The Texas LTC-104 handgun training certificate is the document your License to Carry instructor fills out and signs after you pass both the classroom instruction and the range proficiency test. You submit it to the Texas Department of Public Safety as part of your LTC application, and without it DPS cannot process your license. The LTC-104 replaced the older LTC-100 and LTC-101 forms in April 2025, though certificates already issued on those earlier forms stay valid for two years from the completion date.
What the Certificate Shows
You do not download or complete the LTC-104 yourself. Your instructor holds the blank forms and fills one out for you once you have passed. The certificate records your full legal name, your instructor’s name and DPS certification number, the instructor’s signature, the date you finished the course, your written exam score, your range proficiency score, and the type of handgun you used during the shooting test.
Check every field before you leave the training site. A wrong certification number, a misspelled name, or a missing signature is easy to fix on the spot and painful to fix weeks later when DPS has already flagged your application. Incomplete or illegible training certificates are among the most common reasons applications stall.1Department of Public Safety. Application FAQs
How You Earn the Certificate
Two things have to happen before an instructor can sign off: the classroom portion and the range portion.
Classroom Instruction
The classroom runs four to six hours and covers four required topics: laws on weapons and the use of deadly force; handgun use and safety, including restraint holsters and open carry methods; nonviolent dispute resolution; and proper handgun storage with emphasis on preventing child access.2State of Texas. Texas Government Code 411.188 – Handgun Proficiency Requirement
You can take this portion in person with a qualified instructor or online through a DPS-approved provider. The written exam can also be given online through a secure portal. The online option only covers the classroom half, though. You still have to meet an instructor in person for one to two hours of range instruction before the shooting test.3Texas Department of Public Safety. Training Requirements FAQ
Range Proficiency Test
The shooting test uses a B-27 silhouette target and 50 rounds fired at three distances: 20 rounds at three yards, 20 at seven yards, and 10 at fifteen yards. Each string has its own time limit. Scoring runs on a 250-point scale, and you need at least 175 points to pass.
Your instructor also watches your handling throughout. Loading, unloading, clearing malfunctions, and muzzle discipline all count. Unsafe behavior during the course of fire is grounds for the instructor to stop the test and refuse to sign the certificate, no matter what your paper score looks like.
If You Have Military Training
Active-duty service members and veterans who completed firearm training or qualification during service within the past 10 years can substitute their military range scores for the range portion. You still complete the classroom instruction and written exam, and the instructor issues the LTC-104 based on your military documentation plus the classroom work. You can also choose to go through both portions with an instructor like any other applicant.4Texas Department of Public Safety. Special Conditions: Military
Submitting the LTC-104 to DPS
Once the certificate is signed, upload it to DPS as part of your application packet. The fastest route is the Regulatory Services Division’s online portal, which has a dedicated option for applicants to submit the handgun training certificate and supporting documents electronically.5Texas Department of Public Safety. Regulatory Services Division Contact Us
If you upload a scan or photo, make sure all four corners of the page are visible and every field is legible. If you prefer to mail it, contact DPS for the current address before sending anything. Either way, keep both a digital and a printed copy. If the original gets lost or DPS asks for a resubmission because the image quality was poor, you do not want to be hunting down your instructor months later.
After you submit, you can monitor your application through the DPS License to Carry portal. Log in with your driver license or state ID number, date of birth, and the phone number or email tied to your application.6Texas.gov. License to Carry a Handgun
How Long the Certificate Stays Valid
The older LTC-100 and LTC-101 forms were valid for two years from the date of completion. Those certificates remain valid under the same two-year window if they were issued before April 2025, but every new certificate from that point on is on the LTC-104. Do not sit on a completed certificate. If it expires before you apply, you have to retake the course and earn a new one.