rules, and Massachusetts firearms law.¹ Prices usually run between $50 and $150 depending on the instructor.

Instructors work independently, not through the state. Each one is certified by the Colonel of the State Police, and the State Police publish a list of approved instructors you can use to find a course near you.¹

Live-Fire Training Is Now Part of the Course

Massachusetts overhauled its firearms laws effective in 2024, and the basic firearms safety course now has to include live-fire training.² If you are a first-time applicant, make sure the course you sign up for includes the live-fire component so your certificate reflects it.

There is an exemption for people who already had a license. Anyone who lawfully held an LTC or FID on August 1, 2024 does not need to retake the course with live fire when renewing.² Enforcement timelines have varied by department during the transition, so if you took a pre-2024 course and are applying for the first time now, ask your local licensing authority whether your certificate will be accepted or whether you need a refresher that covers live fire.

When Hunter Education Counts Instead

A Massachusetts hunter education certificate from the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife counts as a valid substitute for the basic firearms safety certificate — but only when you are applying for an FID card. For an LTC, you need the standard firearms safety course regardless of whether you completed hunter education.²

Does the Certificate Expire

Massachusetts law does not set an expiration date on the certificate. The statute simply says you must submit one with your application, without limiting how old it can be.²

Practice varies at the local level. Your local police chief is the licensing authority, and some departments have been known to ask applicants to retake the course if the certificate is more than a year old. That is not a statewide rule. An older certificate remains legally valid, but the easiest path is to take the course close to when you plan to apply, and to call your town’s licensing authority first if your certificate has some age on it.

What You Do With the Certificate

You apply for a resident LTC or FID through the police department in the city or town where you live. Your application package needs the completed application form, your safety certificate, identification, and the fee. The fee is $100 for either license; applicants under 18 applying for an FID pay $25.³p>

The licensing authority then runs state and federal background checks, a fingerprint-based check, and a review with the Department of Mental Health.³ First-time LTC applicants also sit for an in-person interview with the licensing authority.⁴ The authority has 40 days from the date you apply to approve or deny it.

For renewals, you go through the same department but do not resubmit the safety certificate, unless the live-fire provisions require it in your situation.

Which License Age Rules Apply

The certificate itself is the same for both licenses (with the hunter-education carveout above), but eligibility differs. The LTC requires you to be at least 21 and a lawful resident of the jurisdiction where you apply, and it is the only license that permits concealed carry.⁴ The FID covers non-large-capacity rifles and shotguns; you need to be at least 18 to apply on your own, and applicants 15 to 17 can apply with parental consent.³ Handguns and large-capacity firearms require an LTC; an FID is not enough.⁵ Both resident licenses are valid for up to six years and expire on the anniversary of your birthday within that window.

If You Lose Your Certificate

Hold onto the certificate the instructor gives you. If you lose it, you will need to contact your original instructor for a replacement. The State Police list of approved instructors can help you track down who taught your course if you no longer have their contact information.¹

1
Mass.gov. Firearms Safety
2
General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140 Section 131P
3
Mass.gov. Apply for or Renew a Firearms License
4
General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140 Section 131
5
Mass.gov. Firearms License and Transaction Frequently Asked Questions