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A Texas License to Carry costs most first-time applicants $150–$200 all-in — and roughly half of that is optional to overspend on. Here is every fee in the process, who qualifies for discounts, and where people waste money.
| Expense | 2026 cost | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Online LTC course (classroom portion) | $49 | Yes — state-mandated |
| Texas DPS application fee | $40 standard | Yes |
| Fingerprinting (IdentoGO) | ~$11 | Yes |
| Shooting proficiency demonstration | $50–$100 | Yes — one time, with a qualified instructor |
| Passport-style photo | $0 (submitted digitally) | No separate cost |
Realistic total: $150–$200. Figures current as of July 2026.
Texas discounts or waives the $40 state fee for several groups: active military and veterans (waived or reduced), peace officers, corrections and judicial officers, and applicants over 60 in some categories. The course and proficiency costs still apply, but qualifying applicants routinely complete the entire process for around $110–$160.
The classic mistake is paying $100–$150 for an in-person classroom course when the state-approved online course covers the identical DPS curriculum for $49 — and lets you finish it in one evening instead of a Saturday in a strip-mall classroom. The classroom format offers no legal or practical advantage; the certificate is the same. The second mistake is retaking range time unprepared: one focused session with an instructor before your proficiency demonstration is cheaper than repeat attempts.
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.The $49 online course plus the $40 state fee and ~$11 fingerprinting is the floor for most applicants — about $100 before the shooting portion. Fee waivers for military, veterans, and peace officers lower it further.
Renewal every five years: a state renewal fee (standard $40) completed entirely online — no class, no shooting test, no fingerprints.
Indirectly — it substitutes for the NICS background check at licensed dealers, and some ranges and insurers offer licensee discounts. It's not a profit center, but it pays small dividends for years.
For the complete seven-step process — timelines, eligibility, the written test, and the proficiency demonstration — see the full Texas LTC guide, or the LTC vs. constitutional carry comparison if you're deciding whether the license is worth it at all.
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.