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Most Texas LTC applicants are licensed 3–8 weeks after submitting a complete application. The classroom course can be finished tonight — the wait is almost entirely DPS processing. Here's the stage-by-stage timeline and what actually slows people down.
| Stage | Typical time | You control it? |
|---|---|---|
| Online LTC course (classroom portion) | 4–6 hours, self-paced | Yes — finish in one evening |
| Shooting proficiency demonstration | 1–2 hours at the range | Yes — schedule anytime |
| Online DPS application + fee | 20–30 minutes | Yes |
| Fingerprinting (IdentoGO appointment) | Days to about a week for a slot | Partially |
| DPS processing & mailing | 2–5 weeks typical | No — statutory cap of 60 days |
Realistic total: 3–8 weeks from starting the course to license in hand. Figures current as of July 2026.
Three things cause most delays: incomplete applications (a missing LTC-104 upload or unpaid fee), background reviews that need manual examination (old arrests, name mismatches, out-of-state records), and fingerprint appointment backlogs in busy metro areas. DPS's statutory 60-day clock starts only when your application packet is complete — an application sitting at 90% done isn't on the clock at all. Submit everything, then verify your status shows as received.
Track your application through the Texas DPS Regulatory Services portal using the account you created when applying. Statuses move from received to under review to approved and mailed. If you pass 60 days after a complete submission with no movement, call DPS — polite persistence works, and applications do occasionally stall on a missing-document notice that never reached your inbox.
Start the Clock — Take the $49 Online Course →Disclosure: we may earn a commission if you register through this link, at no additional cost to you. It’s how we keep guides like this free.4–6 hours, self-paced. You can finish it in a single evening, and your certificate of completion is issued immediately when you pass.
About three weeks: course and shooting test in the first weekend, application and fingerprints the same week, then a clean two-week DPS turnaround. Most people land closer to five or six weeks.
Yes — 60 days from receiving a complete application, and DPS must notify you of the reason if it needs longer. The clock doesn't start until every document, including your LTC-104, is submitted.
Wondering what it costs along the way? See the full 2026 fee breakdown. Nervous about the range portion? Here's exactly what happens at the shooting test — and the whole seven-step process lives in the complete online Texas LTC course guide.
Reviewed by Ike Hajinazarian, certified firearms instructor and founder of Liberty for All Training Co., featured on the Sunday front page of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Inclusive, judgment-free firearm instruction in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
DISCLAIMER: Liberty for All Training Co. ("L4A") is a certified firearm safety instruction company serving the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area. We provide in-person safety education and skills training only. We do not retail or broker the sale of firearms, ammunition, or weapons. Ammunition consumed during instruction is included as part of lesson pricing and is not sold separately.