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You don't need to own a gun, know how to shoot, or have ever touched a firearm to start the Texas LTC process. You do need to do things in the right order. Here's the beginner sequence that avoids wasted money and range-day anxiety.
| Step | What | Why this order |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | One beginner lesson at a range | Learn safe handling on loaner guns before anything is graded |
| 2 | Online LTC course (4–6 hrs) | The legal classroom portion — no shooting involved |
| 3 | Shooting proficiency test | 50 rounds at a B-27 target — comfortable after a lesson |
| 4 | DPS application + fingerprints | Paperwork last, once the tests are behind you |
Total beginner budget: roughly $270–$320 including one private lesson — and the lesson is the only line item that actually teaches you to shoot.
The LTC course teaches law, not shooting — you can ace it without ever holding a gun. The proficiency test, meanwhile, assumes you already handle a pistol safely. That gap is exactly where first-timers stall. A single private lesson closes it: you learn the safety rules, grip, and trigger control on loaner guns with an instructor beside you, and the proficiency demonstration becomes a formality instead of a fear. That's the model we run at Liberty for All — beginner-first, judgment-free, loaner firearms and all range fees included — and any reputable local instructor can do the same.
A common and expensive mistake: buying a pistol before knowing what fits your hands. Take the lesson on loaners, try a couple of frame sizes, then decide. Texas doesn't require you to own a firearm to hold an LTC — plenty of people get licensed first and shop later, with far better information and no buyer's remorse.
Ready for Step 2? 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.Yes — it's a safe-handling demonstration at 3, 7, and 15 yards, not a marksmanship competition. 175 of 250 points passes, and beginners who take one lesson first pass comfortably.
No. You can complete the entire process — course, proficiency test, and application — with borrowed or rented firearms.
Book one beginner lesson. It makes the range portion routine, helps you choose a future firearm intelligently, and it's the only step on the LTC path where someone actually teaches you to shoot.
Ready for step 1? Book a private beginner lesson — loaner firearms, ammo, and range fees included, at RifleGear in The Colony. Then see exactly what happens at the shooting test, and follow the complete Texas LTC guide for the rest of the process.
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.