The Texas LTC shooting test is a 50-round timed course of fire on a B-27 silhouette target, shot at three, seven, and fifteen yards, and you pass by scoring at least 175 of a possible 250 points. A qualified LTC instructor runs the whole thing, and the range portion itself usually takes 15 to 20 minutes once everyone is set up.
What to Bring to the Range
You can qualify with either a revolver or a semi-automatic handgun, as long as it’s at least .22 caliber. Older rules restricted your carry authorization to the type of handgun you tested with, but that restriction no longer applies. Qualify with a revolver and carry a semi-auto if you want, or the other way around.
Bring 50 rounds of factory-loaded ammunition. Reloads and hand-loads are not allowed. You also need wrap-around eye protection and hearing protection rated for firearm noise. Many instructors keep loaner eye and ear pro on hand, and most will rent you a qualifying handgun for a small fee if you don’t own one, but call ahead rather than assuming.
Texas Government Code §411.188 requires you to demonstrate proficiency “in the use of one or more handguns” and leaves the specific equipment standards to DPS rulemaking.1State of Texas. Texas Government Code 411.188 – Handgun Proficiency Requirement
The Three Stages of the Course of Fire
All 50 rounds go into a standard B-27 silhouette. Each stage runs several timed strings, and the instructor calls every command. The pace is brisk but not frantic.
Three Yards: 20 Rounds
The closest distance and the fastest-paced stage. You fire 20 rounds across several timed strings: a one-shot exercise at two seconds per shot, a two-shot exercise at three seconds, and a five-shot string in ten seconds.2Army MWR. Texas Department of Public Safety – Concealed Handgun License Proficiency Demonstration Course of Fire At three yards the silhouette fills your vision and almost everyone scores well. The real challenge is not rushing when the time limits feel tight.
Seven Yards: 20 Rounds
Another 20 rounds, more timed strings, including a five-shot string in ten seconds and a two-shot string in four seconds.2Army MWR. Texas Department of Public Safety – Concealed Handgun License Proficiency Demonstration Course of Fire This is where groups start to open up. The time feels manageable, but rushing pulls shots off the target. A smooth trigger press matters more here than speed; the clock usually takes care of itself.
Fifteen Yards: 10 Rounds
The last stage, fired in two five-shot strings with more generous time limits to account for the distance.2Army MWR. Texas Department of Public Safety – Concealed Handgun License Proficiency Demonstration Course of Fire Fifteen yards is about 45 feet, and the silhouette looks noticeably smaller. If your score is borderline going in, slow and deliberate shots here can save the test.
How Scoring Works
The B-27 target has concentric scoring rings inside the torso area, but DPS uses a simplified “5-4-3” system instead of the full competition values printed on the paper. Hits in the center rings count five points. Hits in the 7-ring count four. Any other hit inside the silhouette counts three. Shots that miss the silhouette entirely score zero.
Fifty rounds at a maximum of five points each puts the perfect score at 250. You need 175 to pass, which is the same 70 percent minimum DPS applies to the written exam.3Cornell Law Institute. 37 Texas Admin Code 6.14 – Proficiency Requirements In practice, 175 is forgiving. You could drop 15 shots to the 4-point ring and still clear it with room to spare. The test confirms basic competence, not match-grade marksmanship.
Range Commands and Safety
The instructor runs the firing line and you do nothing without a verbal command. “Load,” “commence firing,” and “cease fire” dictate every action. The muzzle stays pointed downrange at all times, and your finger stays off the trigger until you hear the command to fire. Violating range safety can get you removed from the test immediately.
After the final string at fifteen yards, the instructor walks you through a clearing procedure: drop the magazine, lock the slide back, and visually confirm the chamber is empty. The instructor inspects the handgun before you step away from the line, and this applies to every shooter before anyone moves forward to score targets.
If You Don’t Pass the First Time
Failing isn’t the end of the road. Under 37 Texas Administrative Code §6.14, you get three attempts to pass both the written exam and the proficiency demonstration within a 12-month period.3Cornell Law Institute. 37 Texas Admin Code 6.14 – Proficiency Requirements Your instructor may schedule the retest for the same session or a different day, depending on range availability and their own policies. Plan on bringing extra ammunition.
Most people who fail do so because they jerk the trigger under time pressure, not because the distances are genuinely hard. Dry-fire practice at home with an unloaded handgun, focused on trigger control, is the single best preparation. One live-fire session at an indoor range before test day makes a measurable difference.
After You Pass
Once you pass, the instructor gives you a signed LTC-100 Certificate of Training. The original goes to you and the instructor keeps a copy.4Texas Department of Public Safety. Instructions for LTC-100 Certificate of Training You submit the original LTC-100 to DPS as part of your license application.5Texas.gov. Texas Handgun License Before you leave the range, check that your name and identifying information on the form match your government-issued ID exactly. A mismatch can delay the application.