NC Concealed Carry Class: Requirements, Costs, and Permit Filing

To get a North Carolina concealed handgun permit, you first have to complete a state-approved firearms safety course, and the NC concealed carry class requirements are set by statute and administrative code: at least eight hours of classroom instruction covering specific topics, plus a live-fire qualification on a range, taught by an instructor certified by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission. As of 2026, North Carolina has not adopted permitless carry, so this course is still the only route to legally carrying concealed in the state.¹

What the Class Covers

The required curriculum is spelled out in 12 NCAC 09F .0102. The classroom portion runs a minimum of eight hours and has to cover each of the following areas:²

Legal issues (two hours): North Carolina’s concealed carry laws, when deadly force is legally justified, and places where carrying is prohibited
Handgun nomenclature: parts of a handgun, how different action types work, and basic terminology
Handgun safety: safe handling, storage practices that prevent unauthorized access, and how to respond to a malfunction
Marksmanship fundamentals: grip, sight alignment, trigger control, and breathing
Presentation techniques: drawing from a holster and safely presenting the firearm
Cleaning, maintenance, and ammunition: basic field-stripping, lubrication, and choosing appropriate ammunition

The legal block is the longest single portion of the classroom for a reason. Misunderstanding when force is justified, or where you can carry, creates more legal risk than poor shooting. Good instructors work through scenarios rather than reading statutes aloud.

The Live-Fire Qualification

After the classroom, you move to a range for a timed shooting qualification. The statute requires the course to involve “the actual firing of handguns,” and the administrative code leaves specific round counts and scoring to the instructor’s course design within the commission’s guidelines.¹ In practice, most courses ask you to fire around 40 rounds at distances of roughly two to seven yards, hitting a silhouette target with enough accuracy to pass. Expect a passing threshold in the neighborhood of 70 to 75 percent, though the exact standard depends on the instructor’s certified course outline.

You will fire from different positions and may need to reload under time pressure. If you have never shot a handgun, book some range time before class day so the basics are not new. Failing the qualification is not permanent; most instructors allow a retest, sometimes for an additional fee.

What to Bring

Your instructor will send a specific gear list, but most courses require:

A handgun in safe working condition, either semi-auto or revolver
At least 150 rounds of range ammunition (some instructors ask for up to 200)
Magazines or speed loaders for your firearm
A holster
Wrap-around eye protection and hearing protection
A brimmed hat, crew-neck shirt, long pants, and closed-toe shoes

Some training facilities rent handguns and sell ammunition on site, which is worth asking about when you register. Skip open-toed shoes and V-neck shirts on range day, because hot brass tends to land exactly where you would rather it did not.

Who Can Take the Class and Actually Get a Permit

The eligibility rules for the permit itself sit in NCGS 14-415.12. You must be at least 21 years old to receive a permit, although some instructors let younger adults sit through the training for educational purposes. You also need to be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, and a North Carolina resident for at least 30 days before you file your application.¹

Several things disqualify you outright:

Any felony conviction, unless your firearms rights have been formally restored or the felony involved only antitrust or trade-practices violations
A misdemeanor domestic-violence conviction that triggers a federal firearms prohibition under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)
A DWI conviction under North Carolina law within the three years before you apply
Being an unlawful user of, or addicted to, alcohol, marijuana, or any controlled substance
Having been previously adjudicated as lacking mental capacity or involuntarily committed
Being under indictment for a felony or being a fugitive from justice

The full statutory list is longer, and the sheriff checks state and federal databases during the background investigation. If you are uncertain whether a past conviction or court order affects your eligibility, talk to an attorney before you pay for the course.¹

Making Sure the Certificate Will Count

Only an instructor certified by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission can sign the completion certificate the sheriff will accept. A course may be sponsored by the National Rifle Association or the United States Concealed Carry Association, but the person signing your certificate still needs commission certification.¹ The NC Department of Justice does not currently publish a public lookup tool for certified instructors, so ask your prospective instructor to show their certification before you pay. A certificate signed by an uncertified instructor is worthless at the sheriff’s office, and you will have to retake the course.³

Filing With the Sheriff After Class

Passing the class earns you an original certificate of completion signed by your instructor. Keep that original safe: the sheriff will not accept a photocopy or a digital scan. You file everything with the sheriff of the county where you live.⁴

At your appointment, you will submit:

A completed application form from the sheriff’s office, signed under oath
Your original course completion certificate
A valid North Carolina driver’s license or state ID showing your current residential address
A mental health release form authorizing the sheriff to check your mental health records
Your fingerprints, taken by the sheriff’s office at the appointment

The sheriff sends your prints to the State Bureau of Investigation, which runs them through state and national databases and forwards them to the FBI as needed. The sheriff also runs a check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.⁴

The statute prohibits any person, mental health provider, or government entity from charging you additional fees for the background checks conducted during this process. You should not be paying a separate fee for the mental health records search.⁵

What It Costs

Plan for two separate bills. The class itself typically runs $75 to $150 depending on the instructor and whether ammunition and range fees are included. Then the sheriff’s fees, which are set by statute:

New application: $80
Fingerprint processing: up to $10 (many counties bundle this into a single $90 charge)
Duplicate permit: $15
Renewal: $75

All fees are nonrefundable. Some counties add a small online convenience fee if you pay by credit card. The application fee and fingerprint fee are the only charges the sheriff can collect from you.⁶

Who Can Skip the Class

A narrow group is exempt from the eight-hour course. Qualified current and former sworn law enforcement officers, retired correctional officers, and retired probation or parole officers are deemed to have satisfied the training requirement. Licensed armed security guards who hold a firearm registration permit from the Private Protective Services Board also qualify.⁶

Regular military service, even with extensive firearms training, does not exempt you from the concealed carry course under Chapter 14. If that describes you, plan on taking the full class like any other applicant.⁷

1
North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina General Statutes 14-415.12 – Criteria to Qualify for the Issuance of a Permit
2
North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings. North Carolina Administrative Code 12 NCAC 09F .0102 – Topical Areas
3
North Carolina Department of Justice. Concealed Handgun Instructor Certification
4
North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina General Statutes 14-415.13 – Application for a Permit; Fingerprints
5
North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina General Statutes 14-415.15 – Issuance or Denial of Permit
6
North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code Chapter 14 – Article 54B
7
North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina General Statutes 14-415.11 – Permit to Carry Concealed Handgun