The New York State concealed carry test has two parts: a written exam you must pass with at least 80%, and a live-fire assessment where you must put at least four of five rounds on a paper target from four yards.1New York State Police. Minimum Standards for New York State Concealed Carry Firearm Safety Training Both are given at the end of a mandatory 18-hour training course led by a state-approved instructor. You cannot test out, test in, or substitute online study for any part of it.
The 18-Hour Course Behind the Test
New York Penal Law § 400.00(19) requires 16 hours of in-person classroom instruction plus 2 hours of live-fire range training before you sit for either exam.2New York State Senate. New York Code PEN 400.00 – Licensing and Other Provisions Relating to Firearms Every session has to be taught by a Duly Authorized Instructor approved by the Division of Criminal Justice Services. Most providers spread the hours across two to four days. Videos, online modules, and self-study hours do not count toward the requirement.
The classroom block feeds the written exam. The range block feeds the live-fire assessment. The two tests are scored separately, and you have to pass both.
What the Written Exam Covers
The written test draws from 11 curriculum topics set by statute and detailed in the State Police training standards. Some topics carry minimum hour requirements, which is a reasonable proxy for how heavily they appear on the exam.
Firearm Safety and Marksmanship Fundamentals
At least two classroom hours go to general firearm safety: how firearms and ammunition function, cleaning and maintenance, safe handling, range rules, and holster selection for concealed carry. A separate hour covers marksmanship basics such as stance, grip, sight alignment, breathing, and trigger control.1New York State Police. Minimum Standards for New York State Concealed Carry Firearm Safety Training Expect written questions on safe muzzle direction, how to verify a firearm is unloaded, and proper transport.
Safe Storage
At least one hour covers safe storage under New York Penal Law §§ 265.45 and 265.50. If you live with anyone under 18, or with someone you know is prohibited from possessing firearms, you must lock the gun in a safe storage container or disable it with a gun lock whenever it is not in your direct control.3New York State Senate. New York Code PEN 265.45 – Failure to Safely Store Rifles, Shotguns, and Firearms in the First Degree The statute also bars leaving a firearm unsecured in a vehicle; the ammunition must be removed and the gun locked out of sight. Test questions here focus on when secure storage is legally required and what counts as a compliant container.
State and Federal Gun Laws
At least two hours cover federal possession disqualifiers, New York’s rules on private sales and transfers, and the requirements for keeping your license current and your pistols properly registered.2New York State Senate. New York Code PEN 400.00 – Licensing and Other Provisions Relating to Firearms The three-year recertification cycle for concealed carry permits falls under this topic too.4Gun Safety in New York State. Pistol Permit Recertification
Conflict De-Escalation and Management
These are two separate curriculum topics and together they make up a substantial chunk of the exam. De-escalation covers verbal and non-verbal strategies for defusing a confrontation, including walking away. Conflict management is broader, covering how to recognize and avoid dangerous situations before they escalate.1New York State Police. Minimum Standards for New York State Concealed Carry Firearm Safety Training New York’s curriculum treats drawing a weapon as a last resort, and the test reflects that.
Use of Deadly Force and the Duty to Retreat
The exam tests your understanding of New York Penal Law § 35.15. You can use deadly force only when you reasonably believe someone is about to use deadly force against you. Even then, New York imposes a duty to retreat: you must avoid the confrontation if you can do so safely. The main exception is being inside your own home when you did not start the fight.5New York State Senate. New York Code PEN 35.15 – Justification; Use of Physical Force in Defense of a Person Expect scenario-based questions asking you to identify whether retreat was possible.
Sensitive and Restricted Locations
New York law creates two categories of places where your permit does not authorize you to carry, and the exam tests both.
Sensitive locations are listed in Penal Law § 265.01-e. The list covers government buildings, courts, schools and universities, healthcare facilities, places of worship, libraries, public parks and playgrounds, public transit vehicles and stations, polling places, establishments serving alcohol or cannabis, entertainment and sporting event venues, and any public gathering held under a government permit.6New York State Senate. New York Code PEN 265.01-e – Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Rifle or Shotgun in a Sensitive Location It is long, and worth memorizing.
Restricted locations work differently. Under Penal Law § 265.01-d, all private property defaults to no-carry unless the owner has posted clear signage permitting firearms or has given you express consent. Carrying onto someone else’s private property without that permission is a Class E felony.7New York State Senate. New York Code PEN 265.01-d – Criminal Possession of a Weapon in a Restricted Location Most other states presume the opposite, so this is a common point of confusion and a frequent test question.
Encounters With Law Enforcement
Questions in this area cover how to communicate during a traffic stop, when to disclose that you are armed, and how to follow officer commands safely. New York is not a “must inform” state. The training standards still recommend disclosing your concealed carry status and showing a valid license, particularly if your firearm becomes visible during an encounter.1New York State Police. Minimum Standards for New York State Concealed Carry Firearm Safety Training
Suicide Prevention and Substance Use
Two shorter modules round out the written exam. Suicide prevention teaches warning signs of a mental health crisis and resources such as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The substance use module covers how alcohol and drugs impair judgment and firearm safety.1New York State Police. Minimum Standards for New York State Concealed Carry Firearm Safety Training Both appear on the test.
What the Live-Fire Assessment Looks Like
The two-hour range session includes instruction on drawing from concealment, dry firing, loading and unloading, and performing condition checks. The scored assessment at the end follows a fixed sequence set by the State Police standards.1New York State Police. Minimum Standards for New York State Concealed Carry Firearm Safety Training Here is what you will do:
- Condition check: verify the firearm is safe and empty before handling.
- Dry draw: without ammunition, draw from concealment, acquire a target, and re-holster.
- Load and ready: load five rounds. Do not holster the loaded firearm. Hold a ready position with the muzzle pointed downrange.
- Fire: on the instructor’s command, fire all five rounds from a standing position at a distance of four yards.
- Final condition check: verify the firearm is safe and empty after firing.
The target is a standardized 25½-inch by 11-inch paper target. You need at least four of your five rounds on the target to pass. Four yards is roughly 12 feet, which simulates a close-quarters defensive distance. The accuracy standard is forgiving, but a safety infraction at any step ends the test regardless of your shots. Flag another person with the muzzle, or let it drift off the downrange line, and you fail.
Passing, Failing, and the Certificate
The 80% written threshold is set in statute, so no instructor can lower it.2New York State Senate. New York Code PEN 400.00 – Licensing and Other Provisions Relating to Firearms The live-fire portion is graded on the four-of-five accuracy standard plus safe handling throughout the sequence.1New York State Police. Minimum Standards for New York State Concealed Carry Firearm Safety Training
Fail either portion and you retake that portion with your instructor. The statute does not cap retakes. Pass both and your instructor issues a certificate of completion, signed under penalty of perjury, which the licensing officer requires as proof of training when you apply.2New York State Senate. New York Code PEN 400.00 – Licensing and Other Provisions Relating to Firearms
The certificate is not the license. Passing the test clears one requirement; the full application also includes four character references, disclosure of adults living in your home, a background check, and an in-person interview with your county or local licensing officer.8Gun Safety in New York State. Frequently Asked Questions – New Concealed Carry Law Plan for several months between submitting your paperwork and hearing back.