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A Texas LTC is honored in more than 35 states — one of the broadest reciprocity footprints in the country, and the single biggest reason license applications kept climbing after permitless carry. Here's where it's valid, where it isn't, and the rule that changes at every state line.
| Category | States | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Honor the Texas LTC | 35+ states, incl. most of the South, Midwest & Mountain West | Carry legally under their rules with your Texas license |
| Permitless-carry states | Roughly 29 states | Carry may be legal even without reciprocity — their eligibility rules apply |
| Do NOT honor the Texas LTC | Incl. CA, NY, NJ, MA, IL, MD, OR, WA, HI, plus DC | Your LTC provides no carry authority there |
Reciprocity agreements change. Before any trip, verify the current list on the Texas DPS reciprocity page — that's the controlling source, updated as agreements shift.
Your Texas license travels; Texas law does not. In another state you carry under that state's rules — their off-limits locations, duty-to-inform requirements, magazine restrictions, and vehicle-carry laws. A configuration that's perfectly legal in Texas can be a felony across a state line. Before traveling, check the destination state's statutes, not just whether it appears on the reciprocity list.
Permitless carry only works inside Texas. The moment you drive into Colorado, fly to Florida, or road-trip through New Mexico, the license is what makes carrying legal. Add the faster gun purchases and the federal school-zone exemption, and reciprocity is the anchor of the practical package that keeps over 1.6 million Texans licensed in the permitless era.
Get Licensed — 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.More than 35, through a mix of formal agreements and unilateral recognition. The exact count shifts as agreements change — Texas DPS maintains the authoritative, current list.
No. Neither state honors any Texas license, and both require their own resident permits. The same is true of several other Northeast and West Coast states — check before you travel.
The law of the state you're standing in. Reciprocity grants permission to carry, not permission to import Texas rules — signage laws, duty to inform, and prohibited places all follow local law.
Weighing whether the license is worth it at all? See the LTC vs. constitutional carry comparison. The full seven-step process is in the complete Texas LTC guide, and the state's own licensing numbers are on our Texas LTC statistics page.
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.