17 Jun What to Bring to Your Michigan CPL Class: A First-Timer’s Checklist

For most Michigan CPL classes, bring a valid driver’s license or state ID, your method of payment, eye and ear protection, a pen and notepad, water and a snack, and (if your instructor requires it) a handgun, a holster, and roughly 50 rounds of ammunition. Many instructors provide loaner guns, eye/ear protection, and even ammo, so the single most important thing you can do before class day is read your provider’s pre-class email or confirmation, because required items vary by instructor.

If you’ve already booked your class, congratulations, that’s the hardest step done. This guide walks you through exactly what to pack, what to wear, and what an 8-hour Michigan CPL day actually looks like so you can show up relaxed and ready. (Haven’t booked yet? You can compare Michigan CPL classes and reserve a seat here.)

The Michigan CPL class packing checklist

Here’s a simple list to work from. Treat anything marked “if required” as a confirm-with-your-instructor item.

• Government-issued photo ID — your Michigan driver’s license or state ID. Instructors verify identity and residency.
• Payment — bring your provider’s accepted payment method (card, cash, or check) for any balance due. The class fee is a market price, not a government fee; the $100 state application fee is paid separately to your county clerk later.
• Eye and ear protection — safety glasses plus earmuffs or earplugs for the live-fire portion. Many ranges rent or include these, but confirm.
• A pistol (if required) — some instructors require you to bring your own; many offer loaners or rentals. Ask before assuming.
• Ammunition (if required) — Michigan’s training requires firing a minimum of 30 rounds, so plan for roughly 50 rounds to be safe. Some classes include ammo in the price; many don’t.
• A holster and magazine pouches — sometimes required, sometimes optional. Check your pre-class instructions.
• Pen and notepad — you’ll cover Michigan firearm law, safe handling and storage, and use-of-force basics. Notes help.
• Water, a snack, and lunch — it’s a full day. Some venues break for lunch off-site; others don’t.
• An open, ready-to-learn attitude — first-timers are the norm in these classes, not the exception.

What to wear to a CPL class

Dress for the range, because you’ll be shooting outdoors or in a range bay for part of the day. The big one is hot brass: spent casings get ejected and can land on you, so a high-neck or crew-neck shirt (no deep V-necks or open collars) is strongly recommended, along with closed-toe shoes. A baseball-style cap with a brim helps deflect brass away from your face. Dress in layers for Michigan’s unpredictable weather if any portion is outdoors, and avoid loose, dangling jewelry. Comfortable, practical clothing beats anything fashionable here.

What to expect: the classroom portion

Michigan’s pistol safety training is built around at least 8 hours of total instruction, and the classroom piece runs at least 5 hours. Expect to cover Michigan firearm laws, safe handling and storage, the fundamentals of pistols and ammunition, and the laws around the use of deadly force. Your instructor may include a short written quiz as part of their own completion policy. It’s worth clearing up a common myth: as of 2026, Michigan law (MCL 28.425j) does not mandate passing a 50-question state exam at 70% to qualify for a CPL. The “50-question, 70%” figure comes from individual instructors’ curricula, not the eligibility statute, which focuses on completing the instruction hours and the live-fire requirement. If a written quiz matters to you, just ask your provider about their completion policy ahead of time.

What to expect: the range portion

The live-fire portion is at least 3 hours on a firing range, during which you must fire a minimum of 30 rounds. Don’t let nerves talk you out of it: instructors run this slowly and safely, walk you through grip, stance, sight alignment, and trigger control, and are used to people who have never touched a firearm. You’ll shoot under direct supervision. If you’re using a loaner, your instructor will get you comfortable with it first.

How long does the day take?

Plan for a full day — typically around 8 hours, sometimes a little more once you factor in breaks, range setup, and travel between a classroom and range if they’re separate locations. Some providers split the classroom and range across two sessions. Your confirmation will spell out the schedule, so build in buffer time and don’t schedule anything tight afterward.

What you walk away with

On completion you receive a signed training certificate. That certificate is the document you submit with your first-time CPL application, which you file in person with your county clerk (first-time applications aren’t filed online). At that visit you’ll pay the $100 state application fee (most counties charge around $115 total, which includes a small fingerprint fee) and be fingerprinted on the spot. The Michigan State Police then run your background check, and the county clerk issues your CPL — or a notice of disqualification — within about 45 days of the date your fingerprints are taken. If it happens to take longer than 45 days, the fingerprint receipt you’re given, carried with your valid state ID, lets you legally carry in the meantime until your license arrives. Curious how the rest of the process and costs shake out, or wondering about renewing down the road? See our guide to Michigan CPL renewal. And before you plan any out-of-state travel with your future permit, check the current Michigan CPL reciprocity list and our overview of where you can’t carry in Michigan, since both change over time.

This article is general educational information, not legal advice. Training requirements, fees, and processes can change. Verify current details with your county clerk and the Michigan State Police before relying on anything here.

Ready to book?

If you haven’t locked in a class yet, browse current Michigan CPL classes by date, location, and price and reserve your seat in a few clicks. Find a Michigan CPL class near you and book today — many fill up fast, especially around weekends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to bring my own gun to a Michigan CPL class?

Not always. Some instructors require you to bring your own pistol, while many offer loaner or rental guns for the live-fire portion. Check your provider’s pre-class email or confirmation before class day, because requirements vary by instructor.

How much ammunition should I bring?

Michigan’s training requires firing a minimum of 30 rounds on the range, so plan for roughly 50 rounds to be safe. Some classes include ammunition in the price and others don’t, so confirm with your instructor in advance.

How long does a Michigan CPL class take?

Plan for a full day. Michigan requires at least 8 hours of total instruction (at least 5 hours in the classroom and at least 3 hours on the range), and with breaks and any travel between locations the day often runs a bit longer. Some providers split it across two sessions.

Is there a test I have to pass to get a Michigan CPL?

As of 2026, Michigan law does not require passing a 50-question state exam at 70% to qualify for a CPL. The statute focuses on completing the instruction hours and the live-fire requirement. Some instructors include their own short written quiz as part of their completion policy, so ask your provider what they require.

What should I wear to the range portion?

Wear a high-neck or crew-neck shirt (to keep hot brass off your skin), closed-toe shoes, and a brimmed cap if you have one. Dress for the weather if any part is outdoors, and skip loose, dangling jewelry.