In Michigan a CPL is your concealed carry license, and CCW is the act of carrying. Most people use both words for the same thing. Here is the plain breakdown. CPL stands for Concealed Pistol License. It is the official name of Michigan’s concealed carry license. CCW stands for Carrying a Concealed Weapon, which is the act of carrying, not a specific license. In everyday conversation in Michigan, people use CCW and CPL to mean the same thing: the license that lets you carry a concealed pistol. So when a Michigan resident says “I need my CCW,” they almost always mean their CPL. The Concealed Pistol License (CPL) is issued by your county clerk in Michigan after you complete a state-approved pistol safety training course and meet the eligibility requirements. It is the document that legally allows you to carry a concealed pistol in Michigan. See the full breakdown on how to get a Michigan CPL and CPL eligibility and requirements. CCW is short for Carrying a Concealed Weapon. It is a general, national term for carrying a firearm hidden from view. Several states use CCW in the actual name of their license, which is part of why the two terms get blended together. Michigan does not use CCW in the license name, but you will hear the term used all the time. Every state has its own name for the concealed carry license, and the letters are easy to confuse. Here is what the license is called in the states we cover: Different letters, same basic idea: a license to carry a concealed firearm. Yes. To legally carry a concealed pistol in Michigan you need a valid CPL. Michigan is not a permitless-carry state for concealed pistols, so the license is required. For the full rules on carrying, transport and use of force, see our Michigan gun laws overview. The fastest path is a one-day, state-approved CPL class, then you apply at your county clerk. In Michigan, yes, in everyday use. CPL is the official name of the license and CCW describes the act of carrying a concealed weapon. When a Michigan resident says CCW, they usually mean their CPL. Michigan’s official license is the CPL, the Concealed Pistol License. You will still hear people call it a CCW, but the state issues a CPL. Yes. A Michigan CPL is the state’s concealed carry permit. It lets you legally carry a concealed pistol after you complete the required training and apply through your county clerk. Yes. Michigan requires a valid CPL to carry a concealed pistol. You get one by taking a state-approved CPL class and applying at your county clerk. Take a one-day, state-approved class and apply for your CPL. It is the license that lets you carry concealed in Michigan.CCW vs CPL: What Is the Difference?
The short answer
What CPL means
What CCW means
Why people mix them up
Do you need a CPL to carry concealed in Michigan?
CCW vs CPL questions
Is CCW the same as CPL?
Does Michigan use CCW or CPL?
Is a CPL a concealed carry permit?
Do I need a CPL to carry concealed in Michigan?
Ready to get your Michigan CPL?
Source & further reading: this overview is kept current against the CCW Hub Michigan Concealed Carry Guide — a regularly updated, statute-cited reference. Always verify current law before you carry.